Count the Cost in Relation to Quality of Education

Checking the Arts Addict blog today I noted his recent post on the “Top Ten Ways That College Debt Screws Up Your Life, and How to Avoid It!” This reminded me of yet another article from my original HTML blog, posted first on 1/25/05.

It is that time of year! School auditions are well underway. My note today is directed to those considering college choices. An observation: upon your graduation with your college degree you will feel that you have more options open to you if you are not deep, deep in debt.

I went to a small, state university for my undergraduate degree and I came out of those years of study playing well and actually totally debt free, as the school was very inexpensive, I lived at home, I had a scholarship, and my parents helped out. This opened many options for graduate and summer study, study that eventually got me to where I am now at ASU. Some debt is certainly OK. But, if you can, don’t dig a deep hole paying for your education and keep focus on becoming as qualified as possible to win the type of job you desire.

There is a somewhat flawed thinking out there that states something like “if I can get into _____________ then I can make it in music, if I don’t get into ______________ then I better get out of music.” I remember when I auditioned at an off campus location for Eastman for MM study in 1984 (!) there was a trumpet player there who said as much, the younger brother of a someone that I had been to the Aspen Music Festival with, that if he didn’t get into Eastman he was going to quit the trumpet.

It made sense to him at the time I suppose but this was not a great mindset. All you need is good teaching at a good school and to work hard! I am sure that I was not good enough to get in to Eastman as a high school senior [I had a fairly major embouchure problem] but I did get into Eastman for my MM, took a lot of lessons, and practiced very hard for many years.

I also vividly remember a younger student in the dorm at Eastman when I was there (not a horn player) that did not practice at all! He was “good enough to get in” but the money spent to be there was certainly not well spent. I don’t mean to knock Eastman at all–I had a great learning experience there–but in the case of this student a parent must have felt that Eastman was the ticket but the reality was that there were students who were working hard out there at less prestigious schools who would certainly get further in music.

One side point should be mentioned. Right or wrong, perceptions about you are created by where you went to school and who you studied with. While at times I will admit that I have wondered what people make of my resume and my attending Emporia State University for my undergraduate degree, for me it was the right choice, especially coupled with great summer studies during that period with David Wakefield at Aspen and extra lessons with Nicholas Smith in Wichita. I left those years of study with a great foundation for future study and performance.

The bottom line is you don’t have to go to an expensive school to receive a great education. There are many great schools out there and ASU is certainly an example of a quality program that can prepare you for the professional musical world just as well as any top conservatory and not leave you deep in debt on graduation.