Exactly! If you are going to be a music educator, you get to watch all the other teachers go home for the night and you will still have to be at the school for pep bands, practice, lessons, concerts... Sometimes I don't leave school until midnight because of everything going on! Plus, on the weekends, you still have to be there for practices, especially during marching season, and you have a full time job during the summer, too, as a marching instructor. And, your job is not really very secure because of budget cuts; you are always at risk of losing your job everytime the schools lose money...

As a regular musician, you always have to run. Here, there, and everywhere need you all at the same time, it seems! There is no stability! It is fun and if you love what you do, it's great, but having a family or friends or anything that you have to be attached too... it's almost impossible. You can't even have pets because that would be unfair to the animal. I know musicians who are married, but their husband lived 300 miles away, teaching at another school, or a man who has a wife who plays in NY for a musical and he hasn't seen her in 6 months! It's very sad, I think, but some people are willing to do that because they love the music! If you think about it, it's insane, but romantic, in a weird and twisted way...

Musicians are odd people, but it is a good thing. It just depends on the sacrifice you are willing to make for what you love!

Thank you again!

Well, I'm only trying to get an idea of a place or two to study after I graduate High School. And after that, I'm afraid I'll be lost and not know what to do, so this info i'm getting is helping. I don't mind traveling, I don't really, but I want to do so! Very much! I want to go everywhere! And playing music is my forte so...I don't think "where" I go is an issue. I just don't know what college or schools I should go to and how I'm exactly going to start off. I mean, do you just pick up a newspaper and search? Does your present director help you out? Do you go around and ask people for jobs? Do you post an ad yourself? What? I'd like to be a soloist eventually and tour, maybe get a few records out...If i'm ever good enough, haha! But still, playing random gigs, etc. doesn't sound so bad. My talent has yet to build. And anyway, I can't imagine doing anything else. I love the arts! That's all! I've thought of other things, but I just love music it seems. Meeting new people, traveling, playing, etc. I still just don't know how I'm exactly going to "get around" it seems. I only play the flute now. Marching season is coming fast, so my director wants me to start piccolo. I also have a piano in my house, no one plays it (my brother is one of those really smart talented people, but he doesn't use it! Grr!) so I want to learn that also, and the violin...the irish flute perhaps. Those are the ones I like...I heard it's better to know more than one instrument and that you can get accepted into certain places a little easier if you're multitalented. So, I think I'm behind! Nevertheless, thank you all for your helpful and fun information. Write more if you will!

~Brittany

P.S.) I don't really have the best finances...My parents say I'll have to get a scholarship somehow! I mean, basically everything I do is okay, except for my sight-reading, rhythm ability (so I really am behind!?). I feel like I don't have enough time to get good enough really.