A little history first...

I've played French horn from 6th grade and up, I also played trumpet in HS Jazz band. I went to a school that was small, 3A...thats under 400 students. My school was also dirt poor and couldn't afford instrument's of good quality, and couldn't afford to replace or fix those that where broken. I played a marching horn that had three large air leaks in it. My director was good, but he was also a purcussionis...he was an aweful Horn player!

My family was very very poor and couldn't afford lessons. (In bankruptcy) My school deffinitly didn't provide lessons for free, or even have anyone I could contact for discounted lessons. If I wanted lessons I would have had to hire someone myself(at a good 75 to 100 an hour) and travel a good hour or two to go.

Now that said


When I got to college I decided I wanted to persue a career in Music Therapy. Like any other music degree, I had to complete juries, lessons, and the ungodly amount of 1 hour corses required of a music major.

My juries and lessons where for....french horn...??

Do you know what a music therapist does??

Do you know who their clients are??

The french horn is the LAST instrument you would choose for a Music Therapy Session.

But as MT is a MUSIC degree..?? (Not a psychology degree??)

I had to pass the same National Music Association's standards they set for aspireing teachers, and performers.

Needless to say...My grades in my classes where fine (A's and B's)...but my juries I failed, and I was told in a nice way to persure another career.

Ummm, excuse me??? I'm paying for my college degree, I PASSED all my classes and my practicums (the part of a MT degree where you work with a certified MT with clients) with flying colors...but because I cannot play a Bach Concerto on an instrument I WILL NEVER USE IN MY FIELD to the EXACT standards of the NMA I can't get my bachelor's degree?

That's just...um...shall I say it?? STUPID!!!!!

Now, what do you think??

Should the NMA have jurisdiction over a MT degree? Or should it be under another degree entirely!! Should a Instrumentalist who plays a wind instrument like horn, trumpet, tuba have to pass the same standards as other musicians wanting to go into teaching or performance??

Give me your honest opinions!.. THANX...the venting Texan

Musical Therapy:

My opinion is you and your college advisor both falied to think through your final goal. If your advisor knew you were going into music therapy I feel s/he should have encouraged you to apply your lessons to piano, music history, and/or music theory.

I do agree you should pass the same National Music Association's standards set for teachers.

College degrees are not and should not be things you 'buy". You did not pay for a college degree. What you paid for was instruction to help you get a degree.

I think you should connect with an advisor and see what it will take to complete the degree in music history, or theory, and/or another instrument so you can get a degree. All your past classes will still count. If all th at is keeping you from complete the degree is the juries, or the Bach concerto then either pick another instrument you can play or learn to play the Bach concerto - somehow, someway.

Should the NMA have jurisdiction over a MT degree? Should or not; the fact is it does.

Should an instrumentalist who plays a wind instrument have to pass the same standards as other musicians wanting to go into teaching or performance? YES! Absolutely if someone wants to hold a degree. A BS or BM in music performance, music theory, music history, music composition, or music education has a certain meaning. If you have a degree it means you accomplished certain things.

It sounds to me that you want to work in the muscial therapy field but I am not sure what you want to do in that field? You are not pursuing a therapist degree or a teacher degree. What is it you want to do? What do you want to do during your work day?

I really want to work with kids who have disabilities, and/or psychological problems.

I started out at a university that did not have MT, and transfered in my sophomore year. I was a squinch bit away from my sophomore barrier test as a music education major at that point.

When I talked to my advisor at the new university I was told that I needed to persue a instrument I had the most experiance in playing..hence the horn. When they turned down my music major application after a year as a MT major I asked the dean of the department if I could change my primary instrument and try again. I was told politly that I could not do that.

I can play treble cleff piano with standard chords and acompionment..in other words, I can play something that is appropiate for a practicum setting but not for a jury piece.

I can play trumpet...I played in my h.s. jazz band for 2 years but have a limited range...from about middle C to the G above the staff.

I can play guitar..but nothing beyond standard chords appropiate for a church camp revival or a practicum.

I have a decent alto voice, but I only took one semester of chior in H.S. and any vocal department professor I've talked to says I do not have the appropriate back ground in voice to persue a music degree.

Now Horn...I play horn moderatly well, I could play better if I practised. When it comes to the horn I have some downfalls that I both recognise and admit to, and I really have no interest in perfecting my playing

1) I don't see the point of practiseing an instrument I will never use in my career..I practised piano, guitar, and purcission instruments primarily when I was in college persueing MT

2) I will not practise any music I do not conect to emotionally...period. Most of the solos my instructers have given to me...I just don't see as good horn solos. To me they don't sound like a horn, more like something someone transposed that was originally written for a flute.

3) I have performance anxiety, I litterly had a panic attack during a jury one year, and couldn't continue my performance. I have no problem with clients, but set me on a stage in front of people and my brain goes...splat.

I love playing in band, I love marching band, I'd really like to be able to design a show one day and see it put on a field. I'm good at theory passed all with 2 A's and 2 B's, and Music History though hard, I passed with an A.

From what I understand even music theory majors have to pass juries..so needless to say, i will change major yet again, and go on my merry way.

Texan,

I am not sure if your focus is a good thing or a bad thing that might limit you. I think you need more of life’s experiences and in time I am sure you will get them. I like that you are aware of and accepting of your weaker points. I think you should get out into the work world in whatever field you can. I think you will learn more and enjoy learning more in the real environment.

I am curious as to what school you went to (but don’t really need to know). I would think redirection of your degree would have been dealt with a lot sooner at most any other school. It is unfathomable for me to think teachers and professors would allow a student to continue studying something s/he would not be able to accomplish.

I have an agreement with my students. They tell me what they want to accomplish. I tell them if I think they can accomplish it. This includes auditioning for a district honor band or getting a music scholarship for college. If I say I think they can accomplish it and they do not succeed I will refund all the money they spent on lessons from the point we talked about the goal to the unsuccessful audition. (and I have never had to refund any monies, yet). I feel it is just as much the teacher’s responsibility as the students’ responsibility. And I hope the faculty at your school feels some sort of guilt for failing to meet your communal goal. It is in their best interest for you to succeed (or don't they know that?).

If you want to work with kids who have disabilities, based on the present situation I would suggest you contact organizations in your area or place you want to move to and see what is available. You could sign on as an employee or intern. Talk to them about what you want to do and go to another college or alternative school for accomplishing a degree in occupational, physical, and/or speech therapy. Speech therapy is pretty cool stuff and you get to explore all the things that make sound (you already know a lot about that with your music so far).Your core credits from your present school should help towards the degree. You might not get it right away but you could be working in the field while getting it; and that can be worth a lot when you apply for advancement or another job. You might find a whole different field that interests you once you become submerged in the daily grind, and MT could be a small part of that.

Also, think about contacting schools that do have MT programs and see if they have any advice. Give it a shot and see what ideas can be brainstormed.

Check with::

Sam Houston State Univ
School of Music
Karen Miller
(936)-294-1376

Southern Methodist Univ
Dept of Mus. Thearpy
Robt Krout
(214)-768-3175

Univ of the Incarnate Word
Janice Dvorkin
(210) 829-3856

West Texas A&M
Edward Kahler
(806) 651-2822

I went to Texas Woman's University for MT.

BTW SMU no longer receives MT majors I was told in 2004 they no longer except students for that degree. this may of changes, but as far as I know this still stands.

As to life experiances...lol, well lets just say I've lived the life of a 40 year old, though I'm only around 30. I was one of those kids with emotional problems that fell through the cracks and didn't get help in school, I had to help myself through psychological problems that no 8 year old should have to deal with.

Now in respoinse to your sugestion of interning, or pursueing a job in my ultimate career goal...I've actually been thinking of doing something like that...but I am unsure of how to start a serch in that area, as I live in a town of about 15,000 and do not have the funds to relocate any time soon. I also have a background that is hovering over my head until I finish my probation because of actions I took in my pass that where a result of working through childhood problems without counseling or medication. But I will look into what I can do at this stage in my life to help my ultimate goal...I do not want a kid to go through what I had to, i want to help!

Wow, it gets curiosor and curiosor.

If you are north of Denton then you have a few places, but I don't know what they can do. Uptoward Gainesville or whatever is east of Gainesville.. . . regardless the only way to start is to make an investment of time and contact each facility that deals with mental health issues. They do not know you are there until they see you. Send a contact cover letter to the facilities within your area. Include your schooling and note the degree is not complete at this time do to the performance recital. LEt them know what you are interested in and let them know you are open to other related opportunities.

Another avenue is your probation officer/conselor. Let him or her know what you interest(s) are. See if S/he can get you a meeeting with a counselor,psychologist,psychiatrist on their staff to discuss and explore this avenue and if they have any assistance or advice tha tcould help you(probation officers love wards who are trying to improve and make a difference).
Best of luck

There is a book called, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman. It is not new but should be able to be found in the library. It is a quick read and might help you with enegry you need for this focus.