This blog post is a little bit of commentary regarding the last year and a half of school. I am a returning student. I had an opportunity (and really nice scholarship) right out of high school to go to school for music. I promptly blew it. Now, here I am, at 36 with a husband and two children trying to be a double major...and kind of killing it! But I will tell you that it is hard. So. Very. Hard. It is hard enough when you do not have all of the "adult" responsibilities, live on campus, and attend all the study groups with friends until the wee hours. I don't have those luxuries and for that I am both thankful (I have really fantastic kids at home waiting for me to cook dinner), and frustrated (hello late night study group).
Another thing that I think is interesting is the fact that we do not use pianos in classes like music theory and aural skills. What?!?!?!? As someone interested in the education side of music, I find this the hardest pill to swallow. What about all the students who are not auditory or visual learners? What about me? I can get by with listening to lectures and doing a crazy amount of homework but when it comes time to actually apply some of this stuff, it would be really nice if I could reach out and touch it. Then I would also know what it feels like and can better recreate that.
This semester is drawing to a close and it is time for our sophomore barrier...the test that we must pass if we are to go on in music. As scary as that is, this is going to begin a new chapter in our education and should do a great deal in bolstering our courage to make it through the next three years.
