I pretty much felt the exact same way as Jackie in high school. Almost every activity I was in revolved around playing music. Marching band, jazz band, concert band, symphonic winds, pit orchestra, orchestra, three town bands, and various band festivals. I was practicing as much as possible each day, even staying up late and foregoing sleep. I couldn’t get enough. My first year of college, I practiced at LEAST 4 hours each day. Many days were 6 hours, and some even 7 hours. On top of classes.
I competed and was the 1st Chair Euphonium in my County, District, Regional, and All-State Concert Bands. I played lead trombone in jazz band, and solo’d with my favorite town band all summer.
I ended up going to UNT, one of the best school’s in the county (world?) for my instrument (the euphonium). I wanted to do nothing but music, it was everything I wanted and thought I could do.
(Please note: I am not on an ego trip. In fact, I am near the bottom of the studio at UNT, thus, “teh suck.”)
Now, going into my third year at UNT, I’ve realized that there are other things that I could and would have been happy doing other than music. I think that in high school, our eyes are not as opened to the vast amount of possibilities there are for us to explore. I can’t say I regret my decision to pursue music in college, but I also know now that it wouldn’t have been the end of the world if I hadn’t, as much as I may have believed that two years ago.
These days, I feel much less “passionate” about making music. I still enjoy it a lot, but have gained a lot of other interests (like unicycling). Music used to, quite literally, be my only “interest.” These days, I also feel like I don’t want to do just one thing with my life. I don’t want one career. I want to have a lot of jobs, experience a lot of different things. I’m not afraid of hard work. I also place little inherent value on money, as long as I have enough to get by. I’m not out to own the latest and greatest stuff, or try and keep up with the Jones’.
How will I choose a career? Whatever looks interesting. You never know until you try it. And sometimes, the people you work with can make or break the job, be it a great job or crappy one.
Who’s to say that it is a worthwhile goal to be “as good as you could be”? Is it better to diversify, than place all your eggs in one basket? These are questions we each have to answer, but being “the best” at something isn’t necessarily the most desirable position.
Also, even if you are “the best,” but get paid to do something other than exactly what you want to do, what’s the point? I’ve met hobbyist musicians that LOVE every minute they are playing. I’ve also spoken with professional musicians (including one of my professors) who told me that their time playing in a professional ensemble was the most stagnant and unfulfilling time in their musical life.
Again, being the best won’t necessarily make you happy, which I think is the ultimate goal in “following your passion.”
