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Rose -
Where to begin...
First off, where is "Here"?
Being an Instrumental eduacation major, it is usually assumed the next stop will be a high school somewhere. Although logical, this is a faulty assumption. When we get down to it, it means at some point, somewhere, you will be a teacher. Why not set your sights a little higher?
Think about what you just wrote:
- Playing for 12 years.
- You succeeded IN SPITE of your educators.
- The person who influenced your career choice the most was an amazing College Professor.
You survived high school by will. Think of how many kids you were in band with were there by someone elses doing; parents living vicariously through their kids "talent." People who continue to play throughout their college careers do so because of their sheer love of music. The slackers have been weeded out, and all that remains are the cream of the crop, and diamonds in the rough. Personally, these are the people I would prefer to teach.
At this point, the world is your oyster. If you are as good as your dossier sounds, getting into a QUALITY grad school should not be that hard. At current time, Michigan State is probably the best program in the country for what we are talking about. Score your MEd. If you want to teach AND play, look for a faculty position at a smaller school, where faculty recitals fill the programming void, and side gigs are abundant. If you hit the right school, a PhD might not even be necessary, or could be backburnered as a later goal.
WHATEVER YOU DO, do NOT take the easy way out and becone a Performance major!!! That and $1.00 will buy you a Double Cheeseburger at Mickey D's. Good players will always be found, with or without proper credentials. I have been playing a pro circuit since 14. I was a part of 4 different colleges music programs by 16. And no, I was not music major. I was just good, and people found me. The same will happen for you.
I hope this helped some. I wish you the best of luck, and PM me if you have any questions or just want to chat.
Sincerely,
Mike
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