I am an INstrumental Music Education major. I have been playing saxophone for 12 years now, and it's my life...I love it, and I practice at least 2-3 hours a day. Yes, I take it VERY seriously.
I chose Music Ed because when I came here, I thought that musically, it was all I was good enough to do. When I was first here in 2000 I wasn't very good because of a sucky high school director, and then got stuck with this mean teacher.
Then Dr. Carroll came last fall. He's the most amazing professor I have EVER studied with. He's so energetic and caring and through him I have really soared. He's the first music teacher I've had to believe in my abilities.
Since I've been here, I've improved dramatically and now play really hard works. I am 2nd chair in the top university ensemble, I also play lead in one of the jazz bands, and I'm in the ASU Saxophone Quartet. I will admit that I am a very accomplished musician.
Recently, I was a featured performer for the SCI Conference (Society of Composers International), which was a huge deal. Composers, performers, and professors from all over the country were there. There were lots of breaks between concerts during this 3-day conference to talk with everyone, and I had saxophone professors asking me where I was going to grad school and encouraging me to come study with them and stuff. I was shocked. Before then, grad school just wasn't ever presented as an option for me. I thought I wasn't good enough...but I guess that I was wrong.
And the more I think about it...as a high school band director, I would never get to perform again. That makes me incredibly sad. But being a performer is too unsteady of a career. Being a professor of saxophone would be ideal, but I don't know. I just can't figure out what to do. All during college I thought I knew exactly what I was going to do...and now, I don't know!
Advice anyone???
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