#expressivetherapies

[ramandarenee-blog]

#ladybrockstudio #LadyBrockStudio #feministartist #localKCartist #expressivetherapies #expressiveartstherapy #multimodality https://www.instagram.com/p/B7KJPpGHSUo/?igshid=kl9985k9scwi

[musiclovr121591-blog]

I'm a music major...

I'm a vocal performance and pedagogy major... The first question I get is, "what the fuck does 'pedagogy' mean?" - it means that as part of my degree i will be educated on how to to teach people how to sing - and then the second part that I get is "what are you going to do with your life?"

Obviously, a very small percentage of people get famous enough to have the ability to perform for the rest of their lives. It sometimes seems like the more successful people are the ones that go on shows like "America's Got Talent," and "American Idol," which I honestly think is the cheap way of getting famous. Personally, I can sing circles around about half of those people, but I would rather get an actual degree and not be famous.

For some reason, people seem to assume that since I'm a vocal performance major, I plan on singing opera for a living....NOT true. Sure I would like that to be a part of my life, but that's probably not how I'm going to end up paying for the bills. I'm a person that loves my options. I have a few that I'm thinking of going for.  - Path #1: I would continue to get my masters in vocal performance and double major in voice pedagogy (unless that came with the whole package deal) - then I would continue to get my doctorate in music education (if it can work out like that...not exactly sure yet).  - Path #2: I would continue to get my masters in music/expressive therapies and work in schools all around the country, teaching workshops and working in other schools, hospitals, nursing homes, or whatever else would be available to me and have the ability to enlighten others on music. (I would be willing to get my doctorate if necessary, but I don't think I need to).  - Path #3: I would pair up my master in expressive therapies along with voice therapy, so I would essentially be a doctor for singers or for other people that have physical issues with their vocal cords, larynx, pharynx, etc. If pairing up voice therapy and expressive therapy doesn't work out, I would work into being a voice therapist, and a speech pathologist. I feel like having an actual knowledge about singing and an enhanced awareness of my voice will definitely help me advance in that sort of career and give me a unique view on the voice. (I may also need a doctorate on this one in case I actually BECOME a doctor).

Of course, I haven't settled yet on any one. But I really want to a) get the most out of my degree, b) use my knowledge and my work ethic to my advantage, and c) bring a whole new view or enlightenment to music. There's a surprising amount that you could do with a vocal performance degree. I'm addicted to working, so I don't think the inconsistent job quality of being a performer would be the life for me. If you think you can do it, kudos to you. But if not, you had better come up with a few other options for yourself. Because then otherwise, you're not going to be able to pay for your college loans with flipping McDonald's hamburger patties minimum wage job that you might end up having.

Live your life, your college degree (if you have/are getting one), and your career up to your full potential. Don't put it all to waste.