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Post by mim on Nov 11, 2005 15:58:20 GMT 10
As of 8pm last night I have finished my degree: a three year Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance. It is one of the strangest feelings I have experienced, I must say. I thought that after 3 years of the degree and particularly the last 6 months of academic hell I thought I wouldn't want to sing for atleast a couple of weeks after my recital, however it isn't the case at all, it's actually achieved the opposite effect. The question is, where to from here?
Those of you who have completed tertiary study in music, I'm really interested in what was your first musical endeavor after you finished studying, no matter how big or small. I'd particularly love to hear from people who didn't gig much while studying, for whatever reason, as has been my situation.
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Post by march on Nov 11, 2005 21:51:28 GMT 10
Mim,
I am 2 years out of Uni. I studied in Canberra (i can hear yous all laughing) but aren't from there orginally. After my three years there I moved to Melbourne. For me, moving into the proverbial 'big pond' has been a life changing experience. I feel that I have learnt alot about myself by moving here. I also see alot of musos who were in my year at uni still living in the bush capital. I gotta say, I don;t envy them.
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tinky
Full Member
hello, how am I.
Posts: 230
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Post by tinky on Nov 12, 2005 8:39:38 GMT 10
practice, write, organise gigs,-practice, write, organise gigs,-practice, write, organise gigs,
The thing that students seem to have the least time for are these things as they're caught up in the "academic" world. More often than not my students look forward to having time to focus on practice during holidays and post course.
I think your at an exciting time when the ideas that you've learnt at Uni can start to flourish. You should take every opportunity to perform in as many varied situations as possible and work toward doing your own music whenever you can.
In a way its time for the hard work to start, that of creating a life for yourself in the music community. I say hard, but its a lot of fun too.
I agree with March too, get amongst it and never be afraid to move anywhere to follow your goals.
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Post by mim on Nov 12, 2005 13:17:24 GMT 10
Funny you should both mention that, I'm moving to Melbourne at the end of January. It scares the bejeezus out of me, but I'm really looking forward to it. My main issue is this: MONEY!!!! March, what did you do when you got here to, you know, stay alive, and buy things? I'm now starting to look for teaching work, so if anybody hears of any openings for jazz vocal teaching in Melbourne, high schools, music schools, private studios, anything at all... And Tinky (I am assuming this is Scott Tinkler I am speaking to), do you ever hear of any stray trumpet teaching jobs? Not for me, I'm not multi-talented. I'm moving with my boyfriend, (whom I believe you gave a lesson to at the beginning of the year) who has applied to do Honours at the VCA next year. (I didn't start this thread to weasel information out of the forum members, it's just an aside.  Still interested in people's thoughts about the original topic!) |
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Post by Kenny on Nov 12, 2005 13:45:43 GMT 10
(I didn't start this thread to weasel information out of the forum members, it's just an aside. Still interested in people's thoughts about the original topic!) Why not? That's what it's for (at least partly). However, my piece of shit worthless advice would be to rapidly lapse into apathy and lethargy, saving what little energy or inspiration you can for pissing and moaning. Q: What do you call a jazz musician without a girlfriend? A: Homeless! Geez, you two sure bugger up that one, don'tcha? ;D |
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Post by march on Nov 12, 2005 13:56:30 GMT 10
I had saved up a bit of money before I got here, and thought that with that and a few gigs I could keep myself afloat until i found a teaching job or something. I didn't get many gigs when I came here (which is my own fault, and in retrospect, i'm glad i had time to find some musical direction before putting it all out there), and my money dried up fast.
So,..........I worked at Cash Converters for about two months (and almost went insane) and then took the most woeful teaching job, simply because I didn;t want to do sales anymore. I kinda screwed up with that, because the particular teaching thing I was doing really screwed me over and I almost ended up getting taken to court for trying to leave! Just recently I have gotten rid of all that and now teach 3 days in two different private schools.
Some people seem to be able to come into Melb and get alot of gigs fast: best of luck to them, but for me it was different, and I kind of feel that it was definetly a long hard two years. My advice: whatever happens, just keep working on the music. I found that even though I was working in Cashies selling broken VCR's I still managed to practice most days: i'm pretty sure that's the only thing that kept me sane!
I still don;t feel like I'm doing enough music stuff, and that I am spending too much energy on teaching, but I s'pose it is a gradual proccess (at least for me) and all i can do is try to keep developing as a muso and person.
Making friends in a new town was pretty easy though i must say. I'm glad I had some musos to talk to while all of this stuff was going on.
Hope this helps
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Post by mim on Nov 12, 2005 14:37:47 GMT 10
Well, I have no money saved technically, but I'm owed A LOT from students who haven't paid me. The upside to people holding out on payments is you don't spend the money you earn, instead it comes in a huge rush at the end of the year and suddenly you've saved a couple o' thousand. March, I'm lucky, I have family and friends (musician and non-musician) in Melbourne, so I'm really looking forward to that aspect of it. Teaching 3 days is exactly what I want to do. Although I understand that playing more would be ideal, I know I've got a long way to go before I have something to say that people will want to hear. But I'm already sick of wedding gigs and I've only really had a handful of them. Why don't people understand that a jazz singer won't want to, or really be able to, sing Elvis convincingly? As another aside, I saw the film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang last night (great film, just ask Margaret & David), and there's an evil henchman-type dude who looks exactly like Tinkler. Just check these photos out! www.stinkler.comimdb.com/name/nm0800923/ |
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alison
Junior Member
oobleeedoooobleee ah ah
Posts: 98
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Post by alison on Nov 12, 2005 14:47:58 GMT 10
Hey Mim! ;D How did your recital go?
My one piece of advice when you get to Melbourne is go out and see lots of gigs and dive straight in to the scene. When I came to Melbourne, I knew absolutely NO ONE, but there was an amazing jam session that was happening at Manchester Lane at the time ( about 5 years ago), and I met sooooo many musicians at that. Even though I was scared, I would show up every week and have a sing. Unfortunately, that particular jam session didn't last - I am hoping someone gets something like that up-and-running again for professional musicians (there is a jam session at Dizzy's I hear, but I believe that is more of a student hang). Anyway, go hear tons of people play and introduce yourself and start sussing out who you want to play with, etc. I have known people throughout my time here who complain about not having work, but they never seem to go out and hang with musos- how can one expect to get work if they aren't a part of the scene? You have to make yourself known.... atleast that's what I believe.
Can't wait to hang with you in Melbourne!!!
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Post by mim on Nov 12, 2005 15:05:48 GMT 10
Recital went okay. I was scared shitless! Had some technique troubles because I was sooooo nervous, but that's bound to happen. I had a bit of fun in some of it, which is really what it should be like. I had great players in the band, like Chris Soole (remember awesome tenor player from the Worldsend?) playing in one tune, I traded with him, which was wicked fun, although I was still a bit freaked out by the whole thing.
Dad got most of it on mini disc, so when I transfer it to cd I'll let you have a listen. I'm not game to listen to it myself yet though!
Talk to ya soon. Better yet, I'll see ya soon! (Well, soonish)
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Post by tuggsey on Nov 13, 2005 14:22:09 GMT 10
Mim - Its interesting to note that in most other parts of the world - tertiary music study in Conservatoriums is 4 years minimum (and that doesnt include the specialist secondary prep. programs that run in Europe and the States)with an extra 2 years to do a masters equivalent - which is common practice for those who want a performing career.Here we toss you guys out on the street after three years.
the point is - you gotta keep studying - keep getting lessons(as well as giving them) and take the music wherever it comes from.Theres no life after study when it comes to music - just more study...
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Post by mim on Nov 13, 2005 14:23:59 GMT 10
okay, life after institutionalised study then....
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Post by tuggsey on Nov 13, 2005 15:21:22 GMT 10
Yeah- I know it all seems obvious - but I see alot of students get lost after uni - mainly because its really hard to train up a great musician in 3 years - unless they are cranking to begin with..that was my point.
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Post by mim on Nov 13, 2005 16:42:57 GMT 10
Yeah, I understand, sorry, no sarcasm meant. I get what you're saying, and it's actually the main reason I'm going to Melbourne. Learning, and listening to what other people have to say, rather than trying to get people to hear what I have to say. At this stage, anyway.
Thanks for the advice.
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Still interested in people's thoughts about the original topic!)
