Get yourself out there. Make sure you choose a place that you will excel at and one that you will enjoy your time at.
“Get yourself out there. Start contacting professors at colleges you are interested in and see who you like the most,” says Anleah Walker, 18, who is a high school senior planning to pursue a music performance degree. Walker has applied to several undergraduate music performance programs and plans on growing her horn musicianship. She plans to continue to audition throughout her college years to win a job and continue her career as a horn musician. Following her undergraduate education, Walker intends on furthering her education to become a horn professeur.
Pick a path that suits your passions. Pursuing music after high school, whether through a major or club, is beneficial in any capacity. Her father being a former band director, Walker has always immersed herself in music. “I started music in second grade with piano lessons,” Walker recounts her musical beginnings. “I quickly realized how much I enjoyed and was playing horn, bass, drums, and piano by fifth grade,” she says. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, music has remained a constant in Walker’s life. Within high school, music has played a significant role in Walker’s experience, “Learning how to balance music with an academic and social life has taught me how to stay focused,” she says. Music in any form can spread benefits to the rest of your life.
Do not be swayed by the prestige of schools and programs. Considering both the college and the music program is a significant decision in choosing a path that will allow success. “Sometimes students feel that they need to go to the most known music school, but at the end of the day, the professor is the most important,” Walker warns. “Make sure you choose a place that you will excel at and one that you will enjoy your time at.”