So I want to become a band director but...?

Question

I want to become a band director, however, my mom says, "Over my dead body" basically, an absolute no. She wants me to become a doctor. Medicine is a wonderful profession, but I don't want to do it. She says if I do become a band director, she'll stop supporting me after highschool. And plus, what if it's just a phase? Please help =(
(I want to major in music education and become a middle school band director)

Answer 1

Do what your heart tells you, follow your dreams, but seriously--be a doctor--you'll make more money.

Answer 2

I'm sure your mom wants you to be happy.

I've been a band director for over 20 years. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up, but it sure has been good for me so far. I'm not and never will be a rich man, but I've been blessed ten-fold in ways that can't be bought with cash. And I live in a nice house in the suburbs and I have two daughters going to private colleges. Sure, we're using student loans, but hopefully, they're doing what their hearts tell them.

In my first upper level education class, the prof came into the lecture hall full of eager future teachers, and said, "Don't teach."

We sat there looking at each other for a few seconds, until he continued, "unless you just can't help yourself."
I see his point now. Many times, it's a thankless job, but working with young people and watching them grow on a daily basis is very rewarding.
In our techno-ego-centric society, kids need the arts more than ever. If you're a musician, you know the feeling you can't put into words, when you're practicing and performing something challenging as a group, working together for a single cause. It's a flow that can't be experienced elsewhere.
We need that in this world.
But it is hard work and long hours. You have to know that going in.

Good luck. It sounds like you have some fun decisions ahead of you!

Mark M

Answer 3

Tell your mom this:
Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school. Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66 percent of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. For comparison, (44 percent) of biochemistry majors were admitted. Also, a study of 7,500 university students revealed that music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors including English, biology, chemistry and math.
Sources: "The Comparative Academic Abilities of Students in Education and in Other Areas of a Multi-focus University," Peter H. Wood, ERIC Document No. ED327480
"The Case for Music in the Schools," Phi Delta Kappan, February, 1994

Answer 4

your choice
be a doctor and be miserable
Do not know your age, may have time to research what you like

For music, need to get a degree in music, then you'll need a teaching certificate

Tell her, this is my life, and have to make my own decisions
I'm not going to do something that I will hate the rest of my life, and regret you pushing me into this decision, and remembering this moment for the rest of my life.
Tell them this is still an idea, I'm young and there is a lot out there.

You should investigate check the colleges and universities, check the placement adds, to see how much you'll get, this may help appease your parents.

good luck

Answer 5

To start, let me just tell you that I have VERY strong feelings on this topic. Your mother, in my opinion, is trying to steer you towards a "serious" field where you will make "serious" money. Of course, in order to do this, you are likely to have to incur SERIOUS debt, as well. $45,000 a year for 10 years, on average. Ouch.

I have many friends who have given up their careers where they were making a TON of money to go back to school and get into Band Directing. So not only did they pay for their initial degree, but they ended up paying for a second one so that they could be happy.

Life is not all about money, and money cannot buy you happiness. Don't get me wrong, I am never going to be a millionaire, but I don't mind that. I will be the person whose students continue to return year after year to a program that they love. They will continue to come back to pursue something that is incredibly difficult and incredibly rewarding. And it just may be that there will be one of my students who goes on to be a doctor and is the one to save my life.... and the reason that they decide to be a doctor is because they learned to be passionate about life through my music class.

If we put it in terms of sports, as I do for many of my students.... we cannot all be quarterbacks. Some of us are good at catching the ball, and that is as important as throwing it. In other words, we must do what we are good at in order to be successful.

"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be."
- Abraham Maslow

"Music can change the world because it can change people."
- Bono

"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music."
- George Carlin

"If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it..."
- William Shakespeare

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."
- Henry David Thoreau

"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is."
- Mary Ann Radmacher

Answer 6

Do you want to be a hair band or elastic band director. I mean, make up your mind.

Answer 7

Work hard and get scholarships and loans if she is not going to support you. Maybe once she sees how serious you are about this, she will change her tune.

Answer 8

My dad told me the same thing in high school. I wanted to major in Art and he wanted me to do something more "practical". He told me he wouldn't pay for college or anything, so I started out college in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. I was so unhappy. I hated my classes and I never went to class because it wasn't what I wanted to do. I finally just told him I didn't care and didn't want his money for college. I switched majors to art and got my degree in it 4 years later. Honestly, you need to do what is going to make you happy. You can't let your mom run your life forever. At some point you have got to be able to stand on your own two feet and be who you want to be. Do what makes you happy and hopefully your mom will realize that you are capable of making good decisions for your own future(My dad finally came around). Good luck!