Saturday, September 02, 2006
Wants Career in Performing Arts, BUT...
Dear Guidance Guy,
I am stuck! I sing but I don't take private lessons. And I am an actor but I can never seem to get the leads in the musical. I played the clarinet, and I now play the harp which I have private lessons for but a pedal harp is much too expensive. I want to go to college for all three of these (Song, Theater, and Harp) but where can I go? I want to go to an exclusive performing arts college but I don't think I have the potential for Juiliard (but that is my dream school). What would you suggest Ishould do to work my way to Juiliard, or is it too late to start the sprint? My Chorus teacher is in charge of Madrigals (All-Star Renaissance Singing Group) but she has a grudge against me and refuses to let me join. I am afraid she is keeping mefrom getting into Juilliard. I also know that to get into college as an actor itwould be awesome to show them that I have done directing but a 16 year old can't just go direct a show. All the theaters around here want someone who knows what they are doing.And harp is my favorite. It is such a great instrument but my parents don't want me to go to college for the performing arts. Do you know of anything I can do over the summer as a pre-college thing for either of these that would look awesome on my college resume?
Thanks!
Joseph Thomas
*** *** ***
Dear Joseph,
I don't know if you noticed this, but for everything you told me you want you gave me a reason and/or excuse why it won't happen in the very next sentence. You are setting yourself up for failure by the way you're thinking. And that's too bad, because you're probably a very talented guy.
Luckily, it isn't too late to do something about it. I can give you some concrete suggestions about each of these things but you'll have to lose the "but here's a reason I can't do it" thinking. The people with the greatest success aren't always the ones with the most talent - they are the ones who have the most desire. They find their way around, over, under or through every obstacle. They don't take "no" for an answer. If one door is closed to them, they find a way to open another.
For example, the teacher who won't let you join Madrigals - why does she have a grudge against you? You can find out and try to make it right. Or you can protest it to the music department chairperson or principal. Or you can find a community or regional chorus. There are many different options.
Can't direct a show at a theater? Create your own! Or volunteer at a theater and learn everything you can about directing. Pay your dues and work your way up. Again, there are a thousand options.
Parents don't want you to go for Performing Arts? That's probably true for 90% of the famous musicians, dancers and actors. What did they do? Read some biographies of people you admire and learn from them.
Don't worry so much about the resume, Joseph. Take some time and get clear about what you REALLY want. Decide that this is the thing you're going for no matter what, or take another route. If you go for something else without looking at things differently, it simply means you didn't want performing arts badly enough. And that's OK, because you'll find something else you can enjoy.
By the way, the things you do to overcome your obstacles - THOSE are the things that will make your resume really strong!
Break A Leg,
The Guidance Guy
I am stuck! I sing but I don't take private lessons. And I am an actor but I can never seem to get the leads in the musical. I played the clarinet, and I now play the harp which I have private lessons for but a pedal harp is much too expensive. I want to go to college for all three of these (Song, Theater, and Harp) but where can I go? I want to go to an exclusive performing arts college but I don't think I have the potential for Juiliard (but that is my dream school). What would you suggest Ishould do to work my way to Juiliard, or is it too late to start the sprint? My Chorus teacher is in charge of Madrigals (All-Star Renaissance Singing Group) but she has a grudge against me and refuses to let me join. I am afraid she is keeping mefrom getting into Juilliard. I also know that to get into college as an actor itwould be awesome to show them that I have done directing but a 16 year old can't just go direct a show. All the theaters around here want someone who knows what they are doing.And harp is my favorite. It is such a great instrument but my parents don't want me to go to college for the performing arts. Do you know of anything I can do over the summer as a pre-college thing for either of these that would look awesome on my college resume?
Thanks!
Joseph Thomas
*** *** ***
Dear Joseph,
I don't know if you noticed this, but for everything you told me you want you gave me a reason and/or excuse why it won't happen in the very next sentence. You are setting yourself up for failure by the way you're thinking. And that's too bad, because you're probably a very talented guy.
Luckily, it isn't too late to do something about it. I can give you some concrete suggestions about each of these things but you'll have to lose the "but here's a reason I can't do it" thinking. The people with the greatest success aren't always the ones with the most talent - they are the ones who have the most desire. They find their way around, over, under or through every obstacle. They don't take "no" for an answer. If one door is closed to them, they find a way to open another.
For example, the teacher who won't let you join Madrigals - why does she have a grudge against you? You can find out and try to make it right. Or you can protest it to the music department chairperson or principal. Or you can find a community or regional chorus. There are many different options.
Can't direct a show at a theater? Create your own! Or volunteer at a theater and learn everything you can about directing. Pay your dues and work your way up. Again, there are a thousand options.
Parents don't want you to go for Performing Arts? That's probably true for 90% of the famous musicians, dancers and actors. What did they do? Read some biographies of people you admire and learn from them.
Don't worry so much about the resume, Joseph. Take some time and get clear about what you REALLY want. Decide that this is the thing you're going for no matter what, or take another route. If you go for something else without looking at things differently, it simply means you didn't want performing arts badly enough. And that's OK, because you'll find something else you can enjoy.
By the way, the things you do to overcome your obstacles - THOSE are the things that will make your resume really strong!
Break A Leg,
The Guidance Guy
# posted by Larry Hochman : 5:58 AM
