COLUMN: Pursuing a passion is worth the stress
Greetings from the Caine College of the Arts. We just finished an awesome Arts Week; I hope many of you were able to attend and participate in the events that celebrated art and design, music, and theater. These three departments make up our college, which I am proud to represent. Being the Arts Senator is a challenging but rewarding experience. I learned so much about USU, the students, the faculty, myself and humans in general.
Being an arts major is an exciting and busy endeavor. It’s full of one-credit classes that should really be three credits, giant projects, performances, shows, groups and ensembles you are required to participate in. I speak from the field of music therapy. It’s a field that expects you to know at least four regular instruments: piano, voice, guitar, drums and dozens of small, random, fun and annoying instruments. Yes, the kazoo and penny whistle would fit in one of these categories.
After that introduction, I am positive you are wondering how you get into such a major. USU has the only music therapy program offered in Utah. So, once you figure out this is what you want to do or try out, you audition. If you’re accepted, you’re one of about 12 that make it in the program each year. The audition consists of playing two songs on piano and guitar while singing and a solo piece on your main instrument. The audition is twofold. In addition to music skills, the audition is also designed to assess therapeutic skills. Those who audition must write essays and answer questions. Once admitted, those chosen then experience the ride of their lives.
Music therapy majors need to take all the core music classes, generals and a majority of medical and psychology classes. In addition to classes, you are tested with juries, practicum, private lessons, presentations, levels and finals, while keeping a 3.2 or higher in all music therapy courses. Juries are a group of professors who critique your solo performance and furiously write notes down while you’re sweating bullets, praying you’ll pass after practicing all semester for the scales and prepared pieces.
Practicum is experiencing music therapy with clients in a real work setting when, let’s be honest, you only kind of know what you’re doing. Levels are what you need to pass in order to move forward in the program. This requires up to 100 songs memorized on piano and guitar in two different keys. Yeah, that’s fun. We all know generals have way too many tedious assignments, and, yes, Andy Anderson’s medical anatomy course is in the mix of all of this. Lastly, there are finals. Who has time to study for finals?
So, while trying to pass classes, you eventually graduate with less sleep and money than you ever imagined possible. But here’s the kicker, you need to be accepted into a six to nine month internship — which will most likely have a free lunch stipend — before you get your diploma. So, now you’re a music therapist? Wrong. You need to then take the board exams to become a certified music therapist. This requires remembering all that you have been taught since you were a freshman. Then you take a timed exam. Do you have a job, yet? No. You have to search for a job. This is the easy part, right? No, again.
It’s a crazy process and I’m positive most other majors can relate. So the question of the day is why do we do it? It’s because we have passion for it or a curiosity that led to a passion.
Music is not the universal language; I believe it is the universal experience. Music can reach those who could otherwise not be reached. Music can provide a safe environment where judgment does not exist. The only elements that matter in music therapy are the person, their growth and where they let the rhythm and tone take them. Music brings emotions into lives — emotion that often cannot be vocalized. Music brings a desire — a desire many didn’t know they had. Music brings love — a love for oneself, others, their experiences and the music itself.
This is why I study music. This is my music therapy philosophy. It is a perfect change-and-growth combination, while using music as that guiding tool to bring about designated goals and outcomes.
Albert Einstein said, “Only a life lived for others is worth living.”
This brings out my second reason for putting up with the chaos: the people you effect on the way to mastering music therapy. Although, I don’t think you ever really master the study. There is always something to improve upon, even when you think you have made it to the top. I’ve always believed if you’re not improving, then you are digressing. There is not much middle ground.
So how do you find balance in your life? You have to figure it out on your own. I am simply here to state that it is OK to feel like you can’t find the balance. I am always known as the “busy” girl who does too much, but it’s because I’m doing things I love. I am trying new experiences and figuring it out as I go. As long as I am constantly reaching the goals I set and only stopping for worthwhile detours, I’ll be all right. So, whatever your major is or life situation may be, you will make it. You just need to find something worth being stressed about.