Well, they’re one day late, but here they are: Items 11 through 15 on the list of things you absolutely MUST do while you’re a student–or regret not doing for the rest of your life.
11. Spend time alone.
If you’re really trying to make the most out of your music school career, you’re going to be around other people almost non-stop. It’s fun to have friends, to play in ensembles, to study in groups, and hang out with your room mate late into the night. But you also need time for yourself. I’m not just talking about the alone time you get when you’re practicing or studying. I’m talking about what one friend called “naked time”–the kind of time you spend alone just for you (you can keep your clothes on if you like). Take a nice long walk now and then, catch an afternoon nap, or put on your favorite CD (NOT a listening assignment for class) and read a magazine. Just find something to give yourself a nice quiet break.
If you’re wondering why this is is important to do NOW, it’s because your schedule NOW is probably the most flexible you’ll ever have again. Most work days don’t have an hour or two in between tasks the way many students have an hour or two in between classes. Yes, those are good times to practice, study, etc., but they’re also good times to relax and de-stress a little. If you are just too busy to make this happen during the week, give yourself a little extra time to do it on the weekend.
The other reason to do it NOW is because this is a time in your life to focus on you and figure out who you are. If you’re always around other people, you’ll never get a chance to form your own identity. You do NOT want to leave college feeling like you have no idea who you are, so take a little time and figure it out!
12. Celebrate every holiday you know of.
I get it, you’re a hard-working, talented, music student–not some dumb frat-boy or -girl. Well get over yourself and have some fun now and then. It’s college! If you’re holiday calendar says Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, you’re not celebrating enough. You need a calendar that gives you a holiday for almost every day of the year. That way, you can celebrate whenever you get a little free time.
13. Take up a non-music hobby.
As much as you love music, you need balance in your life. Find something to do that has nothing to do with music, and do it at least twice a week. I know that you think spending every second of your life immersed in music will give you an edge over your less driven friends, but it won’t. You’re going to get burnt out, you’re going to lose your perspective, and eventually, you’re going to lose your passion and sound like a mechanical music student. Trust me on this one. I’ve seen it happen with friends, and it’s happened to me too!
If you want to play with passion, and if you want to really develop your own sound, you MUST have non-musical experiences to draw from. You need to see and participate in the outside world, and you need to be inspired by it! Don’t worry, if you’re a musical person, you’ll be able to tie these experiences back to your instrument without even trying. Do you know how much I’ve learned about rhythm from playing racquetball, or how much I’ve learned about textures and layering from developing my own cooking recipes?
Regardless of what hobby you take up, you’re going to learn an important lesson in creativity, innovation, passion, and dedication.
Please quote me on this (but remove everything in brackets before you do): The BEST way you can possibly master your own discipline [MUSIC], is to study the pants off of another one [anything BESIDES music].
14. Befriend a professor.
Ok, if you read that headline and “teacher’s pet” came to mind, you’ve got the wrong idea. I can’t stand students who suck up, and I’m going to hunt you down if that’s what you go and do after reading this (or if you claim that I’m advocating sucking up). I’m ALSO not telling anyone to get involved in a scandal, so don’t mix your “naked time” from number 11 with your attempts to befriend a professor.
What I AM suggesting is that you find a professor who you like and respect, and spend some time building rapport with that person. Stop in to talk during their office hours or hang after class for a minute or two for a quick chat. Smart people (like professors) like intelligent conversation, so bring something unique to the table. DO NOT talk about how great the class is or how annoying it is that some other students don’t get the material yet, etc. (that’s sucking up, and professors can see right through that kind of BS).
Why is all this so important? Because:
- You need to practice networking
- It will help you feel more like equals with all of your professors, which is a great way of reducing anxiety over your homework, tests, exams and private lessons.
- If they like you enough, they might help get you out of a jam.
You’ll learn more from these conversations than from any class reading or lecture. - You’re going to need quality references when it’s time for a job search
- You’re going to need a mentor during the first few years of your career
- Later in your career you might have a professional project you’d like to collaborate on.
15. Use the fitness center.
If you don’t do it now, you’ll get fat and ugly and… just kidding. It’s good for your health to stay in shape and develop good fitness habits now. It’s also going to cost $30-80 a month to join a gym when you’re not a student. Since a piece of your tuition goes towards the fitness center whether you use it or not, don’t let your money go to waste! Learn to use the equipment, find a routine, and stick to a schedule.
Extra tip: If your school offers free fitness evaluations or any kind of personal training, use it. Even if it costs a few buck, it’ll be cheaper than a private gym. Take a couple of sessions and ask them to help you design a routine that you can do without equipment. Then, when you leave college, you might not need a gym at all!
