Musicians?

[BerenErchamion]

So...I'll begin working on a Ph.D. in history this fall.

 

I'm an avid trombonist.  I'd really, really love to find a way to be able to keep up my trombone playing (beyond solo practice--which of course will continue as well, along with my occasional playing a trombone part from an orchestral work along with a recording).

 

Grad student musicians, do any of you find time to join groups and keep up with their practice and performance schedules?  I'm hoping to find a brass band locally, or perhaps start up a quintent with other grad students from my department or from others.

 

Is this workable?

[queenleblanc]

Depending on your location, there may be a local community band or even an audition-based wind ensemble you can join. Check announcements through your university's department or school of music as they often post on bulletin boards for university students to come play. Some music depts let grad students (in other areas of study) play in their university band or the non-auditioned group. Good luck, and keep playing!!!! :-)

[SeriousSillyPutty]

I am in no way musical, but just wanted to put a plug in for getting involved with SOMETHING outside the university.  It can make you feel more connected to your city, and it's nice to have a group of people  who like you for your personality or other skills, who don't know or care what grades you got, how your research is going, etc.  It will also force YOU to care about keeping yourself whole, and not only caring about grades/research. Don't be afraid to join a group of old cats who play on the weekend or something; in my experience, having activities away from academia has been very good for my mental health.

Good luck!

PS: Trombones are so cool...

[cmg0610]

Where are you going to be?  There very well might be a brass band around the area.  I'm a tuba player, and played in one all of last year, which was a blast.  I'm actually starting my doctorate in tuba performance this fall, though, so I think I'll have my playing opportunities covered.

[Andean Pat]

I intend to continue studying piano as well!!!!!

[Ely]

I've looked into the music program at the school I will be attending, and they have lots of opportunities for graduate students to participate in ensembles.  I'm going to hold off for a semester or two before I commit to anything musical, just so I have time to better understand what my time constraints will be like in the grad program.  In the meantime, I'll keep practicing flute and oboe, and keep an acoustic guitar and bass in my living room for spontaneous music with my friends and colleagues.

[Lyra Belacqua]

I played in the wind ensemble at my university during my first year, which turned out to be an unsustainable situation. It was two and a half hours of rehearsal twice a week -- which is a lot of time, first of all, as well as meaning that I had to miss any departmental events that took place on Monday or Wednesday nights (since I was in rehearsal from 7 to 9:30). Each of my concerts -- there were 4 of them -- coincided with a colloquium, conference, or other event. (Plus, the level of playing wasn't as high as I was expecting, based on what I was used to in undergrad…that's something I couldn't have known in advance.)

 

In addition to the large ensembles, the music department here also has a chamber-music organization, so I joined that this year instead. The scheduling is much more flexible, so it suits me better, and I've discovered I like playing chamber music better anyway. I've also been taking lessons the whole time (luckily, people can get scholarships for that at my school -- even grad students). I feel like I need some structure, i.e. something to practise for and work towards, otherwise academic work would take over and I'd gradually stop playing. But things that have a rigid schedule won't work anymore (I couldn't join a lab that I wanted to join until this year because of scheduling, and I didn't know about the conflict until it was entirely too late).

[MammaD]

I spent 17 years as a professional clarinet player in a military band and the wind symphony conductor where I'd like to get my PhD (totally different area -- my undergrad was clarinet performance, I'm finishing a public health degree now) was getting his Master's where I was in undergrad -- we were in the same studio! I'd love to play under him again but I'm not sure I can swing it. I also have 3 small-ish children. I'm thinking maybe during the dissertation years?

[GreenePony]

My friend/section leader moved with me to the same program so we looked for options to keep playing and here's what we found:

- Community Bands (I played with one near my hometown for 4-5 years)

- University pep bands (they ended up requiring everyone to also be in a concert band which conflicted with our courses)

- Church orchestras (not an option for everyone but it would have worked for us)

- Small ensembles in the community (found though networking, Craigslist, list)

- Pro Sport Bands (we seriously considered auditioning for the Redskins Marching Band but then everyone else wanted to march to watch RG3 and we had 4 years experience of that already)

 

I would talk to local music/instrument repair shops to see what's in the area.

[yellow.wallpaper]

I'm an avid guitar player, so I understand where you're coming from. I think it's about finding the necessary tools and people that will encourage your music.