MoonlitReveries's Journal

 I want to get into a music grad school eventually. I'm not sure which school (though I have some ideas) or when I'll go back, but I definitely know that this is what I want to do with my life and that grad school will be helpful for me because I'll broaden my horizons and improve my musical potential. It would be especially good to study with another teacher and the teacher is one of the top priorities for choosing a school.

The big question is WHEN to apply. Part of me wants to just go for it now and take the chance but I don't think that's the smartest move to apply now.

I'd like to get back into a good practicing routine where I'm practicing constructively for 2 hours a day and really focusing on what I need to get done until I can think of applying. I was completely lost in regards to the future in my last year of college and I didn't practice very well.  I've been basically working on getting back on track ever since I decided music was what I'm meant to be doing. I'm getting there. What i'd like to do is rekindle the focus and determination I had in my sophomore year and do the same with the enthusiasm, soul, and joy I had in my Freshman year and combine those with the experience and wisdom and expressive abilities I have now. I know I've had those qualities before so I should be able to rekindle them. I think that's what I need to get my playing where I want it to be.

Also, refining my tone, technique and my reed making skills (or lack of reed making skills in my case) would be a good idea too.

There's actually a part of me that doesn't feel good enough for grad school or music, but I know this is what I love doing and that's why I'm going to opt for very focused constructive practices  that will really help get me where I'm going. I may not be able to do as much as I want in quantity but I'm opting for quality to make up for that.

On the practical side, I need to work more and save up enough money to go and find scholarships and gain more independence and all that stuff. 

However, there's one goal that comes before all of  this. I need to get my body healthy and healed again and I need to get this pain and these injuries under control so I can really go for all those other goals. And the good news is that I've been getting better and seeing improvements with acupuncture and trigger point therapy and changing my posture.  Today felt like a bit of backtracking on this because I noticed some pins and needles and strange sensations when I lifted a bunch of big boxes and placed them up in storage. It's a little unsettling but I'm hoping it won't be a huge deal. Though in spite of that, there's been good progress. And this may take awhile and this is the reason I didn’t apply to grad schools in January.

I also need to look at schools and research and make a plan.  Figure out exactly what I where I want to be and choose the best way to get there.