If you/your child played an instrument to a high level but did not go on to study/have a career in music…

[Lakel]

… what did you/your child do about keeping it up as a hobby at university? Or did you/they drop it completely, maybe picking it up again as an adult?

16 year old DD is diploma level in piano and grade 5/6 ish level in cello, and I have been pondering how it will go post A-levels. I like to think she will be able to play for pleasure in the future, join orchestras as an adult etc, she gets a lot out of that kind of stuff now.

Obviously she won’t be able to take her piano with her to uni. The cello is more portable but bulky to have in a student room.

I’m not particularly invested in what she does, completely up to her. I was just thinking back to my student days and can’t remember anyone who did stuff like that.

I played saxophone to grade 5 in school. Was in some junior jazz orchestras and school shows etc. liked it but got teased a lot by twats. Bought my own sax but then discovered boys at college and just lost interest really. I still have it and can read music could probably play something g simple but struggle to improvise. Plus dont want to annoy the neighbours so it only sees the light of day once every 5 years. Not even sure where in the house it is right now. I suppose im keeping it in case either kids showed an interest in learning or if I was in dire straits and had to pawn it (even though its a crap make and worth hardly anything)

My son achieved Grade 8 piano and Grade 8 violin before he left school.

When he was at Uni he played his violin in the University Orchestra. He was a student for a long time because he did his 4 year under grad (because we are in Scotland), his Msc year and then his PhD. So he was in the orchestra quite a long time. But since he left and started working he has never touched his violin!

He has his own piano though and he loves playing that at home. He finds it really relaxing when he's stressed . So definitely all the time and money put into his musical education hasn't been wasted as it gives great pleasure.

My daughter has her cello at university, and plays in the orchestra and a chamber music thing. In her first year on campus it was easy enough, but now she's off campus it's more of a faff to get around -either the bus or a 30 min walk to rehearsal. Luckily, she's invested now, so she keeps going. DH has attached bigger wheels to the case so she can lug it around more easily!

DH stopped playing when he dropped out of his music degree and didn't touch a piano again until 20 years later when DC2 asked to play an instrument. He went through a phase of playing for himself when we bought a piano, but now only plays duets with DC.

DC's music teacher said most children give it up when they start apprenticeships/uni and she's only had one student who stayed the whole way through. A lot went back to it after when they were settled in jobs.

@Wronginformation she has a Roland fp-10 - weighted keys were important to her and it is a fairly solid bit of kit.

I had a lovely time playing music at university and made lots of friends that way.

In fact I went to three universities in total and took my viola to all of them.

I don't think a cello's unreasonably large to have in a student room. Quite good for drying clothes on!

Daughter left school with senior cert in piano and grade 8 cello. Still plays cello with chamber orchestra at home when she's here, joined them for xmas concert etc. Hasn't found time to join orchestra at uni but teaches piano for 2 hours each evening, Tues, Wed and Thurs after lectures and earns €180 per week (€30 per hour).

Might be worth looking into different case options.

Fusion Bags has great solutions for wind and brass and I have a backpack type case for my viola so I can take it on the tube.

DT’s both achieved grade 8 at piano but neither were interested in a career in music. Both now play for fun and their own entertainment.

My son is the kid playing at whatever railway station there is a piano. Anywhere he goes if there is a piano he's on it. He can listen to music then play it. He works now but still plays when he can.

I am grade 8 clarinet. After secondary school, I took a few years off and then I played in various community orchestras/bands for different lengths of time and in different countries. Good to have a hobby that you can pick up whenever you have time to commit to something.

I was very serious about music as a kid - actually went to music college on a scholarship (was one of the best in the country for my instrument as a teen), but then had a change of heart and went to university, where I played day and night for the whole 3 years and had an absolute ball - I was in multiple orchestras and chamber groups, played the baroque version of my instrument, played in the pit for operas, premiered my friends’ compositions, won the university concerto competition…you name it.

I wasn’t actually studying music which made no difference to the opportunities I had. I don’t regret it for a second.

Im a solicitor now and find it hard to squeeze in around work and kids but it’s a huge part of my life and who I am and I just hope my own children can find something that they are as passionate about and get as much from. Oh and I also met DH through music so was very much worth it for that too.

She was grade 8 before she went to school uni and played regularly in wind bands regularly for four years until she left uni.

She tried to find a suitable band when she returned but couldn't and then covid hit.

She went back to a band in January after 5 years out and loves it.

not me but i have friends who did this

nyogb and rcmjd kid, went to harvard this year for art histroy and now plays in the harvard symphony orchestra, does chamber music

another nyo and rcm person ik went to do the nec and harvard double degree and is headed to stanford for grad school

plenty of people my age (me included) plan to either take music minor or keep going - its certainly doable but if you were to keep up the level of practice (standard 3ish hours) then exam seasons are really crunch time...

Most uuniversities have orchestras or other music groups so plenty of opportunities perform. If they move away and still want to do lessons, then they would have to find a local tutor.

I played in more casual groups at University. I then joined a choir for a while as an adult.

My brother did gain a place in the University orchestra despite not being a music student. He then played in an orchestra as an adult until Covid.

The vast majority of students in uni music societies are often not studying music as a degree subject. Depending on where they end up, there’s often loads going on. I know a lot of people who’ve gone back to it as an adult too.

I did grade 8 and then Advanced Certificate in voice and sung some kids' choruses/roles at both London opera houses in my teens.

I agree uni is important - I went to a very musical school and although my uni didn't have a music degree it had a very good musical 'extra curricular' programme and choir which kept things going.

Decided against going for opera singing as a career as I reckoned I was too thin skinned, it was too slim a chance of success and so uncertain and I just didn't have 'star quality' as a performer. I would have been technically good enough if I practiced to that level and I think my voice had the quality and strength for a professional, but I just didn't have it in me to dedicate myself to it, and I didn't want it enough to go through everything it would take to even have a shot at a career.

I found a good choir to sing in after uni, then left that off for a while but was lucky after my second was born to find a very good local choir that I am still in. They sing properly challenging repertoire and use soloists from the choir so I have been able to sing some of the great classics with orchestra with them. And it's nice because you really give pleasure to a local audience and I have audience members sometimes asking me when I'm next doing a solo, which is very gratifying to hear.

I don't regret at all not going for a music career but I'm glad I've kept singing.

I played piano to grade 8 and cello to around grade 5 - I did music level.

Id have kept up playing for pleasure if it hadn’t been for my ex husband keeping my piano - I’ve never had to money or the room to have one again.

I would love to still play. Had the opportunity to pick the cello back up when one was loaned to me temporarily - it was like riding a bike: picked it straight back up after a few hours practise.

I got to grade 8 clarinet in school and also played the saxophone. I never played again once since leaving school, it didn’t occur to me to join any university orchestras as I was more interested in sport. Also I was never really good at it and I expect the standard in university orchestras would be pretty high.

I was grade 8 flute and piccolo by age 15 and by age 18 I was truly excellent - but not good enough for main university orchestra as they only had one space and there were several more talented players on the music degree course. They actually apologised to me and suggested smaller chamber orchestra but it was a bit rubbish so I quit and just played in the music room alone at college. I was sporty and academic too and very few people knew I could play the flute - such a pity as I had so loved playing in ensembles. I missed it terribly andI still miss it if I’m honest!

Strings are much better off - always in demand.

I do still play for fun, but nowhere near my previous standard as I can no longer practice for three hours a day for obvious reasons.