4 The Clackamas Print
ArtsCultul
Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011
Musicians may face harsh realit
By John Howard
The Clackamas Print
As budget^ around the coun
try continue to dwindle, the
future for many programs is dim.
Education, private and corporate
worlds alike all feel the sting of
empty pockets and are forced to
tighten their belts to compen
sate. Usually, the arts are the first
things to go, what with schools
deeming them an “extra” amenity
and it being ever more difficult in
this economy for a professional
musician, artist or thespian to
make enough money to get by.
ii
It’s not about
whether you have
the degree or not;
it’s whether you’ve
got the skill
Brian Rose
Music Technology Teacher
It would seem that the end of
the age in which a young man
or woman can create for a liv
ing is imminent, but in spite of
adversity, artists and musicians
thrive. The key to their survival
is the same as in any other field:
diversify.
“The trick about making it
as an artist for many years is to
have more than one thing that
you’re good at, and so if you’re
wanting to have a career as a per
former, the secret to your life and
being, successful is to have other
forms of income,” said Dave
Mills, band director at Clackamas
Community College.
Mills suggested that student’s
get a degree in order to find a job
that will support them. Then they
can still make music, paint or act
and not worry about putting food
on the table.
“It’s really important that any
body that’s venturing out realizes
that the kind of job that they want
to get has medical benefits and
retirement, and if that kind of job
can allow you the freedom to still
perform, that’s really a good way
to go,” said Mills. “Any career
that you look at, when you start
to climb that ladder, whether it’s
corporate or private, the people
with the degrees are making
more money than the people
without.”
music technology classes, sug
gests that the industry is the best
teacher.
“Most of the musicians that
I encountered that were great
musicians went to school to play.
They weren’t that interested in
the degree; they just went there
because there was an opportu
nity to play,” said Rose, who
did the same thing when he was
in school. “My music professors
didn’t care about my music theo
ry grade, they just wanted to get
me a gig.”
Rose also
said that it
was much
1 more
A important
M to have
not looking for somebody with
the proper degree, they’re just
looking for someone that is going
to be able to excel,” said Rose.
“When you’re dealing more with
the arts ... it’s not about whether
you have the degree or not; it’s
whether you’ve got the skill.”
These words can be applied
to any field. Rose, Mills and
Cline all agreed that
being able to
do your job
well was
the most
I
important thing. It doesnj
ter if your mechanic hal
to school and has a del
he can’t fix your car, yol
return and give him businl
People skills, focus, 1
tion and direction are thl
important qualities you cal
in school. Those that leavl
a degree in their hal
don’t have aril
of what itl
to get afl
the ability
to be good
at what you
do than to
have
a fancy
piece c
paper.
“When
people are
hiring,
they’re
I
Lonnie Cline has been at
Clackamas directing choirs for
30 years, and the advice that he
gives is that even if you aren’t
looking to major in music, art
or theater, having experience in
those fields will still help you in
the working world.
“On your resume, when some
body looks and sees that you’ve
been heavily involved in the arts
and humanities, they’re going
to be more likely to hire you
than somebody who has a whole
bunch of credits in chemistry,
and biology and mathemat
ics,” said Cline.
He also said that even if
somebody was looking into
a music degree, they should
get a strong minor. That
would allow the degree
holder some flexibility in
their career and still leave
the performance window
wide open.
For those who simply
want to display their artis
All photos by John Howard C/ada^M
tic skill, a different path is
recommended. Brian Rose, Chase Zielinski, currently a student at Clackamas Community College, takes a break from play«
B
who teaches many of the his bass clarinet.
——
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Greg Dryer, a music student at CCC, works at changing
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CCC student Ben Stahlberg focuses on practicing his trom
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