At a Crossroads in life

LegacyUser

Currently doing my Leaving Cert faced with the CAO form and there is nothing that interests me.. I've realised I only want to go to college to find people to play music.

I play guitar, sing and write songs, I played my first concert (about 100-200) people there and I got a great reception, I always thought my shyness would ruin any chance of me being on stage/I didn't want it but now I do.
I've been offered gigs in local hotels etc and that will be great for experience but I also want to play originals, get a group of like minded people together and see where we can go.
And that's the problem, I can't find like minded people, I'm the only lad in my school who plays an instrument/sings.

I feel like if I go to college I'll neglect it because there's nothing that I really want to study and I will drop it at the first break (if there is one) but not going to college seems redundant and aimless, I mean I don't know know anyone yet, or have any direction except finding people to play music and see where it could go.

What do you think? How should I approach this?

LegacyUser

Guyatacrossroads wrote: »

Currently doing my Leaving Cert faced with the CAO form and there is nothing that interests me.. I've realised I only want to go to college to find people to play music.

I play guitar, sing and write songs, I played my first concert (about 100-200) people there and I got a great reception, I always thought my shyness would ruin any chance of me being on stage/I didn't want it but now I do.
I've been offered gigs in local hotels etc and that will be great for experience but I also want to play originals, get a group of like minded people together and see where we can go.
And that's the problem, I can't find like minded people, I'm the only lad in my school who plays an instrument/sings.

I feel like if I go to college I'll neglect it because there's nothing that I really want to study and I will drop it at the first break (if there is one) but not going to college seems redundant and aimless, I mean I don't know know anyone yet, or have any direction except finding people to play music and see where it could go.

What do you think? How should I approach this?

Ah sorry I wrote a reply but I think it deleted itself

My advice is as follows:
Check out Post leaving cert courses in your area, great link between school and college, try that out for year 1 and if it's a music related course you may find that creative outlet you crave.

What courses are you checking out on CAO? Possible to play music and complete course remember a semester is about 12-14 weeks long,plenty of free time in summer etc.

Having a hobby/passion is great keep up what your doing to keep you happy wbru there is a will there is most definitely a way!!! )))

LostTazMan

If there is nothing that interests you I would suggest that you would be wasting time and money enrolling in a course if you have no intention in working for it.

I agree with the suggestion that there could be a good PLC course that would interest you. I know there is a couple in Cork, there may be others closer to you.

You could try to get an unskilled job to pay the bills while you try to forge a career in the music business, but do be aware that very few people make a good living as a musician. If you are sure you want to try this I think you should give it your best shot now while you are young and have no commitments. If it doesn't work out you will be able to take up another career.

The leaving cert and college, while important, are not everything. There are always a few mature students in every college, and if you don't go straight from school it doesn't mean you never can.

Best of luck with whatever you choose!

gozunda

I would look at this slightly differently.

Go to college and study something related to music - it could be recording, instrumental or whatever. Several Irish universities do music related degree courses. Now presuming you select one such course and get accepted - this provides you with a fantastic range of opportunities for getting involved in the music scene. .

You will never get so many opportunities to meet like minded people, perhaps even have the opportunity to set up a band and also have spare time to gig or practice. This is possible as university study generally does not take up all your time.

In that time you can build your repertoire, your experience and contacts and at the end of it also come out with a qualification which hopefully help you in moving to the next level. Colleges and universities are great places for musicians. In my undergraduate years I lived with a band that frequently raised the roof and the neighbours. They spent many hours rehearsing and were moderately successful in playing local and college gigs.

College will provide you with plenty plenty of opportunities. Go and get them.

Mr. Incognito

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1528

There is a musicians wanted forum on boards

discobeaker

I was exactly like the op when I was leaving school. A year before my leaving cert I got involved with a band as music was a massive passion. I ended up taking 2 years out after the leaving cert and toured the country playing gigs so I could save up for going to music college and I absolutely loved the course.

If you need any help or info op,feel free to pm me

JustAThought

200 people at a gig is great & probably being in school & having a wide circle of friends helps - but you must be both popular AND talented for them all to pay in to support you.

The great thing about college is that you wouldl have time to persue your gigging & writing & probably will gravitate towards like minded people too - that's the joy of college life - unless you pick something very full on you have lots of spare hours & time to persue interests outside if your course - its nothing like the leaving cert.

If you don't choose college or a PLC you are heading down a much less liberating road - will you work in Spar, or in a bar fulltime, or be a farmer? Whichever you choose it will be a dull grind & at minimum wage and will set the tone & standard for the next five or seven years - 9-5 with half an hour for lunch and a commute; probably on your feet serving all day and taxed for the pleasure by the government. When your friends ste finished their 3 year degrees they'll be into careers & always at a higher earning rate to you - while you work to support your music.

I'd suggest finding an area that you find easy & get good results in & look to exploring options around that - and use all the time, resources & cintacts that college brings to be creative & grow your musical talent & musical career - they are not mutually exclusive!

Rachiee

I would second that most full time degree courses give a huge amount of free time so you'll still be able to pursue the band when in college and will probably benefit from networking.
Re: which course that is a tricky one very few people make enough money out of performing to sustain a living. If there is absolutely nothing that interests you apart from music I'd look into the end production/promotion side of things that way if the band dont make it you'll still have a chance of working in the industry, which you'll probably enjoy. It will still be much harder to get work in that field than some other fields though.

ivytwine

Would you be interested in a course like music technology or sound engineering? You can do both either in a PLC setting or as a degree. If you do go to uni you'll have tons of free time to gig and practice, and if you study something related to music you'll have a backup career option related to your music.
Good luck OP... Hope I'll be picking up your album someday!

Neon_Lights

Guyatacrossroads wrote: »

Currently doing my Leaving Cert faced with the CAO form and there is nothing that interests me.. I've realised I only want to go to college to find people to play music.

I play guitar, sing and write songs, I played my first concert (about 100-200) people there and I got a great reception, I always thought my shyness would ruin any chance of me being on stage/I didn't want it but now I do.
I've been offered gigs in local hotels etc and that will be great for experience but I also want to play originals, get a group of like minded people together and see where we can go.
And that's the problem, I can't find like minded people, I'm the only lad in my school who plays an instrument/sings.

I feel like if I go to college I'll neglect it because there's nothing that I really want to study and I will drop it at the first break (if there is one) but not going to college seems redundant and aimless, I mean I don't know know anyone yet, or have any direction except finding people to play music and see where it could go.

What do you think? How should I approach this?

You can do music in college become a music teacher if you're mad into it. There's also a couple of sound engineer courses dotted about the place. There are jobs in the industry, if its your passion follow it.

carolmon

If you are in Dublin there are fantastic music performance/ production/ sound and management in Ballyfermot College http://www.bcfe.ie/ and BIMM http://www.bimm.ie/dublin/
You would be studying something that really interests you and you will meet people with similar interests and make great contacts for a future in the music business and get a qualification..... best of luck