Instrumental life after high school

We are fast approaching that time in most students' lives: high school graduation. That time when 5 to 10 years of learning an instrument gets shoved under the bed with old Chemistry homework to gather dust.

No, no, no!!

There is musical life after high school!

Music is not just another subject to most students. There is a fair degree of self-motivation, external time committing, soul-baring and blood/sweat/tears that goes into learning an instrument. It is a shame to let that experience go to waste when there are places to go that are crying out for new musicians.

Along with all of the associated educational benefits of music, it is also a social endeavour. It crosses cultural and age barriers. It is a great source of stress-relief and a healthy hobby. After all, playing a musical instrument is on the list of activities that are known to contribute to the prevention or delay of dementia.

There are different levels of engagement in music once students finish high school. The first one is the one most people think of when they consider music past school: tertiary education.

Continuing to play your instrument at tertiary level is becoming much more commonplace with universities beginning to allow non-majors to participate in music courses and ensembles. If you are studying a content-heavy course and wish to earn credit in another area, check with your institution to see if they offer non-major involvement in the music program.

Outside of the education system, there are many community opportunities to stay involved in music. There are quite a few community bands and orchestras in most areas. Here are a few you might be interested in if you are in Perth:

Concert Bands (several of these have an auxiliary swing band):
Leeming Area Community Bands
Armadale City Concert Band
Mandurah Concert Band
Combined Districts Concert Band
West Australian Symphonic Wind Ensemble
City of Perth Bands
Perth Concert Band
Claremont Concert Band

Brass Bands:
Royal Agricultural Society of WA Brass Band (formerly Midland Brick)
Town of Victoria Park Brass Band
City of Perth Bands
Challenge Brass
Canning City Brass

Orchestras:
Fremantle Symphony Orchestra
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
Hills Symphony Orchestra
South Side Symphony Orchestra

I have played in a number of the bands and orchestras in Perth, and each one has a slightly different feel about it. Most bands are crying out for more players (especially clarinets, double reeds, low brass and percussion) and are happy to have you come along and try it out. Orchestras are always in need of string players and 'hard-to-staff' instruments such as double reeds, brass and percussion.

(If I forgot any, or you are involved in a community band/orchestra you would like included in this group, please email me and I will add it in.)

There are a number of community choirs popping up over Perth as well. Many now have Facebook pages or websites and it is worth Googling if you are interested in keeping the music alive.

If keeping to yourself is more your thing, or you are interested in a path of continued improvement, private lessons might be just the ticket. Some teachers work better with younger students, but others know how to work with adults - it is quite different. A good adult teacher understands how to work in with a busy working/studying life, and their expectations of you should not be vastly different to your own. They should listen to your areas of interest - this is less about the pure education of music and more about continuing the enjoyment of music. By the same token, you as a student should also realise that there are some things that teachers know are going to help you reach your goals, and some of them might not be as fun! Adults can also continue to take exams to give them a specific goal to reach - exams are not age-based. Perhaps this is a good time to start learning a second instrument, especially if you play an instrument that seems to be well-catered for in community ensembles already. This time around, you have the benefit of learning at your own pace without the pressure of exams, assessments and curriculum (also, the second instrument is MUCH easier than the first).

For the more-casual among us, there is the opportunity to organise regular 'rehearsals' of an ensemble of your choosing for the pleasure of playing through music (and occasionally wine may be involved). I have friends who have begun to play the recorder since their children have become involved in music, and have regular 'lunch and recorder ensemble' sessions with some like-minded friends. Get yourself a book of flexible ensemble rep and gather some friends together - sometimes music making without particular goals or expectations is the best kind.

Music - Play For Life!