Musician taking the alternate route
When music doesn't cut it
as a career, many musicians
are thinking of postsecondary
as a back-up
plan
Most of us have dreamed of the rock star lifestyle at some point or another; to join a band, write some hits, get signed to a record label, drop out of school and make a living rocking out. For some of us, those dreams faded years ago, along with the dreams of being a superhero or astronaut, but for others the dream still lives on.
I'm sure that many of you reading this can name at least one person in your program in a band (except Music Industry Arts students, who can name at least 50) or name one band featuring a Fanshawe student or graduate.
It seems that although the rock star dream may remain for many people who don't see music as just a hobby; they have realized that post-secondary education is a wise route in case the dream falls through.
Second-year MIA student Justis Krar is one of those students. Krar, who is currently involved in a number of musical projects including Hunters and Anglers, TV Freaks and Marine Dreams, who were just signed to You've Changed Records, started playing music the same way many others have. Looking up to those older than him, Krar and his friends started jamming in parents' garages as it was just the thing to do in the small town of Welland, Ontario. Over the years as his playing has progressed, Krar had looked into the MIA program at Fanshawe as a back-up. While his love of music pushed him towards the program, Krar quickly discovered how, although a back-up plan seemed wise as "you can't always make it big," it became a way to further his playing. "I knew that I would learn all aspects of the music industry," said Krar. "Playing is just a small portion of it. There's so much more to the business and artist development."
Although Krar is well on his way to graduation, he did not hold back on saying that if the opportunity arose, music would become a career for him. "I know that my future will be music. I just don't know what it is yet."
A calculated 75 per cent of musicians around the city and on campus stated that they are currently in post-secondary or have graduated from post-secondary as a means of finding a career path that will "get parents off your back," although about 20 per cent of that number only play music as a hobby and do not have any future plans in the field. The question is, when does music stop becoming a thing of passion and more of a reachable future goal? "To make it in music, you need to be able to reach the next step. I think a lot of people don't know what that is," said Krar. "Being in the MIA program has really opened the door for me as I've learned what I need to achieve if I want to make music a career for myself. Music is just a hobby if you don't figure out how to take the next step."
For someone who has taken that step and made music their future like Andy Bishop, school may always be the alternate route, but it's one that will always be available. Bishop, bass player for Yukon Blonde, who recently played at the Out Back Shack, always knew that music was what he wanted to do with his life, but went to postsecondary as a back-up. Now with Yukon Blonde, who are based out of British Columbia and signed to Bumstead Records, Bishop had to take a step back from his Master's degree as it was too difficult to juggle school with practice and being on the road. "I know I made my choice to play music long before school was an option," said Bishop. "But school isn't going anywhere and you always have your youth." Even though the band is currently on tour promoting a new record being released next year, Bishop fully plans to return to Vancouver and finish his degree when things calm down with the band.
So for those of you who wish to make a career in music, always push for the next step, but remember that there's nothing wrong with a back-up plan, especially since it'll always be available.
Look out for Yukon Blonde's second full-length album to be released next year, as well as TV Freaks' and Marine Dreams' debut albums, which will be available in the near future.
Most of us have dreamed of the rock star lifestyle at some point or another; to join a band, write some hits, get signed to a record label, drop out of school and make a living rocking out. For some of us, those dreams faded years ago, along with the dreams of being a superhero or astronaut, but for others the dream still lives on.
I'm sure that many of you reading this can name at least one person in your program in a band (except Music Industry Arts students, who can name at least 50) or name one band featuring a Fanshawe student or graduate.
It seems that although the rock star dream may remain for many people who don't see music as just a hobby; they have realized that post-secondary education is a wise route in case the dream falls through.
Second-year MIA student Justis Krar is one of those students. Krar, who is currently involved in a number of musical projects including Hunters and Anglers, TV Freaks and Marine Dreams, who were just signed to You've Changed Records, started playing music the same way many others have. Looking up to those older than him, Krar and his friends started jamming in parents' garages as it was just the thing to do in the small town of Welland, Ontario. Over the years as his playing has progressed, Krar had looked into the MIA program at Fanshawe as a back-up. While his love of music pushed him towards the program, Krar quickly discovered how, although a back-up plan seemed wise as "you can't always make it big," it became a way to further his playing. "I knew that I would learn all aspects of the music industry," said Krar. "Playing is just a small portion of it. There's so much more to the business and artist development."
Although Krar is well on his way to graduation, he did not hold back on saying that if the opportunity arose, music would become a career for him. "I know that my future will be music. I just don't know what it is yet."
A calculated 75 per cent of musicians around the city and on campus stated that they are currently in post-secondary or have graduated from post-secondary as a means of finding a career path that will "get parents off your back," although about 20 per cent of that number only play music as a hobby and do not have any future plans in the field. The question is, when does music stop becoming a thing of passion and more of a reachable future goal? "To make it in music, you need to be able to reach the next step. I think a lot of people don't know what that is," said Krar. "Being in the MIA program has really opened the door for me as I've learned what I need to achieve if I want to make music a career for myself. Music is just a hobby if you don't figure out how to take the next step."
For someone who has taken that step and made music their future like Andy Bishop, school may always be the alternate route, but it's one that will always be available. Bishop, bass player for Yukon Blonde, who recently played at the Out Back Shack, always knew that music was what he wanted to do with his life, but went to postsecondary as a back-up. Now with Yukon Blonde, who are based out of British Columbia and signed to Bumstead Records, Bishop had to take a step back from his Master's degree as it was too difficult to juggle school with practice and being on the road. "I know I made my choice to play music long before school was an option," said Bishop. "But school isn't going anywhere and you always have your youth." Even though the band is currently on tour promoting a new record being released next year, Bishop fully plans to return to Vancouver and finish his degree when things calm down with the band.
So for those of you who wish to make a career in music, always push for the next step, but remember that there's nothing wrong with a back-up plan, especially since it'll always be available.
Look out for Yukon Blonde's second full-length album to be released next year, as well as TV Freaks' and Marine Dreams' debut albums, which will be available in the near future.
