I was supposed to go to Julliard Music school (USA) when I was
10.5/11. Everybody prompted my mother to get me to get special
lessons for it and so I did for months. Training for the
school's entrance thing. After six months of practice geared to
help my entry, I pulled her aside and asked her if I *had to* go
to this school. I didn't want to: I could see what my future
would hold [the negative side anyway]: Repetition, perfection,
competitions. Performing, Being judged. Levels. Grades.
Mistakes. Corrections. Travel. I didn't want any of it. It
seemed dreadful. But without having to launch into any long
explanation to her, she agreed and without disappointment. I
never regretted it. He says: "The honest answer to this question
is: don*t do it. Unless you absolutely have to be a musician
because it*s the only thing you can do and you can*t stop
yourself. But if there*s any choice * go and be a doctor or a
lawyer because being a musician is a nightmare." and that speaks
to me. "Unless you absolutely HAVE to be a musician because it's
the only thing you can do and can't stop yourself". That speaks
volumes. Don't just "try it 'cause you like it". You have to
have full-on commitment, be willing to do WHATEVER it takes. I
didn't. I knew it as a kid. Everybody else thought I could and
should. I knew they were wrong. Thankfully I had a mother who
listened. His early story is a lot like mine. I didn't HAVE TO
be a musician. I liked playing music. I enjoy making music. It's
natural. I love it. It plays in my head 24/7. I hear music
everywhere. But a career would have killed it. Killed it. I know
it would have. Even if it didn't and I was wrong, I don't regret
it. I wasn't committed. I would never become committed. It's
likely I would've ended up like him. Bitter. Negative. He
reminds me so much of me it's disturbing. Instead, I'm happy. I
enjoy playing. I didn't get wrapped up in the System as it is.
I'm very glad to be outside of it. Very very glad.
http://www.classicfm.com/artists/peter-donohoe/interview/ Mind
you, I encourage EVERYBODY to follow their dreams. Really. I
believe it so fully I can't even put words to it. But: be ready.
Plunge ahead eyes open or shut - it doesn't matter. But you have
to be committed or trust someone to be committed for you. I
would've been walking in naked by myself. I had no mentor. == I
was a kid with grown adults around me going, "I would KILL to
have your talent!". "You have SO MUCH POTENTIAL, you shouldn't
waste it". "You don't understand how precious a gift is that you
have". All these people trying to manipulate me. Grown adults
being envious... jealous. Piano teachers drooling to be able to
do what I could do, play how I could play. "You have more
creativity in your pinky nail than all of my students will have
in their lives". Fucking shit. That kind of pressure. They had
no idea how rotten that was to do to a kid. Excuse the language
but even at 44 yrs old, when I see parents/teachers/adults
pressuring kids to "be" this or that. engineering their
existences out of them... and then wonder why they off
themselves as a teenager and those left behind cry how much
potential they had.... my rage goes at the parents and teachers
more than the sympathies. I was _very very_ lucky. Very lucky. I
got through it intact but I brought a nugget with me through
time itself - I vowed I'd never forget the undue pressures
adults put on kids who have talents they didn't even ask for and
I'd never do the same to anybody. I hope I succeeded. Ugh. Sorry
for the rant but it's something I'm passionate about. Thanks for
giving me the space to express myself
