Forum identifies new directions for classical music careers.(Forum Focus: Collegiate Chapters)

Rice University's Shepherd School of Music recently set out to create a national focus on new career models with a student-centered forum, "Careers in Music Performance: Convening Student Perspectives and Creating Models for the 21st Century."

This forum, the brainchild of Benjamin Kamins, professor of bassoon, and Janet Rarick, artist teacher of professional development, was comprised of performances, workshops and discussions. It was designed to inspire music students to consider the variety of paths they can take to find, and possibly redefine, success in their chosen field.

"When students have a narrow view of the profession, they limit themselves in finding their own best career path," Kamins said. "There is a misconception among music students that you get a job in an orchestra and you live happily ever after. It's incredible to get and keep that job, but it doesn't guarantee artistic satisfaction."

"It seemed natural to have very gifted young performers come together to draw positive, creative energy from each other to formulate possible new directions for our profession," Kamins said. "New research tells us that student perceptions about music careers are significantly influenced by their interaction with their peer groups."

That research was conducted by a former Shepherd School student-turned-researcher, Shoshana Dobrow.

"Social influences, from both peers and from parents, can have a powerful effect on musicians' sense of calling and on their career decisions," Dobrow said. "These findings are intriguing to me because we tend to think of a 'calling' as being something very personal and very internal--not something subject to social influence, as my research is showing."

The forum was moderated by Eric Booth. Currently a faculty member at the Juilliard School, Booth founded the Art and Education ...