By Myrna Urbina
Jason Smith — Music Education at The University of the Incarnate Word, Fall 2016:
Myrna Urbina: Did you always plan on being a music education major?
Jason Smith: Well it all started when I was 4. I wanted to do athletic training because I loved sports and becoming a professional athlete was out the window, so that was the next best thing. I didn’t like all the science classes that went with it and I was becoming uninterested with it. I was already in my university’s band and I was good at it. Every time our director would say something like, ‘music ed guys, what do you do in this situation?’ and I would answer instead. Then one day this girl who was a music therapy major in my English class named Kaylyn told me I should switch majors because UIW had a great music department. So I did and it’s been great!
MU: You’ll be graduating in about a year, so is there anything you wish you would’ve done differently at the start of your degree, in general or even in certain classes?
JS: Practiced more, definitely! Aural skills was always my least favorite class and it was hard to motivate myself to practice it. I wished from the beginning I had better software for outside. My last semester of aural skills wasn’t bad once I was able to study better outside of the class. My theory class definitely helped, obviously those classes went hand and hand and helped me understand what I was hearing but outside of the class. The new software I used was great and helped me reinforce what I was learning in class. My professor had us use Picardy and it was much better and easier to understand what you got wrong, and helped you get better rather than cause frustration.
MU: So you basically wish you used Picardy from the start?
JS: Ha! Yeah, pretty much. If I had I would’ve enjoyed aural skills way more and would have not dreaded tests as much.
MU: Well, what about music theory?
JS: Music theory wasn’t too bad. I had taken an intro to music theory class and my professor certainly over prepared us! My theory I & II class were a breeze because of it, but I did not continue to over prepare myself, which I regretted. Theory III & IV wasn’t as easy. I was learning as I was doing it, you know, like I was catching up in class rather than really understanding what my professor was teaching us. I preferred theory I & II; I already knew what I was doing so I was just sharpening my skills and solidifying what was being taught.
MU: And piano proficiency?
JS: I wish I practiced more again! The improv and prepared piece we had to do for tests wasn’t too bad, but the scales and sight reading, oh boy! I should’ve started my scales and sight reading from day one, everyday. That would have made studying for my exams a lot easier. It wasn’t something I was cramming in to learn before my test. But I’m still proficient in piano, so I’m happy.
MU: Now tell me about everyone’s favorite class: music history?
JS: I should have listened to the pieces everyday all day until I woke up humming them! The general information wasn’t too bad to learn but the music! I wish I would’ve listened to them the way my friends did, they had them in their phones and would listen to them in the morning, between classes, at night and even sometimes when we would just hang out. They had them on so much they had them stuck in their head. I should’ve done that.
MU: Last question, do you have any advice for future music education students?
JS: Nobody did anything great by doing the minimum requirement.
Myrna Urbina — Music Industry Studies at The University of the Incarnate Word, Spring 2016
Did I always plan on being a music industry major?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in when I was about to graduate. I was torn between pharmacy and journalism originally, but then I realized that music was something I regretted not being more involved in when I was younger. I figured now was a perfect time for me to start, so I chose music industry because I would be learning music, business, and marketing all in one degree. I wanted a versatile degree in something that I felt I would enjoy and not be so bummed about learning. I wanted to do something that really interested me and that I could see myself wanting to stay involved in. I knew music wasn’t going to be easy to learn, with so many of the students having way more experience than me, but I definitely don’t regret my choice.
Is there anything I wish I would’ve done differently at the start of my degree, in general or even in certain classes?
Like most students, I do wish I would’ve practiced as much as I did my last two years of my degree. My first year I definitely did not practice or study much outside of class, and that is one thing I regret. My intro to theory professor certainly over prepared our class and taught us a lot more than we expected, but I didn’t continue that strategy my sophomore year or throughout the summer. It slowed me down a bit and I ended up having to relearn stuff I should’ve already known because I hadn’t studied enough to make it second nature.
However, during my junior and senior year I realized that music classes like theory, aural, piano and music history, needed extra effort, and when I put in the time I, as well as my professors, saw improvement. I know that if I had done that at the start of my degree I definitely would be a better music student. I don’t think I’ll ever stop trying to be a better musician after I graduate. It has definitely made me a more disciplined person, improved my learning and taught me a lot about my capabilities. If I had known how influential music was to myself, I would’ve been studying three times as much my first day after I graduated high school.
Advice for future music students?
Over preparing isn’t a bad idea. Practicing for 4 hours at once isn’t a good thing but I think setting aside and planning an hour a day or even every other day is the best idea. I’m the kind of person that likes to plan out my day hour by hour, and when I started including extra studying and practicing, I saw improvement in so many aspects as a music and a normal student. Classes became easier to follow and music, hearing it, identifying it and understanding the structure of it, became second nature. Music isn’t something that can be learned and done half heartedly, you have to be willing to sacrifice some lazy time!! So my advice is: in order to enjoy your degree and improve yourself, extra effort is required.
Marissa Garcia — Music Therapy at The University of the Incarnate Word, Fall 2015
MU: So since you graduate in about a year, is there anything you wish you would’ve done differently at the start of your degree, in general or even in certain classes?
MG: Not really. I would’ve liked to use the extra-prep tools more than required, like Picardy. I should’ve practiced music theory and aural skills outside of class because I really didn’t; I would just do my homework and that was about it. I think I had a decent balance. Yeah, I should have practiced more and studied more, over watching Netflix and hanging with my friends. However, I wouldn’t have wanted to take time away from family and friends, or I think I would’ve burned myself out.
MU: Since you felt like you didn’t really need to change much, what did you do to make you feel so secure with your balance of school and life?
MG: I was dedicated to my work. With music history I would go with a friend and we would lock ourselves in a study room for hours listening, repeating, and rewriting all the information. We just really focused on studying, but I think it really helped because we would be able to talk, joke and have conversations about the material. And for me, if I can teach someone with the material I know, it helps me understand it more because I’m able to help someone, and I thoroughly enjoy that. If I can teach someone about something, it helps me understand, and remember it as well. And I am hanging with my friends, so it’s a win win situation all together!
MU: Do you have any advice for future music students?
MG: Follow your true passion. Do whatever makes you happy. If you can see yourself doing music or music therapy or music business, or whatever it is for the rest of your life, then do it. If you view your work as not a job per say, but as life goals, then I think you should do it. When I look at my music therapy degree I don’t say ‘Oh am I gonna be able to pay the bills or am I gonna make money?’ I don’t do it for money, I mean, yeah you have to worry about making some money, but I think about as ‘Wow it’s gonna be awesome. I’m gonna be doing music and helping people for the rest of my life.’
MU: And lastly, what made you choose music therapy?
I asked myself if I could do pharmacy, my original degree, for the rest of my life and I said, ‘No I can’t’. Also, I stopped paying attention in class and I stopped putting effort in class, because I just didn’t wanna do it. Even though I was good at it, I just had no motivation. I didn’t love it. Ultimately my goal is music therapy and my music classes. Yeah they’re hard, but I like what I am learning and I love learning about it, and I want to continue learning about it. And that’s how I know I’m in the right place.
Follow Myrna on Twitter @MyrnaCatMEOW.