The Worst Advice

Wise words from emilyplayscello: if you're in a position of power and giving advice to younger musicians, you can tell them about the challenges of a life in music without straight-up discouraging them from entering it. Emily's video:




Another point that Emily makes after 5:39 is that it's the younger people in the profession who will bring genuine change to the field that will make it a more supportive environment. Let's enable them to succeed.

The worst advice anyone gave me? Here are two examples:

Well-known composer:

You pay too much attention to quality of tone at the piano to ever have a career in contemporary music.

Senior administrator:

You don't strike me as the kind of person who would be interested in graduate school.

Of course we get shitty advice along the way. The important thing is to be able to recognize it and move on. But when you've spent lots of time in the profession and know the lay of the land, offer advice that people will admire you for one day.