these issues with age and virtuosity begin to melt away as you leave college, I have some very very gifted young students now, who will do very well, but 10 years from now, their age will not be such an issue, when I have done some important concerts or recordings, rarely has age been a point of discussion, the problem some very young talented people have is that people always expect them to keep improving in order to top themselves..

I'm honestly sick of the flute. I'd quit, but number one I'm too stubborn and I don't want to regret it and number two...there's nothing else im good at even slightly and nothing else I...at least used to...enjoy all that much. I hate music school. I hate it. I don't know if its just the school I'm at or the fact that I don't agree with my teacher about ANYTHING or that I shouldn't be in music school or what, but I've basically been nothing but miserable for the last two months.

Could you elaborate a little if you don't mind flauta? I'm scared that I will hate music when I go to college...
I understand your feelings completely about the flute! I love playing the flute and the arts are the only subject I'm good at.

well...I'm pretty sure that my biggest issue is that I don't agree with my teacher on anything. So if you are going to school for music research the teachers more thoroughly than anything else. set up lessons with them and meet them if you can even if its only for 15 extra minutes on your audition day. talk to them about their views on flute playing and their favorite flutists etc. get other people's opinions that you trust about them. find recordings of them if you can so you can find someone to study under who you actually want to sound like. I didn't do any of this and I'm miserable with my teacher.

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and theory classes are a huge pain in the butt. the more formal theory study you can get in before college the better. you can get by without having any realy knowledge before college, but it makes things a lot harder if you don't. knowing piano helps too.
and when finding recordings...try to find live ones instead of studio recordings.

Flauta, you will need theory if you want to be a musician, trust me on that one, but why go through this if you don't love it, at the end of the day, your true love for this art form is what will pull you through...

I have been through many disappointments and periods of self doubt, but my love for music and flute are too strong to ever let go of that dream..

well. i should probably quit.

sounds like you need to find a new school, but get used to the politics, it exists everywhere, especially in the real world...something you have to deal with..

sounds like you need to find a new school, but get used to the politics, it exists everywhere, especially in the real world...something you have to deal with..