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I have a 3.95. I could've earned that .05 back by letting academics consume my life, but I didn't. I was a terrible trumpet player (and hated the trumpet) until

I have a 3.95. I could've earned that .05 back by letting academics consume my life, but I didn't. I was a terrible trumpet player (and hated the trumpet) until I left band for choir in middle school, and I could have been a lot better at it if I weren't busy teaching myself to program, rather than practicing. I have earned Cs on tests that fell during tech week (crunch time for school theater the week before opening night, with build crew and rehearsals lasting until 10pm). What I propose (and what she proposes) is that there's nothing wrong with that. Sacrificing my instrument and moving to choir taught me what is it enjoy making music. Those tests I bombed aren't pretty, but in the performances the following weekend, I worked closely with a group of talented people under incredible constraints and unpredictable circumstances to pull off a smooth show, and it was both the greatest thrill and the greatest lesson in teamwork I'd ever experienced. I've no doubt that sufficient emotional and physical pain applied by a parent could coerce any child to earn a 4.0 and to master an instrument, but that kind of empty, forced skill is not something we should aspire to. Let people do what they love. Even if it weren't for programming and respectable grades, I could make a living with an IATSE card. They pay and the hours would be terrible, but at least I would like what I do.

wallflower 16y ago
You know, I know a really smart guy who went to a top school and now works for D.E. Shaw. He really lit up when I talked to him briefly at a wedding and asked if he was still getting to play his musical instrument. It turns out he had done so - did music for a friend's low ambition, high excitement show. And that really seemed to be more meaningful than the C++ code foo he did for D.E. Shaw. You will never regret jamming with friends. A test is just a blip.
- superuser2 16y ago
  Yep. The thing for me was that trumpet was not anywhere near "jamming with friends" the way choir is - I didn't like anyone in band, and after 45 minutes of playing I'm winded and my brain is deprived of oxygen, whereas 45 minutes of singing leave me feeling great. I don't think parents should let their kids do nothing, but I do think kids should be allowed to experiment, and choose for themselves what they stick with.

wallflower 16y ago

You know, I know a really smart guy who went to a top school and now works for D.E. Shaw. He really lit up when I talked to him briefly at a wedding and asked if he was still getting to play his musical instrument. It turns out he had done so - did music for a friend's low ambition, high excitement show. And that really seemed to be more meaningful than the C++ code foo he did for D.E. Shaw. You will never regret jamming with friends. A test is just a blip.

superuser2 16y ago
Yep. The thing for me was that trumpet was not anywhere near "jamming with friends" the way choir is - I didn't like anyone in band, and after 45 minutes of playing I'm winded and my brain is deprived of oxygen, whereas 45 minutes of singing leave me feeling great. I don't think parents should let their kids do nothing, but I do think kids should be allowed to experiment, and choose for themselves what they stick with.