Several years ago, Andrea Longato and Francesco Beccaro were both playing guitar in Italy. Andrea was studying engineering while taking private guitar lessons on the side, and Francesco was a full-time musician. They were, and still are, extremely passionate about their music but felt stuck. They needed to find the right training institution to move their careers forward. Several years later, these two Italians are good friends and successful, professional musicians in New York City. How did they do it? They didn’t let distance get in the way of choosing the best music school for them.
Andrea and Francesco both knew that continuing their music education was essential to advancing their careers, and distance very well could have gotten in the way for them. They could have narrowed their focus to only music schools in Italy or Europe. Instead, Andrea and Francesco looked to New York City. Here are some of the factors they valued over distance when making their decision to study at The Collective School of Music.
Finding the right faculty
The right faculty can make all the difference in your career as a musician. As Andrea says about the faculty at The Collective School of Music, “They do not make you feel like you can’t learn and improve your playing. They are always focused on helping you get better and reach your goals.” That was exactly what he needed to start developing as a professional musician. When you start to search for what you need, don’t let distance get in the way of finding a music school with the teachers who are going to push you to excel.
Making professional connections
College or post-graduate work in music is where you’re going to meet the people who can get your career off the ground, but it’s up to you to do the work. “No one is going to come along and just give you a gig. You need to be out there playing with everyone, not matter what the gig is,” Francesco says. Choosing an institution that offers you the opportunity to get out there and make those connections is key.
Building your reputation
Your personal reputation often goes under-valued when you’re starting your music career because it naturally takes a backseat to talent and experience. Francesco says that the people at The Collective School of Music helped him realize that because it’s such a positive atmosphere. “If there wasn’t a good vibe here I wouldn’t be able to spend 12 hours a day here, honestly. We’ve been playing with as many other students as possible and everyone is willing to learn,” he says. When you’re searching for opportunities to continue your musical education, remember that it’s just as important to find a place where you’re going to become a better person, not only a better musician.
When you’re passionate about making a career in music, you know that three very important factors are practice, connections, and experience. All of these come into play when it’s time for you to select a music school for undergrad or post-graduate training. You know you want to find a place that allows you to grow as a musician both technically and professionally, and sometimes that place isn’t in your backyard. Take a cue from Andrea and Francesco: don’t let distance control your music career.
