4 minute read
The Future of the Music Industry and What it's Like to Study Music From the Perspective of a Music Student.
Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell, Editor-in-Chief
Katherine Goble, a music student and University of Kentucky School of Music Ambassador, explains the benefits and challenges to studying music and what the future of the music industry holds.
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What program are you studying?
I am pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis on Violin.
Why did you choose to study this program?
I have been studying the violin since I was young. When I decided that I could not see myself doing anything else, that is when I knew I was making the correct decision. When you study music, you gain a large set of skills, and I know these skills can be applied to anything I decide to do in life. What are the best things about being a music student? Music allows us to feel so many emotions in our lives and affects us deeply in so many ways. The fact that I have a chance to make music and touch so many people is really something special.
What are the struggles of being a music student?
My biggest struggle is finding the time to practice, and then, practicing correctly. No matter how many hours I practice, I feel that it is never enough. I put enormous demands upon myself, and I am very self-critical.
What activities do you participate in as a music student?
I am in the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, University of Kentucky Women’s Choir, PAWS and Listen - an all-female acapella group auditioned from the University of Kentucky Women’s choir. I have played in the pit for University of Kentucky Opera Theater, and I am an Ambassador for the University of Kentucky School of Music.
What would you tell someone considering studying music?
I would let them know that the job market is wide open for music majors. There are jobs available in teaching, performing, and composing, as well as jobs related to computer games, television, films, and radio. There is availability for employment in social media, production, and sound. The list is endless.
What is it like studying performing during a global pandemic?
Studying music during a global pandemic definitely had its challenges. Initially, many of our classes were online. I missed the one-to-one student-teacher contact. Public performances were not allowed. The audience keeps me going, and I spend a lot of time looking forward to the next concert. With COVID, they just didn’t happen. The summer program that I love to attend in Europe was canceled two summers in a row. I also missed socializing with my friends. Thankfully, the University of Kentucky has done an excellent job of managing things, and we are mostly back to normal except for the fact that we are wearing masks.
Do you believe COVID-19 will change the music industry forever?
Thousands of music industry jobs were lost during the pandemic. Many of those people have moved on to other jobs to support themselves, which is such a loss for all of us. Many of the changes we are seeing today, such as travel restrictions and virtual concerts, are still in limbo. Maybe some of the virtual stuff will stay, maybe it won’t. Who can say? Musicians are a resilient bunch, though. While this has definitely been a hardship, I am looking forward to the day that I can sing without a mask and stand shoulder to shoulder with my friends at a live concert.
What is the best advice given to you by a professor?
Maestro John Nardolillo, head of the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, reminds us that making music together is very special. I always try to remember that, especially after COVID, I never want to take making music for granted.
What are your music career goals?
I have so many that it’s hard to pick just one. I would love to play in a professional orchestra, play the violin for movie scores or play in the pit of Broadway shows. I love to fiddle and sing country music, and I can see myself doing that at some point. I love musical theater and would love to perform professionally. I would love to compose music or conduct. We will just have to see where the wind blows me. I know for sure that music will always be a part of my life.
