Hi there, I'm a newbie and I'd be grateful if anyone could give me some advice...
I'm currently studying grade 8 piano, and grade 7 flute. I've decided recently that a career in music is only natural despite my parents telling me that I'd be better off doing something that pays good when I graduate
Anyway, I'd really like to become a performer one day, and I have no idea on what to do. Do people who usually go to university become teachers? Should I apply to music college? Some people have told me that music college focuses on the performing aspect of music. Is this true?
Another thing I'd like to ask is what kind of qualifications do people who get accepted at music college have?
I'm currently in my first year of A levels and someone told me that you need a diploma in an instrument to get accepted at a music college.

Would anyone please give me some advice as what to do if I want to be a performer?

Thank you!

Even though your parents might not approve of you doing music, you should do what you want to do. It is your life.

People who do music at uni,can be anything. Quite a lot become teachers of some description, others do something totally different and not related to music at all.

I'd say music colleges do focus a lot more on performance, and it is a lot more competitive. People who get in there and study there are bloomin good lol,thats not saying you aren't!

If you really want to be a performer and possibly apply to a music college then maybe you should see if you can arrange a consultation lesson with someone at a college. This would give you an idea of the standard you're at in comparison to others at the music college, and you'd get another opinion on whether you should apply there or not.

However, I know people at a normal uni who are darn good and want to be performers!

Thanks for your reply.

The main question is really would it be worth taking a gap year so that I can get a diploma and try to get into music college, or apply with everybody else at the normal time to do a degree in music? How common is it that a graduate from uni becomes a performer?

Grateful for any more replies.

IMO, I strongly discourage music as a career unless you REALLY want to be a teacher or become a solo artist as big as Kennedy/Mae/Grosvenor etc or ensemble performers like Duel/Red Priest etc
Plus Music doesn't generally pay well