Advice for the Next Generation of Musicians
University musicians have such busy schedules! While music is a rewarding major, sometimes it can be overwhelming. Hearing advice from mature musicians who have “been there, done that” challenges and inspires those aspiring to be professional musicians. At Maranatha Baptist University (MBU), Dr. Ledgerwood is a music legend. Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. “Ledge,” as his students affectionately call him, who shared fatherly advice for the next generation of musicians.
Advice for High School Musicians
High schoolers are still considering college and career options. Will they go to college? Where should they go to college? What should they study at college? Dr. Ledgerwood advises that if students want to pursue a music degree, “they have to really want it… don’t enter the field if you think it is an easy thing to do.” Students should strongly desire to use their musical gifts to serve God and others. Most importantly, however, students should seek God’s will—does God want them to study music? Knowing they are pursuing God’s will for their life can help them persevere when challenges tempt them to take an easier path.
If a student plans to study music in college, Dr. Ledge offers several ways for the student to prepare musically:
– Perfect skills on their instrument: scales, sight reading, technique, etc.
– Study and listen to a variety of music.
– Research topics that interest them (composing, theory, etc.) to “learn as much as [they] can.”
Everything students do now to prepare will give them a jumpstart on college study.
Advice for Current College Musicians
Studying music at college is a challenging pursuit. Dr. Ledge’s experiential advice centers on time management, practice, and internalizing material. First, students need to be organized in being detail-oriented and able to follow a schedule. Part of time management involves, “[Being] conscious of how they spend their time.” Because music majors have many responsibilities to juggle, using time wisely cannot be over-emphasized. Dr. Ledge recommends creating a schedule and sticking with it.
Second, college musicians need to learn to practice well. Dr. Ledge puts it this way: “It’s very easy to play, but to… practice is a skill that needs to be developed over time.” Students should work with their teachers to become efficient at practicing.
Third, students must internalize the material. Informative classes such as music history and music theory need to be understood, not taken “just to get through them.” Application is key.
Advice for Almost-Graduated College Musicians
Studying music gives students life skills that will carry over to other areas of life. Dr. Ledge encourages new graduates to use money wisely, be business savvy, and network with other musicians. “They need to be flexible and work hard.” Learning to work hard will benefit students in every area of life. “It’s not just music, it’s all those other things.” Regarding networking, young musicians should take advantage of opportunities to meet and work with other musicians.
No matter what stage of life you are in, all musicians can grow in their skills. The goal is to use what God gave you to the best of your ability.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Bio
Dr. Ledgerwood has taught at Maranatha for 38 years and held the position of Chair of the Music Department for 20 of those years. Currently, Dr. Ledgerwood teaches as a part-time professor in the Department of Music at MBU. His expertise in the areas of conducting, arranging, and performing tremendously impacts and inspires the music students he teaches. In recent years, Dr. Ledgerwood assumed responsibilities of teaching private composition lessons, keyboard composition and arranging, and arranging repertoire class. When he is not working, he enjoys singing, reading, and spending time with his family.