By Professor Jacob Vogel, College of Performing Arts; Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music
The path I traveled in my career in music involved a lot of fun and hard work, particularly because that journey was primarily comprised of my time in marching bands. Marching band, unlike most other musical enterprises, is influenced by both athletic and military traditions. These traditions provided me with a philosophical backbone that has been the driving factor for my educational experience, my career and my life in general. Here are five suggestions that I can share from my experiences that will make for a great time in college:
Run it Back – In marching band, there are drill maneuvers, and sometimes, these maneuvers will cause you to travel great distances across the football field. However, these maneuvers are never perfect the first time, which means they will need to be rehearsed, and you’ll have to go back where you started, the same great distance. You could choose to walk back to your spot, or you could run it back. College will be the same way, you’ll need to write and re-write, or even re-learn information from high school. There will be times where you’ll need to look back through previously learned information, and travel the same great distance to work through it once again. Don’t be hesitant to go back and review, run back.
Always Improve – Every action you take should be to improve your career, your intellect and yourself. Every class you take is intended to aid in that improvement. Make sure you learn in every class you take, don’t just strive for a better grade. Some of the most un-informed people earned great marks in college, don’t be them. Use this time to truly develop your craft, and create of pattern of perpetual improvement.
Make Time – College is busy, and you won’t have time to tie your shoes. There will be late nights, and long days, so become the master of time-management. Look ahead and work ahead, be ahead of deadlines, not on top of them, anticipate as much as possible, be efficient! The same goes for your life OUTSIDE of school as well. Use your time wisely, and spend it with friends. You may meet your spouse here (I did), so make the most of it.
Self-Regulate and Self-Motivate – In athletics, if you make a mistake in a drill at practice, you will often times do a set of push-ups or run a lap as way to self-motivate and really drive the lesson home to not repeat the same mistakes. I’m not suggesting that you should drop-and-give-me-twenty if you answer a question incorrectly in class, but always be self-critical. The person who has the biggest impact on you is yourself, so always start there. If you know you deserved a lousy grade on an assignment, don’t be upset about it, assess the mistakes, and take the steps to solve the problem.
Be a Team Player – Give back to the university. During your studies, you will be given the chance to provide some service to Chapman. Perhaps you’ll be asked to be an Orientation Assistant, or to serve on a student committee for an alumni event. Whatever it is, reciprocate what the University has done for you. Education is a joint experience, the professors are not simply uploading information into your mind, they are sharing what they have done and know with you to impact that very field.