can we make a living from music in singapore?

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

heh, at the age of student, being under the control of family, try getting kicked out of the house, trying to survive and voicing out at the same time.

As much as its our own life, without the support of family in certain aspect. We have no life.

Doesnt help much when we wanna voice out bout having our own life and yet not achieving something visble thats assuring to them.

imho

 

[edder]

oh well, and then there are some who just wanna live within the confines of the society and happily conform to whatever that is around.

get the proper papers, work in an MNC, start a family, get more papers to go up the ladder, more money for the children's fund, retirement, insurance blah blah blah.

nothing wrong with that. if everyone is unique then who is boring?

 

[empihsrow]

I'd agree with Levan.

I had seen many people who had absolutely no idea what they were gonna do. They only cared about gunning down the examinations and getting the right results. I mean, take a look in JCs. What is the most popular subject combination? PCME! It's funny that everyone just wants to take this particular combination. It's even funnier when they take up Economics and then they suddenly realize and shout, "I hate Economics!"

I call this stupid herd behaviour.

Anyway, I dropped out of AJ this year after JAE. Okay, to be honest, I felt a little stupid cos I'd bought all my uniforms and classes were going on normally. It was very troublesome to drop out cos there were the teachers and the parents to deal with. I could not stand the dead and monotonous life of JC that is plaguing everyone and I badly wanted to get out. But there was another problem... What could I actually do after I'd dropped out?

My interests had always been politics and music. Well, I couldn't possibly join another JC and there were the options of joining the army or applying for a course in polytechnic. Actually, to be truthful, none of the polytechnic courses arouse my interest except Music and Audio Technology from SP.

And damn, the course only had a limited intake. There are only 40 students per cohort. It was already 4 weeks since the appeal period had ended. The chances of enrolment was so slim that I was prepared to join the army. And you can imagine my parents' frustration and disappointment. They had always wanted me to get into a good JC and get the grades they desired. Well, to be truthful, I have never shouldered any of their expectations because I knew very well what I wanted to do. I mean, it's my life. Whatever I choose will have an impact on my life!

And there were the familiar lines. "Music will not earn you money!" "It's just a hobby which everyone can pursue!"

Hmmmm. So I applied for the course without my parents' consent. I realized they could do nothing about it and if I could get enlisted, they just had to learn how to deal with it. To my greatest relief, I was admitted into the course!

It was definitely jubilation. My parents were very reluctant at first but they had to accept it and right now, they're definitely okay with it. Although the course isn't exactly to my liking and expectations, I still enjoy whatever I'm doing simply because music is my interest. It drives me. University will be a good dream for me in the future, but I guess I can only think about it when the time comes.

I just believe that if you want to do something you really want, you've got to create your own path. No one will want to listen to your ideas and will only enforce their ideas on you. If you want to make a living with something, the very first thing you should do is to make a stand.

If you need to take a risk, make a risk.

Don't be afraid and you will be a foot away from success.

 

[edder]

good for you empihsrow.

Do note that at best we would use only a tiny bit of the stuff that we learn in school when we get out.

Try to look at the commercial aspects of things related to the music industry and know the lobangs involved cos that is what will pay the bills and fund your passion to do more.

No money no honey. Sugar mummies donch grow on trees but I wished they did!

 

[chrisiscoolerthanyou]

at the end of the day, i suppose its we ourselves who make our own choices.
we walk our own path, we choose our own destiny

i think if whether if its music, studies whatever you want to do.
give it your all and make sure you'll never regret it.

 

[heroxx]

so empihsrow, mind telling me more about how the course is like? what you guys do? what year are you in right now? your plans after you get that diploma

 

[roninriot]

Just remember
Music should not be used as an excuse to be lazy in your studies as well
A lot of people want to form a band or learn how to play guitar simply to escape the fact that studying IS a part of life, however you look at it. I'm referring more to the young teenagers in secondary schools who might be too idealistic for their own good without a clear and sustained approach to scaling their music heights just yet.

This is not referring to all of the above posts. I totally agree with all of them!

 

[empihsrow]

so empihsrow, mind telling me more about how the course is like? what you guys do? what year are you in right now? your plans after you get that diploma

Haha, the course is a very all-rounded course. You'll get to learn things like recording and mixing techniques, midi and synthesis, music theory, keyboard skills, mathematics, accoustical science, etc.

Aiyo dei, if you'd read my post carefully, I'm a year one student now. I am not totally too sure of my plans after diploma. It's either further studies in music technology overseas or I shall go to NUS and take up History[if my grades are good enough]. Well, if I can't get into universities or if my family doesn't have the money, it's time to work then.

 

[empihsrow]

No money no honey. Sugar mummies donch grow on trees but I wished they did!

Haha, I wished so too!

 

[gothviruz]

Just remember
Music should not be used as an excuse to be lazy in your studies as well
A lot of people want to form a band or learn how to play guitar simply to escape the fact that studying IS a part of life, however you look at it. I'm referring more to the young teenagers in secondary schools who might be too idealistic for their own good without a clear and sustained approach to scaling their music heights just yet.

This is not referring to all of the above posts. I totally agree with all of them!

yeah that's a very good advice from roninriot. I had used music as an excuse to be lazy when I was in Poly in 1992. I even skipped classes and lessons just to go jamming with my band.. haha.. In the end, didnt make it in my studies.

Many many years down the road, i got married, had kids.. that's when I felt the pinch. So, I went back to the books and continued where I left off.

I so agree, it's the Singapore mindset to have papers. "No papers and u cant go far", is what everyone else is thinking. It all voice down to your own decision, how u want your life to turn out to be.

I have a friend who quit school after her 'N' Levels, but she pursue her passion for dancing, and now she can even earn a good 4-figure sum for a one gig show, apart from being a dance instructor as well.

U just have to make the right decision, but if along the way, u discovered that u had chosen the wrong path, it is never too late to make a U-Turn.

 

[Diehard]

I think the question first posted is too skeletal. For example:-

(1) There is no mention of how competent is the level of musicianship;
(2) What level of income he wishes to take home;
(3) How is he working towards his medium and long term goals;
(4) Is he contend with just the Singapore scene:

etc etc

Yet, extremely interesting to see how softies are quick to chip in with open views....exhilarating. Especially enjoyed Levin's contributory "vomit" contributing freely all he has (ie experience, passion, drive etc) onto the table.

Levin, u are champion man. And from VJ. Kudos

 

[heroxx]

i just want to work with music. like audio production, etc etc. i keep my choices open for now.
4 figure pay?
how do you build your portfolio then?

 

[Diehard]

Again I find your question which to me concerns your livelihood extremely difficult to answer. Four figure could mean S$1,000/- to S$9,999/-. Audio production can mean much more....regret I know not much abt this line.

The matter of fact is that if truth be told "your heart will always be where your treasure is". So it is important to know yourself where your real treasure is. Thereafter, you have to do some ground research to get adequate facts and figure before throwing out questions for feedback in order for you to discern whether you really want to go that way.

Though all the responses from softies are excellent, you may not get a real comfort or assurance cause at your age you probably have yet to find your real "self" as most of us do when we were your age. It's part of growing up.

So in short, connect (or source out) with the people on the ground who are in your line of work. Listen to their experiences and make some preliminary assessment how they fare. Check the industry through journals or with the library etc. Check out the success and failure stories (if you can). Then, you will have more facts and data to post more specific questions which will help you to make up your mind. There is always an inner voice within you that will tell you what is best for you when you have done the necessary ground work.

Hope my contribution helps, amidst all the excellent contribution by others. Good Luck to your endeavours.

 

[ceing]

I was in ur shoes last year, choosing wether anot to be in de music n audio tech. Overall I think tt wad u learn inside could be learnt mostly outside of ur poly life as well, there are lots of info about mixing n recording in de internet. like all of them said, u do nt need a paper in de arts industry, its all about ur portfolio. tts why wether u study in a music course or wad will nt affect much of ur future career as a guitarist or wadever but i dont dare to say tt in de sound engineering industry.

Wad i noe is tt if u wish to stay in SG n carry one with ur music life, its best to get a diploma (in other lines) n better still 1 or 2 yrs in de line of ur diploma before carrying on. Music needs no papers but other line does. If u find urself someday tt u dont wish to carry on with ur music career anymore or if u think u r really strugggling to even keep a bowl of porridge for ur meals, u still hav a chance of gettin ur old job bak.

However, if u wish to leave this beautiful island which is free frm all natural disasters, but with lots of man-made disasters (ERP etc). Its best to plan a route for urself too. wad r u gonna do when in overseas? work in a fastfood restaurant n wait for ur chance to get hit in de music industry? whether ur in Singapore or in any country, nt everyone music passionate person will hit de jackpot.

Tt's just my thought tough, n i totally agree with de previous posts. Overall its still ur desicion, wether to take de bet anot. No offences to anyone else

 

[hii]

contrary to what everyone up there has said, "chasing the paper" might not be the wrong path to go.

at this stage of your life (I assume you're 16), you're not sure of what you want to be, who you want to be, or even who you are. at 17 i had just gotten into RJ and i hated it. i was convinced that i wanted to be a musician and i begged my mom to let me drop out. but my mom always told me to keep my options open. so i did. and hey, i got my scholarship, went to harvard med and actually found out that medicine was something i really really enjoyed.

at the end of the day your "paper" gives you something; the liberty to choose what you want for your life.

but in the end, it's your life. and if music will make your life complete, then go for it.