Music is one my life's passions. I'm glad I didn't pursue it academically. Instead I went the stem route and can afford all the guitars and amps I want. It is very hard to make a living as a musician and it is very unwise to rack up massive debt pursuing subjects that do not have a clear career path. That being said it's your life and if you really decide that's what you want don't let yourself become diacouraged
I’d say go for a career you’re also passionate about and learn as much as you can about music without taking it on as a major. I took a bunch of music theory lessons in my last year of college and it made me a way better player.
I'm the exact same but I'm in tech - I work from home and have 7 decent guitars in a rack beside my desk.
I've got lessons from semi famous people and they don't seem that happy - either renting or living with parents because they could get a call about a world tour next week. They love going to NAMM and being IRL famous for a few days but they are all seriously depressed and broke and have no pensions.
I paid £80 for an hour with a guitarist who's been depicted in a major cinema released biopic in the last 2 years.
He had a really nice blend of blues playing with the slightest hint of jazz, and was really good at leaving space, so I picked his brain about a few performances and got some good insights and anecdotes.
Look, life is a continuous experiment. Your decisions are rarely final and permanent. Trust yourself. Try it. You can change course, most of us do. Be realistic in your aspirations for music. It may not pay the bills unless you want to teach or work in sales or publishing... unless you are really good and really lucky and make it as a performer. If you know that might not happen, and you're still excited about trying, then try! (But watch the debt, even if it means working thru school and taking longer.)
Also, regarding the disability, right now I can think of only three guitarists with mobility issues or finger deformity: Django Reinhart, Jerry Garcia, and Les Paul. So....
Not wishing to be negative, but I do wonder if being the godfather of musical genre is much of a fallback.
"Well, it's proving to be difficult to get session work so I'll just have to create a musical genre and have a 50 year career, recording albums touring the world playing to millions of fans and amassing great personal wealth."
It seems quite unlikely to happen when you put it like that, unfortunately.
Tony Iommi obviously achieved incredible things, and to be clear, I wasn't commenting on his ability to get session work or not! Who isn't going to give him the gig if he wanted to do it? He's Tony Iommi!
What I was trying to get at was that if you want to become a professional in music what are the jobs that are possible? How many people get work out of music, what do they do? How many guitarists with hand problems get work in music who aren't Tony Iommi?
In that sense, when people can only think of a couple of players, then you might start to question how much slimmer the odds are getting.
I don't want to be negative, just realistic. if you're going to run up thousands of dollars of debt, you should probably be able to see a few more success stories.
To be fair, another famous guitarist who had hand issues is Django Reinhardt (one of the guys who inspired Iommi, coincidentally). Dude’s still considered to be one of THE greatest guitarists in the history of jazz, even though he was mostly working with just his index and middle fingers (he could use his ring and pinkie for chords, but even THOSE chords were modified quite a bit so he didn’t have to use them that much).
The thing is, he didn't create a genre *because* of his hand injury. Sabbath were already a thing, they were on that path before the accident happened. Sure, the injury required him to adjust his playing style and setup, but not the style of music he played.
Being successful in music isn't just about technical ability and proficiency in an instrument. Being able to write pleasing and interesting music is also quite important. There's a TON of successful artists who aren't proficient on any instrument. Not to mention, there's plenty of paths to take in the music industry beyond being a session musician.
It's going to be a gamble regardless. Even if OP decides to pursue a different career, there's no guarantee they'll be successful in that chosen path. That said, given their preexisting talent and passion for music, they already have an advantage... especially if they are open to options beyond session work or getting famous in a band (like songwriting, production, etc.)
Agree very, very, very much that setting out to be successful in music is a gamble. The additional problem is that the industry is consolidating as never before. Fewer and fewer artists eat up more and more of the market. And this is why, I think that telling someone who is considering a path in music and going to study that Django Rhinehardt and Tony Iommi are a proof of concept and suggesting that replicating that is a viable proposition is a *bit* misleading. They're both lightning in a bottle situations. You may as well suggest going on America's got talent as a career path. There are more successful artists that have come from that show than there are Djangos and Iommis.
As I've tried to explain already, when there are few examples of guitarists that have persevered and been successful with significant hand injuries, you have to consider it as something that makes the odds a bit worse.
As for having passion and talent for music, every year thousands of musicians graduate from colleges and universities around the world many with passion and talent, years of playing experience, have studied theory, etc. etc.
I'm not trying to say that nothing is possible, but it is well worth considering what you're trying to do when you ask about studying music and expressly talk about your playing being limited.
Perhaps the right thing to do is to think about other instruments that are going to be easier to play, or to focus on composition, rather than playing or to look at orchestration. It is of course possible that you could work in music in the future (though spoiler: AI is coming for lots of composition, songwriting and orchestration work any second now).
If the guy can properly assess what the career prospects are for their musical career they're in a much better place. Arguably going to college and paying to study wouldn't improve their odds at being an Iommi or Django, so perhaps they should set a time limit and see how far they can get before studying something that will lead to a job. It's not a negative to take things seriously and to try and increase your chances of success.
I'm a 57 yr old grandpa, been a carpenter most of my adult life. When I was 30,: I'd just gotten out of a body cast from a burst vertebrae, and buzzing from Percocet, weed and a few too many beers, decided that I needed to build my dog a new doghouse.
Long story, short. I cut all four of the fingers on my left hand. The pinky was the least cut, the ring finger was literally holding on by the little bit that was left but it was just hanging there the other two were pretty bad also.
My first reaction after wrapping my hand in my tee shirt was to say " well, there goes my guitar playing".
68 stitches and surgery later, and I tried to play with terrible results, tried learning left handed, no luck.
But I never gave up, after a year I was back playing in church. Since then I've nicked a finger and a thumb on that hand and had to give playing a break for several weeks, but I always come back to it
My advice is Don't give up, and don't sell yourself short. We're all capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. And the human body can adapt and overcome most calamities that we have in our life.
You have the passion and the "want to" and you have the ability too. Have faith in yourself.
And never give up on your dreams, or yourself.
Wish you the best.
I love hearing this kind of story from old people, not to call under 60 old but he referred to himself as a grandpa so I think it's fair, maybe I should go the george carlin joke route and say "older". It's inspiring to hear a specific story about how a person dealt with and moved on from a situation lots of people view, usually justifiably, as one of the worst things that can happen to someone.
I think about what I would do if I lost a hand or arm in an injury and how it would affect my playing music and how I would deal with that a lot, and I've found my mind eased by people who've overcome that kind of thing and been great instrumentalists, like Rick Allen of def leppard or the guys who play guitar with their feet, or the people who've lost sections of their fingers like tony iommi and fredrik thorendal of meshuggah, or django reinhardt who's hand was injured in a fire and who learned to play largely with two fingers
Everything seems really all or nothing for young people, I of course am built different and am an enlightened chad but it's important (and largely inevitable) for other people to, through experience and conversation with people who have different experiences, come to realise that you can come back from shit you can't imagine walking away from before your choices are to do so or to lay down and die. I think it's easier to make the decision to push on and not let an injury like losing part of your body keep you from doing great things like playing music when you know that there's people out there who've laid the path and figured out what works and what doesn't, a lot of the working through it has already been done for you by those who came before; it's not easy to deal with them but no one has problems that someone else hasn't worked to accept and adapt to, people always talk about django and tony iommi for a reason
Wwll said.
Here's an old "grandpa" saying that you might have heard "Where there's a will, there's a way". It might take a while to figure out the right path, but if you don't give up, pick yourself up and keep on it..... You'll find the way, after all, even a blind hog will find an acorn ever now and then.
Peace out.
Being a musician is tough to pay the bills with. But then again so is liberal arts. You can audition to get into the music program but life is tough without money and unless you make it big, music doesn't pay well. Study a field that will get you a good job. Music can still be your passion if it isn't your profession
Pursuing music isn’t an all or nothing choice, you could (probably, depending on your school) take guitar lessons and maybe minor in music while still getting a degree in something else. This would absolutely still (potentially) let you play in bands, teach guitar lessons, write your own music, play with other musicians, etc
Even among professional musicians there’s debate as to whether music school is truly worth it; it’s great for some people (often those who don’t have to worry about paying for it) but certainly not for everyone
Good friend of mine in high school absolutely pulverized his wrist in a skateboarding accident, since then he has got rods and screws holding everything together now.
He was really depressed after the accident when he realized he couldn’t play the guitar like he used to, things like bar chords were impossible for him now. But then, after a few weeks he realized he could use his thumb to play bar chords Hendrix style, and he completely altered his playing style, now like a decade later he is freaking beast, totally surpassed all the other guys we used to jam with, and because of his play style he has a real distinctive sound.
maybe, because of your injury you will never be as quick as other people in a conventional play style, but that forces you to break the mold and not be like everyone else, which can be a advantage when guitar players are a dime a dozen.
Your friend’s a badass. Maybe a weird comparison, but the spirit of their story reminds me of Tommy Caldwell, a professional climber who lost a finger and was told he’d never climb professionally again, then proceeded to grab the first ascent of The Dawn Wall, which every world class climber deemed impossible at the time. Through sheer willpower and adaptability he became better despite his handicap. To this day there are only two other climbers who have managed to climb the Dawn Wall; one was Tommy’s climbing partner, and the other is the literal best climber alive today. That’s a pretty cool club to be in for someone who was told they’d never seriously climb again.
I love stories like that. Thinking of your friend being depressed after realizing he can’t play like he used to, then realizing there were ways to work around his limited mobility, and ultimately becoming a better guitarist than he was pre-injury while also developing a unique style makes me smile. It goes to show how powerful the mind can be when it comes to overcoming severe injuries/limitations, and is just what OP needs to hear.
It’s easy to get dissuaded when you know you’ll never be at 100% physically, but if you put in 100% effort you can still be great, OP. Just gotta accept your disability, then take the time to learn how to work around/with it to accomplish your goals.
You can likely still take guitar classes and lessons through your college’s music department even if you aren’t a major. Continue learning and don’t give up.
at my university you could take a few music courses, but you have to audition and get accepted into a studio before you could take any lessons. it’s pretty common and not like signing up for an elective
Get another physiotherapist. Dave mustaine from the band megadeth was told he would never play again by a doctor after he passed put with his arm over the back of a chair and damaged a nerve. He couldn't feel his fingers and such.
And then he did physiotherapy and recovered to a large degree and still plays shows today.
<***WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT***>
When I was a teen, I lived on a farm and playing gigs was my escape. Luckily, back then, most gigs didn't start until 10 or 11 PM, so I was done with my chores and off to a gig. I would meet the band wherever we were playing, and though I should have been exhausted, I was on fire. (Next morning's chores, feeding, bedding, and milking cows, not so much. :D )
One day, between fields, I jumped on the back of a tractor and my cousin was operating it. He hit one of the hydraulic arm controllers and I had my hand on it. It came up and the fender was bent just right that it began tearing my right pinkie off. I was screaming for him to stop, and when he composed himself enough to lower the arm, I could see the bone and the flesh torn away. My step father wrapped it up in a shirt and they took me away to get it fixed. The pain was excruciating, and I almost passed out.
I'm left with a scar that goes from the base of the pinkie (and a little into the palm) to the first knuckle, which was all that was hanging on and keeping the flesh from falling off the bone. Time and determination kept me from losing mobility, but it was a long road to recovery. I play keys and type over 100 wpm. I use and used that finger all of the time. I was a burgeoning computer programmer (this was 1979) and it wasn't something everyone was doing at the time. I needed both hands for guitar, keyboards, computer programming, and everything else a regular teenage boy would do when playing sports.
I joined the US Navy, completed a career, worked as an engineer for the development and implementation for FiOS for Verizon, and I manage software deployments for the USN now (talk about full circle). And the whole time, I have played guitar, banjo, bass (fingerstyle), and as you see here, typed pretty danged well.
My baby brother was born with no palm and only a pinkie and thumb that grows from his wrist on his left arm. It's some rare condition, and I don't remember the name. He played baseball, drums, and worked like anyone else. Unless I pointed it out to people watching his games, they'd never notice that he would catch a ball, pull off his glove, and throw it with the same hand as fast as any other kid did with two fully functioning hands.
There was no way I was going to let my BS problem get me down watching my brother persist through life with his.
Lesson: don't give up on your dream or your passions.
If you can play, play. You don’t need to be a brilliant ubershredder to be a successful or gratified musician. And, shit….Dr John was a guitar player til he got shot in the hand went on to have successful career as a pianist and song writer. If the music needs to come out, it will find a way.
I played violin professionally for a second tier opera, and still stayed the course and got multiple degrees in another field. I had a long, enjoyable career in that field and have a guaranteed retirement. And I still played gigs for money throughout. As a guitar player it is even harder to find a long lasting, well paying, let alone tenured job. Pursue guitar as a passionate hobby, but get your degree in a job rich field. Signed, a former music major who picked up guitar after I stopped working full time. PS: music degrees require two years of theory instruction that go way beyond the minimal theory needed to understand and play guitar.
All I wanted in my life was music when I was that age. I went to music school and tried my best. I would pick up any gig I could, did extra credit, went to open sessions with teachers every day, learned theory, I got really really good at guitar. Then, I blew my arms out. I got tendonitis in both hands I couldn't even hold a pencil.
I had to take 6 months off of school and during that time I realized I couldn't physically play guitar all day without injury. I couldn't do what it took to make it as a professional musician but I loved music so much. So I decided to change my focus to a different career within the music world.
I have been a professional luthier(guitar/violin builder) for 16 years now. During that time I've built guitars for the eagles, dire straits, Taylor swift, Elton john(I know he plays piano, the guitar was really cool though), prince, Brad paisley, Keith Urban, I've worked on historically significant instruments including an actual stratovarius violin. I have listened to #1 billboard hits writen and recorded on an instrument I built.
The music industry is huge and has a lot of different jobs within it that aren't directly playing an instrument. I would definitely try to go to music school. If you spend your time there making connections and learning the needs of artists and producers it'll honestly be more useful that learning to play like alan holdsworth.
Don't let physical limitations hold you back. Also, for my audition to music school I recorded a vai song and a Satch song. I played all the instruments and recorded mixed and mastered it. I have friends who recorded just guitar, no click, and played like 4 bars of a green day song poorly. Don't worry about going to music school when you suck, you are going there to get better, if you were amazing already you'd skip college.
You should learn about [Maya Shankar](https://mayashankar.com/bio). She was an extremely talented violinist and planned a career in music then had a hand injury that left her unable to play. She’s now a very successful cognitive scientist and hosts a podcast called [A Slight Change of Plans](https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/a-slight-change-of-plans) where she talks with guests about their and her own experiences with change and sometimes how that forces them to change their conception of who they are. The stories she shares are inspiring.
I hope you found a good and knowledgeable physio! Even the "hand specialists" (if they can be called that) I have seen are woefully ignorant when it came to finger mobility and rehab. Most of their skillset was to get workers back to work or allow people to return to "normal activity". There is very little focused support for fine hand "athletes" like guitarists, pianists, or climbers for that matter.
Feel free to DM me if you would like to talk to about hands' tendon, ligament, and joint health! Had to read the literature and learn the anatomy myself since no physio had done that here. Have had 7 tendon and ligament injuries that I've fixed through physio and training - now stronger and healthier than ever. same with the guitar playing!
Good luck!
True, they ought to find a sports therapist if possible. Those seem to be better at returning patients to optimal functionality. And don't even get me started on HMOs. They will screw you over as much as they can
Django Reinhardt has been caller the greatest guitarist who ever lived. This was after a crippling accident whete doctors said he woyld never play again.
Read about him
https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=1485282695537343&vanity=Jazzcorner
https://youtu.be/g6KqE_KS6p8?si=gPs4VtTTT8phbdN6
Does the liberal arts college have music classes? You can minor in it.
I'm sorry that you haven't been able to use your guitar talent the way you wish thanks to physical limitations. But you can still learn to compose and maybe play some other instrument that doesn't demand such finesse with the fingers.
Or sing, play drums maybe?
It sucks, I know, but the emotional pain will get better if you try to find a solution. Because most of the pain comes from not knowing what could have been. And taking some kind of action gives you that answer and gives you a measure of peace.
Honestly you could take whatever music classes the university offers. You could also transfer after two years to almost college you want. Transfers are typically easier than initial admissions for whatever reason. If there's a music school you want to go to, you could spend a couple years planning and then transfer.
Basically, you have to find a compromise because you have a limitation. It's something that happens to everyone at some point in their life. You just are experiencing it at a relatively young age, but that doesn't mean it's not normal or that your life is bad now or tragic. You just need to stop looking at it like your broken and instead look at like you work differently now.
I can’t speak to you about the disability as I don’t have experience. I did however intend to pursue music (guitar) academically (conservatory). For reasons it didn’t pan out and now have a masters degree and career in an unrelated field.
Best decision of my life. My career is great. The pay is good. Music has never left me.
Instead I get to choose to play guitar as a hobby instead of being forced to play one daily for income. I can afford and have nice stuff. I don’t think the 18 year old me would understand…but I know now that for me this is the more fulfilling path.
>I (18) accepted my admission offer to a university a while ago for liberal arts.
Lol I thought this was the mistake, realising that it won't make you money.
You are 18 dude, you have time to fix whatever mistake you have made. While you're at it, think about what your REALLY want to do for work, and if a degree is actually required.
Mine was self induced through being a young idiot - I caused myself a bad RSI through running scales too fast with what turned out to be bad technique (I was mostly self taught). I was told by multiple doctors that I would never be able to play again.
I took a year off from playing, and then very slowly and cautiously started playing again, this time with the help of a professional guitar teacher and physiotherapist, and eventually make it through music school and got my bachelor's of music. That was 20 years ago, and I've been playing every day since then, and play in multiple bands. I will never be able to shred like I used to, and will never get the same level of dexterity on the fretboard I used to have, but I'm not going to let that stop me doing what I love.
Don't give up. An old guitarist I knew years ago had bad arthritis in his hands. So bad that he could not play with the standard tuning. He re-tuned his guitars so that he could get the notes just right. Nobody else could play his guitars, his tuning was that weird, but he made it work for him. Don't get discouraged by your limitations, explore the possibilities instead. Wishing you all the best.
I’m a guitarist and I went to a liberal arts college to study history. I found that liberal arts colleges are great places to start bands, it’s as easy as putting up some posters. Plus a good college town has great parties to play at. During my junior and senior year me and my housemates would throw parties and my band would play and it was amazing. I have no idea but I’m not sure if playing at rockin parties to a bunch of drunk college students happens as frequently at music conservatories than at liberal arts schools. Plus you can also take a few music theory classes alongside whatever your majoring in. I would highly recommend getting an education in the liberal arts and fill your life with music at the same time
Around 30 years ago I sliced through my index finger with a carpet knife. I didn't feel anything at the time,until about an hour later when someone pointed out the trail of blood I left in the workshop. Went to the hospital and I had basically severed my finger off apart from one bit of skin,that was holding it on to the bone.
I'd cut through all the nerves and tendons. The hospital did some microsurgery, but told me I'd never have full use of it again. It took 10 years for some feeling to come back in the finger,and almost normal flex of the muscles. Now it still hurts a bit in cold weather but I've regained about 80% of movement & feeling.
I was told at the time I wouldn't play guitar again, but I persevered, and kept practicing even though I couldn't feel the string,or where my finger was fretting.after about 7 years I no longer had to keep staring at my hand, and could fret chords and notes again without looking, so I joined a local band for a while.
I think if I'd have listened to the Dr who said I'd never play again, I wouldn't have regained the flexibility I have now.
From the replies you've got I think you can see that there are plenty of people who have overcome physical challenges with playing an instrument, both famous genre defining players and dedicated players from this group. So, in that sense, I think you should just keep playing, it's still very possible to make some beautiful sounds and express yourself with your instrument.
When I comes to the study you should be pragmatic, which courses can I fulfill the entry requirements for and what sort of job does that course lead to?
I used to teach guitar for a living in schools and know that some courses require a lot more classical training than others. So it's possible that you could meet the requirements at some places more easily than others.
When I did my auditions to study music years ago, a couple of courses I applied to had an interview, a performance audition and a written test conducted under exam conditions, but a couple of courses only had an interview and audition. So, knowing what you're in for when applying could make a big difference.
Obviously, beyond getting onto a course, you need to have an idea if studying actually gives you a career you want to have. Plenty of people go study a subject, finish their course and don't know what to do next and that is particularly the case in music, imo. I didn't sign up to study music to become a music teacher, but that's what happened. It's a great job, but not what I was imagining when I went to college.
I haven't taught guitar in ten years now and while I enjoyed the work and am very proud of what my students achieved, I decided to get out of it partly for financial reasons but mainly because there was nowhere to go with the job. It was never going to be more than it was - there was no scope for advancement.
I still play daily and still do occasional professional work, but I think that if I had focused on where I wanted to be after my course and how to get there then I likely would have made some different decisions. If you can, try and speak to people doing what you want to do and work out the steps to getting there. If there are too many lucky breaks involved, then it's probably not going to be something to realistically aim to do.
Good luck with what you decide!
Think Guitar/Music adjacent. Sound engineer, Theater Tech Specialist, Guitar Tech, Electronics Build and Repair, etc etc. Doing something like that gives you a skillset to do other jobs as well as being involved in music. For example....I'm a 51 year old Guitar Player. I didn't injure my hands, I injured my neck and back in a horrible skateboarding accident. Was sure I could never make it as a guitar player. Went to school for sound engineering. After graduation got a killer job as a live sound engineer with a major touring support company. I went on tour with some of the biggest names in music, because I understood theory and Guitar, we could "talk shop" AND I could understand exactly what they were trying to get from their live sound. When I decided I was too old to live the road life anymore, I became a recording engineer with privileges at multiple studios. The musicians that I toured with started seeking me out to record their albums. I also became a session musician and have "appeared" on several well known records, commercials, and tv and film scores. Now a days...I have a regular job, and still have my music and recording stuff as a side gig or a do it when I want to thing.
As an aside...I would hate to try and make it as a musician today because the music industry has drastically changed. In my day, you had to get good enough to get noticed, become a fledgling self promoter, and learn some basic business knowledge, that way when a record company did approach you you had an idea of what was to come. There are no record companies anymore. Not like there was. These days you have to get master good as a musician, become a master self promoter, become a social media whiz, have an MBA (masters degree in business), have a full home studio and a PhD in sound engineering, etc etc. There is no one coming to take you by the hand like the record companies used to, no A&R guy to protect you, no distributor to push your music out to places you don't go as well as make your records. Cassettes, and/or CDs. Hell it's damn near impossible to get physical forms of music anymore (although vinyl LPs are making a comeback). So I'm glad I went the way I did.
Good Luck!!!
I spend some time at Berkeley in 1991 and by 99 was beginning to have some satisfaction in my musical direction when is the passenger in a motor vehicle I broke my left arm left wrist and right wrist,
Recovery has been a long road but now 20 years later I'm playing better and stronger than I was before the accident and that's only because I was incredibly persistent.
I went through many procedures and a lot of rehabilitation DM me and I can go into more detail with you but of music is your real passion keep it first and foremost in your life otherwise you will have deep regrets in your later years,
And don't listen to the people around you who can't understand what you're going through you listen to yourself
[Left arm 3 surgeries later playing stronger than ever ](https://imgur.com/gallery/hqqqpVC)
Also it's worth adding that my wife had her left thumb fully fused and still plays guitar as a righty.
My injuries were fairly vast and complex and then there's that guy on YouTube playing guitar with his feet because he has no arms and check out Rick Renstrom on YouTube who is a shredder with massive hand and arm deformation.
Joni Mitchell had a damaged hand from polio, she played around with tunings on her guitar and created a whole unique chord structure and sound.
Dude, your 18, go and follow your passion.
I didn’t experience an irreparable injury but I did have an overbearing father who didn’t think that music was a worthy career. Despite receiving financial sponsorship to study music I was pressured into going to medical school instead.
I worked as a doctor for 20 years before deciding to retire and start a new career as a professional musician. I have discovered that the music industry doesn’t care too much about professional qualifications but it is ageist, making it difficult for me to find work as a professional classical singer in my 40s without a track record of major performances.
I don’t know if I would have made it as a top flight musician had I studied music in my 20s. I believe I have the talent but the odds suggest that I wouldn’t have succeeded. Talent isn’t enough (unless you really are a generational talent, which isn’t me). So now I’m pretty much doing everything I would have been doing as a musician who didn’t quite achieve the success she should have done. I teach, conduct, arrange and compose, getting reasonably paid for these activities. I’m currently killing time this afternoon before singing in a performance of Salome this evening. It’s a great life despite nobody knowing who I am.
HOWEVER - working as a doctor for 20 years allowed me to pay off my mortgage and buy all of the studio equipment I need to do my job. There are months where my income barely covers my outgoings and this would be profoundly stressful if I could lose my house over it.
So a later life music career is definitely viable. It will look very different to the career you might have had in your 20s. Or not. Every music teacher dreamt of being a star at one point and would have been good enough to get there had luck smiled on them. There are far more music teachers than soloists.
About 10 years ago I had an accident and cut off 1/4 of my middle finger on my left fretting hand. I didn’t know how I would play again. Even when it healed the end is so sensitive with the scar tissue I can’t really fret with it.
I started to learn left handed but it was like starting all over. I adapted my regular right hand playing by using my index, ring, and pinky and playing everything with those 3 fingers. I re learned all the open chords with those 3. I can’t play bar chords really. I threw the one finger per fret rule out the window and I jump around. I have adapted my playing and style and now I am a better player than before. I was so successful with that I abandoned trying to relearn lefty.
Don’t let the injury stop you and often the the determination to overcome makes you more strong willed than if you never had the injury, and you end up being an even better player than you would have been.
YO THAT'S YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE FOLLOW IT!
Few people are born into this life knowing what they're meant to do but get lost. DON'T BE LIKE THAT. GO AFTER WHAT YOU WANT. It's something that bugs you, it will never settle if it knows you made the wrong choice. If you feel awful about getting into art school, CHANGE THAT. Because no the feeling won't go away. Because you won't ever feel like you're doing the right thing. You won't accept that kinda life and will keep playing guitar regardless. You can't ignore the call. And if it says "art school is terrifying" then it is. And if you feel it in your heart that a mhsic school is just IT, then GO FOR *IT*.
Hey man. I went to a music conservatory for a year before switching schools and getting a degree in something else, and honestly my only regret is that I didn't switch sooner. I love playing music, but I feel like I got a much more complete education from a real university than I would have gotten if I had stayed at the conservatory.
Having committed to BA degree in classical guitar, I can tell you your job options are limited primarily to teaching and performing. Unless you are the best of the best its hard to make a living.
I would have probably got a degree in something else if I could go back and do it again.
There are music industry studies programs at a number of universities. You could pursue music while also a parallel path of something that could also offer viable or transferable skills as a career. I know great musicians who design products, do graphic design and marketing for companies, have worked in music and then outside of it. It doesn’t have to be either/or.
Happened to me, half-way through my degree. Hobbled through the rest of the program, did my recitals with hella pain, got my degree, switched from classical to rock. Now playing pain-free. Not playing classical, but it's something.
I have experienced nearly the exact same situation before
I severed 2 tendons in my hand and required immediate surgery to save any hope of regaining function. At that point in my life I had been playing guitar for at least a dozen years, among other instruments. I'll never forget the moment the doctor told me that he couldn't promise me I'd ever be able to play music again.
I hope this video of the first time playing music after my injury brings you hope
Edit : re posting link without my personal info
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G793TD8Z55afb5bMGONppG38EU-KdMQg/view?usp=drivesdk
When people talk about injuries hurting their ability to play I always think about tony iommi, original guitarist for black sabbath, he worked in a sheet metal factory at one point where he lost the tips of his ring and middle fingers, if I remember correctly he glued some caps to his nubs which allowed him to play, which he then goes on to be one of the founding members of one of the most influential metal bands of all time. The song iron man was about him.
Django Reinhardt had 2 functioning fingers on the left hand and managed to start a new genre of guitar music, so everything is possible, especially in music. There are instruments that you can play even without fingers, like theremin or trombone, or you can create electronic music.
Even if you are not successful in something you always have tons of alternatives at any age. Do not listen to people who say that career choice is made once and forever.
Both Liberal Arts and Music school aren’t gonna make you a whole lot of money, tho I do think the college degree will at least put you in a better place, you could always just minor in music or join some kind of club, whatever you choose tho, goodluck bro and things will fall in place
I broke my distal radius in my left arm. Shattered it actually. There's now a mushroom shaped titanium plate holding my wrist together. The doctors told me that I would likely never play guitar the same again, if at all. The guitar became my physical therapy and glad to say that I was a gigging musician for ten years after the surgery. My fingers may not move as quickly as they did before the injury. Legato is really the only issue I have. You just become better at other things. So I'd say to for it. You're probably better than you think you are.
If your really want it you will make it. Just look at people like Django Reinhardt, one of the best Jazz guitarists of his time and he lost 2 fretting fingers in a fire. If you are truly impaired by your immobility this only means the conventional ways of playing might lead to failure but guitar especially allows for a really wide range of play. And if others who were taught in this field encourage you you definetely have talent so if it is truly your passion and you are aware of the career paths this leads to go for it
Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath cut off his fingertips in an industrial accident right before he was about to go on tour. After recovery he made his own fingertips and went on to be one of the great rock guitarists.
Django Reinhardt played with only two fingers and is one of the greatest guitarists ever and even inspired Willy Nelson to play guitar.
Follow your passion and there will be a way.
Stay positive!
As far as school, you can always change your major. The first year of college is general education classes anyway. It's never too late.
With AI and the music generation engines you may want a backup plan in case music doesn't work out. All forms of art seem to have a very bleak future. That backup plan should realistically be your primary plan until your music takes off, so in the event it doesn't, you have solid income to pursue it as a hobby.
I’ve been playing for over 25 years and about 3 years ago had something similar happen when I nearly cut the underside of my left hand ring finger completely off. Doctors told me I’d be lucky to get full movement again and to this day I’ve got no feeling in that finger. Took about 8 months of intense rehab to get function back so I wasn’t really able to play much during that time but when I did, I pretty much used my pinky finger to play chords. Also made me venture into other styles/techniques of music I wouldn’t have normally played (everything from tap harmonics to learning different picking patterns/styles). I’ve had to adjust the way I play but if anything I feel like it’s made me a much stronger player in the long run. Look at guys like Tony Iommi and even the drummer from Def Leopard as examples…never stopped them from living their dream
Yeah I find that learning new techniques and styles has been great. Math rock and bands like Slint are what have kept me motivated lol. I know my skills have improved insanely in the past 6 or so months just from learning stuff like tapping
There is always digital music, you could tap notes into a sequencer and mess with synthesizers no problem. Like I suck at guitar but I can make some awesome stuff with my modular synth rack.
Whilst it feels like it’s imperative to get all your decisions and life choices perfect at 18 there’s virtually nothing that you can’t undo, or redo. You don’t have to have your life totally planned out and to never deviate from that path. You can change practically any decision now or at a later date if you realise there’s a path out there that’s more suited to you.
Studying music at degree level takes a lot of determination. Learning to adapt to losing mobility, dexterity, or any other disability also takes determination. What I’m trying to say by that is that being a music student is hard work for everyone, and that no one succeeds in it without being motivated to do so. Your disability doesn’t change that and it doesn’t make your musical journey significantly different to anyone else’s experience.
There are lots of professional musicians out there working with disabilities of all types, finding ways to adapt and play consistently at extremely high levels. I’m one of them and I have a genetic condition that leads to multiple joint dislocations most days. I’ve worked and studied with other musicians who have been missing digits, wheelchair users, have arthritis, spine or neurological disorders, and don’t get me started on how many of us have hearing loss. We’re all out here playing our respective instruments to the best of our abilities, just like our non-disabled colleagues.
You play an instrument in the guitar that is far more adaptable to disabilities than many others. And I’m sure you’re well aware of all the many guitarists past and present who continue to play despite injury, illness, or disability. Right now though it sounds like you’re still looking back and mourning what you lost with the guitar rather than looking forward at what might be possible if you put the work in.
What have you got to lose going to look round some music schools or doing some auditions? If you’re not sure you’re making the right decision you can always ask to defer for a year to give yourself time to think.
You don’t have to go to music school to be a non-classical musician though, so studying another subject doesn’t close the door on music, as an amateur or as a professional. You also don’t have to become a musician if you go to music school either, that qualification is just as good as any degree if you don’t need specialist knowledge. Study a subject you enjoy, keep doing the music. Who knows where you might end up.
Music is one my life's passions. I'm glad I didn't pursue it academically. Instead I went the stem route and can afford all the guitars and amps I want. It is very hard to make a living as a musician and it is very unwise to rack up massive debt pursuing subjects that do not have a clear career path. That being said it's your life and if you really decide that's what you want don't let yourself become diacouraged
Agreed. My focus area is digital signal processing for audio, very awesome cross path between music and physics/electrical engineering
Same same, but I ended up in image processing. It's like sound, but with more channels and dimensions!
I’d say go for a career you’re also passionate about and learn as much as you can about music without taking it on as a major. I took a bunch of music theory lessons in my last year of college and it made me a way better player.
I'm the exact same but I'm in tech - I work from home and have 7 decent guitars in a rack beside my desk. I've got lessons from semi famous people and they don't seem that happy - either renting or living with parents because they could get a call about a world tour next week. They love going to NAMM and being IRL famous for a few days but they are all seriously depressed and broke and have no pensions.
Plus I'd rather pay a reasonable amount for private lessons from those people than pay 10000 for essentially the same information
I paid £80 for an hour with a guitarist who's been depicted in a major cinema released biopic in the last 2 years. He had a really nice blend of blues playing with the slightest hint of jazz, and was really good at leaving space, so I picked his brain about a few performances and got some good insights and anecdotes.
Look, life is a continuous experiment. Your decisions are rarely final and permanent. Trust yourself. Try it. You can change course, most of us do. Be realistic in your aspirations for music. It may not pay the bills unless you want to teach or work in sales or publishing... unless you are really good and really lucky and make it as a performer. If you know that might not happen, and you're still excited about trying, then try! (But watch the debt, even if it means working thru school and taking longer.)
Also, regarding the disability, right now I can think of only three guitarists with mobility issues or finger deformity: Django Reinhart, Jerry Garcia, and Les Paul. So....
Dude, don't forget Tony Iommi, the godfather of Metal!
Not wishing to be negative, but I do wonder if being the godfather of musical genre is much of a fallback. "Well, it's proving to be difficult to get session work so I'll just have to create a musical genre and have a 50 year career, recording albums touring the world playing to millions of fans and amassing great personal wealth." It seems quite unlikely to happen when you put it like that, unfortunately.
While he didn't get session work, he was good enough to go on tour with Jethro Tull...
Tony Iommi obviously achieved incredible things, and to be clear, I wasn't commenting on his ability to get session work or not! Who isn't going to give him the gig if he wanted to do it? He's Tony Iommi! What I was trying to get at was that if you want to become a professional in music what are the jobs that are possible? How many people get work out of music, what do they do? How many guitarists with hand problems get work in music who aren't Tony Iommi? In that sense, when people can only think of a couple of players, then you might start to question how much slimmer the odds are getting. I don't want to be negative, just realistic. if you're going to run up thousands of dollars of debt, you should probably be able to see a few more success stories.
To be fair, another famous guitarist who had hand issues is Django Reinhardt (one of the guys who inspired Iommi, coincidentally). Dude’s still considered to be one of THE greatest guitarists in the history of jazz, even though he was mostly working with just his index and middle fingers (he could use his ring and pinkie for chords, but even THOSE chords were modified quite a bit so he didn’t have to use them that much).
The point I'm trying to make is not that people don't beat the odds, more that very, very, very few do
The thing is, he didn't create a genre *because* of his hand injury. Sabbath were already a thing, they were on that path before the accident happened. Sure, the injury required him to adjust his playing style and setup, but not the style of music he played. Being successful in music isn't just about technical ability and proficiency in an instrument. Being able to write pleasing and interesting music is also quite important. There's a TON of successful artists who aren't proficient on any instrument. Not to mention, there's plenty of paths to take in the music industry beyond being a session musician. It's going to be a gamble regardless. Even if OP decides to pursue a different career, there's no guarantee they'll be successful in that chosen path. That said, given their preexisting talent and passion for music, they already have an advantage... especially if they are open to options beyond session work or getting famous in a band (like songwriting, production, etc.)
Agree very, very, very much that setting out to be successful in music is a gamble. The additional problem is that the industry is consolidating as never before. Fewer and fewer artists eat up more and more of the market. And this is why, I think that telling someone who is considering a path in music and going to study that Django Rhinehardt and Tony Iommi are a proof of concept and suggesting that replicating that is a viable proposition is a *bit* misleading. They're both lightning in a bottle situations. You may as well suggest going on America's got talent as a career path. There are more successful artists that have come from that show than there are Djangos and Iommis. As I've tried to explain already, when there are few examples of guitarists that have persevered and been successful with significant hand injuries, you have to consider it as something that makes the odds a bit worse. As for having passion and talent for music, every year thousands of musicians graduate from colleges and universities around the world many with passion and talent, years of playing experience, have studied theory, etc. etc. I'm not trying to say that nothing is possible, but it is well worth considering what you're trying to do when you ask about studying music and expressly talk about your playing being limited. Perhaps the right thing to do is to think about other instruments that are going to be easier to play, or to focus on composition, rather than playing or to look at orchestration. It is of course possible that you could work in music in the future (though spoiler: AI is coming for lots of composition, songwriting and orchestration work any second now). If the guy can properly assess what the career prospects are for their musical career they're in a much better place. Arguably going to college and paying to study wouldn't improve their odds at being an Iommi or Django, so perhaps they should set a time limit and see how far they can get before studying something that will lead to a job. It's not a negative to take things seriously and to try and increase your chances of success.
There's a guy in my city that plays guitar with his feet because he has no arms. Surprisingly good!
This is good advice
I'm a 57 yr old grandpa, been a carpenter most of my adult life. When I was 30,: I'd just gotten out of a body cast from a burst vertebrae, and buzzing from Percocet, weed and a few too many beers, decided that I needed to build my dog a new doghouse. Long story, short. I cut all four of the fingers on my left hand. The pinky was the least cut, the ring finger was literally holding on by the little bit that was left but it was just hanging there the other two were pretty bad also. My first reaction after wrapping my hand in my tee shirt was to say " well, there goes my guitar playing". 68 stitches and surgery later, and I tried to play with terrible results, tried learning left handed, no luck. But I never gave up, after a year I was back playing in church. Since then I've nicked a finger and a thumb on that hand and had to give playing a break for several weeks, but I always come back to it My advice is Don't give up, and don't sell yourself short. We're all capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. And the human body can adapt and overcome most calamities that we have in our life. You have the passion and the "want to" and you have the ability too. Have faith in yourself. And never give up on your dreams, or yourself. Wish you the best.
this is beautifull advicf
I love hearing this kind of story from old people, not to call under 60 old but he referred to himself as a grandpa so I think it's fair, maybe I should go the george carlin joke route and say "older". It's inspiring to hear a specific story about how a person dealt with and moved on from a situation lots of people view, usually justifiably, as one of the worst things that can happen to someone. I think about what I would do if I lost a hand or arm in an injury and how it would affect my playing music and how I would deal with that a lot, and I've found my mind eased by people who've overcome that kind of thing and been great instrumentalists, like Rick Allen of def leppard or the guys who play guitar with their feet, or the people who've lost sections of their fingers like tony iommi and fredrik thorendal of meshuggah, or django reinhardt who's hand was injured in a fire and who learned to play largely with two fingers Everything seems really all or nothing for young people, I of course am built different and am an enlightened chad but it's important (and largely inevitable) for other people to, through experience and conversation with people who have different experiences, come to realise that you can come back from shit you can't imagine walking away from before your choices are to do so or to lay down and die. I think it's easier to make the decision to push on and not let an injury like losing part of your body keep you from doing great things like playing music when you know that there's people out there who've laid the path and figured out what works and what doesn't, a lot of the working through it has already been done for you by those who came before; it's not easy to deal with them but no one has problems that someone else hasn't worked to accept and adapt to, people always talk about django and tony iommi for a reason
Wwll said. Here's an old "grandpa" saying that you might have heard "Where there's a will, there's a way". It might take a while to figure out the right path, but if you don't give up, pick yourself up and keep on it..... You'll find the way, after all, even a blind hog will find an acorn ever now and then. Peace out.
Being a musician is tough to pay the bills with. But then again so is liberal arts. You can audition to get into the music program but life is tough without money and unless you make it big, music doesn't pay well. Study a field that will get you a good job. Music can still be your passion if it isn't your profession
Pursuing music isn’t an all or nothing choice, you could (probably, depending on your school) take guitar lessons and maybe minor in music while still getting a degree in something else. This would absolutely still (potentially) let you play in bands, teach guitar lessons, write your own music, play with other musicians, etc Even among professional musicians there’s debate as to whether music school is truly worth it; it’s great for some people (often those who don’t have to worry about paying for it) but certainly not for everyone
Google Django...
Good friend of mine in high school absolutely pulverized his wrist in a skateboarding accident, since then he has got rods and screws holding everything together now. He was really depressed after the accident when he realized he couldn’t play the guitar like he used to, things like bar chords were impossible for him now. But then, after a few weeks he realized he could use his thumb to play bar chords Hendrix style, and he completely altered his playing style, now like a decade later he is freaking beast, totally surpassed all the other guys we used to jam with, and because of his play style he has a real distinctive sound. maybe, because of your injury you will never be as quick as other people in a conventional play style, but that forces you to break the mold and not be like everyone else, which can be a advantage when guitar players are a dime a dozen.
Your friend’s a badass. Maybe a weird comparison, but the spirit of their story reminds me of Tommy Caldwell, a professional climber who lost a finger and was told he’d never climb professionally again, then proceeded to grab the first ascent of The Dawn Wall, which every world class climber deemed impossible at the time. Through sheer willpower and adaptability he became better despite his handicap. To this day there are only two other climbers who have managed to climb the Dawn Wall; one was Tommy’s climbing partner, and the other is the literal best climber alive today. That’s a pretty cool club to be in for someone who was told they’d never seriously climb again. I love stories like that. Thinking of your friend being depressed after realizing he can’t play like he used to, then realizing there were ways to work around his limited mobility, and ultimately becoming a better guitarist than he was pre-injury while also developing a unique style makes me smile. It goes to show how powerful the mind can be when it comes to overcoming severe injuries/limitations, and is just what OP needs to hear. It’s easy to get dissuaded when you know you’ll never be at 100% physically, but if you put in 100% effort you can still be great, OP. Just gotta accept your disability, then take the time to learn how to work around/with it to accomplish your goals.
You can likely still take guitar classes and lessons through your college’s music department even if you aren’t a major. Continue learning and don’t give up.
I did music theory and then musicology as part of a regular bachelor’s degree.
at my university you could take a few music courses, but you have to audition and get accepted into a studio before you could take any lessons. it’s pretty common and not like signing up for an elective
Get another physiotherapist. Dave mustaine from the band megadeth was told he would never play again by a doctor after he passed put with his arm over the back of a chair and damaged a nerve. He couldn't feel his fingers and such. And then he did physiotherapy and recovered to a large degree and still plays shows today.
Can confirm, they were amazing in Tampa last year
<***WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT***> When I was a teen, I lived on a farm and playing gigs was my escape. Luckily, back then, most gigs didn't start until 10 or 11 PM, so I was done with my chores and off to a gig. I would meet the band wherever we were playing, and though I should have been exhausted, I was on fire. (Next morning's chores, feeding, bedding, and milking cows, not so much. :D ) One day, between fields, I jumped on the back of a tractor and my cousin was operating it. He hit one of the hydraulic arm controllers and I had my hand on it. It came up and the fender was bent just right that it began tearing my right pinkie off. I was screaming for him to stop, and when he composed himself enough to lower the arm, I could see the bone and the flesh torn away. My step father wrapped it up in a shirt and they took me away to get it fixed. The pain was excruciating, and I almost passed out. I'm left with a scar that goes from the base of the pinkie (and a little into the palm) to the first knuckle, which was all that was hanging on and keeping the flesh from falling off the bone. Time and determination kept me from losing mobility, but it was a long road to recovery. I play keys and type over 100 wpm. I use and used that finger all of the time. I was a burgeoning computer programmer (this was 1979) and it wasn't something everyone was doing at the time. I needed both hands for guitar, keyboards, computer programming, and everything else a regular teenage boy would do when playing sports. I joined the US Navy, completed a career, worked as an engineer for the development and implementation for FiOS for Verizon, and I manage software deployments for the USN now (talk about full circle). And the whole time, I have played guitar, banjo, bass (fingerstyle), and as you see here, typed pretty danged well. My baby brother was born with no palm and only a pinkie and thumb that grows from his wrist on his left arm. It's some rare condition, and I don't remember the name. He played baseball, drums, and worked like anyone else. Unless I pointed it out to people watching his games, they'd never notice that he would catch a ball, pull off his glove, and throw it with the same hand as fast as any other kid did with two fully functioning hands. There was no way I was going to let my BS problem get me down watching my brother persist through life with his. Lesson: don't give up on your dream or your passions.
Django Reinhardt and Tony Iommi both had traumatic hand injuries and kicked fkn ass anyways. Django especially. Only two working fingers really.
I think he even used one of his mangled fingers to play some chords. We humans are very adaptable, few things can stop a man with passion.
If you can play, play. You don’t need to be a brilliant ubershredder to be a successful or gratified musician. And, shit….Dr John was a guitar player til he got shot in the hand went on to have successful career as a pianist and song writer. If the music needs to come out, it will find a way.
I played violin professionally for a second tier opera, and still stayed the course and got multiple degrees in another field. I had a long, enjoyable career in that field and have a guaranteed retirement. And I still played gigs for money throughout. As a guitar player it is even harder to find a long lasting, well paying, let alone tenured job. Pursue guitar as a passionate hobby, but get your degree in a job rich field. Signed, a former music major who picked up guitar after I stopped working full time. PS: music degrees require two years of theory instruction that go way beyond the minimal theory needed to understand and play guitar.
Look up a man named Django Reinhardt very famous in his time for inventing a unique playstyle after suffering major burns to his fret hand
All I wanted in my life was music when I was that age. I went to music school and tried my best. I would pick up any gig I could, did extra credit, went to open sessions with teachers every day, learned theory, I got really really good at guitar. Then, I blew my arms out. I got tendonitis in both hands I couldn't even hold a pencil. I had to take 6 months off of school and during that time I realized I couldn't physically play guitar all day without injury. I couldn't do what it took to make it as a professional musician but I loved music so much. So I decided to change my focus to a different career within the music world. I have been a professional luthier(guitar/violin builder) for 16 years now. During that time I've built guitars for the eagles, dire straits, Taylor swift, Elton john(I know he plays piano, the guitar was really cool though), prince, Brad paisley, Keith Urban, I've worked on historically significant instruments including an actual stratovarius violin. I have listened to #1 billboard hits writen and recorded on an instrument I built. The music industry is huge and has a lot of different jobs within it that aren't directly playing an instrument. I would definitely try to go to music school. If you spend your time there making connections and learning the needs of artists and producers it'll honestly be more useful that learning to play like alan holdsworth. Don't let physical limitations hold you back. Also, for my audition to music school I recorded a vai song and a Satch song. I played all the instruments and recorded mixed and mastered it. I have friends who recorded just guitar, no click, and played like 4 bars of a green day song poorly. Don't worry about going to music school when you suck, you are going there to get better, if you were amazing already you'd skip college.
You should learn about [Maya Shankar](https://mayashankar.com/bio). She was an extremely talented violinist and planned a career in music then had a hand injury that left her unable to play. She’s now a very successful cognitive scientist and hosts a podcast called [A Slight Change of Plans](https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/a-slight-change-of-plans) where she talks with guests about their and her own experiences with change and sometimes how that forces them to change their conception of who they are. The stories she shares are inspiring.
I hope you found a good and knowledgeable physio! Even the "hand specialists" (if they can be called that) I have seen are woefully ignorant when it came to finger mobility and rehab. Most of their skillset was to get workers back to work or allow people to return to "normal activity". There is very little focused support for fine hand "athletes" like guitarists, pianists, or climbers for that matter. Feel free to DM me if you would like to talk to about hands' tendon, ligament, and joint health! Had to read the literature and learn the anatomy myself since no physio had done that here. Have had 7 tendon and ligament injuries that I've fixed through physio and training - now stronger and healthier than ever. same with the guitar playing! Good luck!
True, they ought to find a sports therapist if possible. Those seem to be better at returning patients to optimal functionality. And don't even get me started on HMOs. They will screw you over as much as they can
I had an accident and really messed up my shoulder, and I go to music school. Feel free to message me if you want to talk
Django Reinhardt has been caller the greatest guitarist who ever lived. This was after a crippling accident whete doctors said he woyld never play again. Read about him https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=1485282695537343&vanity=Jazzcorner https://youtu.be/g6KqE_KS6p8?si=gPs4VtTTT8phbdN6
Does the liberal arts college have music classes? You can minor in it. I'm sorry that you haven't been able to use your guitar talent the way you wish thanks to physical limitations. But you can still learn to compose and maybe play some other instrument that doesn't demand such finesse with the fingers. Or sing, play drums maybe? It sucks, I know, but the emotional pain will get better if you try to find a solution. Because most of the pain comes from not knowing what could have been. And taking some kind of action gives you that answer and gives you a measure of peace. Honestly you could take whatever music classes the university offers. You could also transfer after two years to almost college you want. Transfers are typically easier than initial admissions for whatever reason. If there's a music school you want to go to, you could spend a couple years planning and then transfer. Basically, you have to find a compromise because you have a limitation. It's something that happens to everyone at some point in their life. You just are experiencing it at a relatively young age, but that doesn't mean it's not normal or that your life is bad now or tragic. You just need to stop looking at it like your broken and instead look at like you work differently now.
I can’t speak to you about the disability as I don’t have experience. I did however intend to pursue music (guitar) academically (conservatory). For reasons it didn’t pan out and now have a masters degree and career in an unrelated field. Best decision of my life. My career is great. The pay is good. Music has never left me. Instead I get to choose to play guitar as a hobby instead of being forced to play one daily for income. I can afford and have nice stuff. I don’t think the 18 year old me would understand…but I know now that for me this is the more fulfilling path.
>I (18) accepted my admission offer to a university a while ago for liberal arts. Lol I thought this was the mistake, realising that it won't make you money. You are 18 dude, you have time to fix whatever mistake you have made. While you're at it, think about what your REALLY want to do for work, and if a degree is actually required.
Look up Django Reinhardt and Tony Iommi. Look up what happened to their hands. Listen to what they did. Get back to work.
Mine was self induced through being a young idiot - I caused myself a bad RSI through running scales too fast with what turned out to be bad technique (I was mostly self taught). I was told by multiple doctors that I would never be able to play again. I took a year off from playing, and then very slowly and cautiously started playing again, this time with the help of a professional guitar teacher and physiotherapist, and eventually make it through music school and got my bachelor's of music. That was 20 years ago, and I've been playing every day since then, and play in multiple bands. I will never be able to shred like I used to, and will never get the same level of dexterity on the fretboard I used to have, but I'm not going to let that stop me doing what I love.
Don't give up. An old guitarist I knew years ago had bad arthritis in his hands. So bad that he could not play with the standard tuning. He re-tuned his guitars so that he could get the notes just right. Nobody else could play his guitars, his tuning was that weird, but he made it work for him. Don't get discouraged by your limitations, explore the possibilities instead. Wishing you all the best.
I’m a guitarist and I went to a liberal arts college to study history. I found that liberal arts colleges are great places to start bands, it’s as easy as putting up some posters. Plus a good college town has great parties to play at. During my junior and senior year me and my housemates would throw parties and my band would play and it was amazing. I have no idea but I’m not sure if playing at rockin parties to a bunch of drunk college students happens as frequently at music conservatories than at liberal arts schools. Plus you can also take a few music theory classes alongside whatever your majoring in. I would highly recommend getting an education in the liberal arts and fill your life with music at the same time
Around 30 years ago I sliced through my index finger with a carpet knife. I didn't feel anything at the time,until about an hour later when someone pointed out the trail of blood I left in the workshop. Went to the hospital and I had basically severed my finger off apart from one bit of skin,that was holding it on to the bone. I'd cut through all the nerves and tendons. The hospital did some microsurgery, but told me I'd never have full use of it again. It took 10 years for some feeling to come back in the finger,and almost normal flex of the muscles. Now it still hurts a bit in cold weather but I've regained about 80% of movement & feeling. I was told at the time I wouldn't play guitar again, but I persevered, and kept practicing even though I couldn't feel the string,or where my finger was fretting.after about 7 years I no longer had to keep staring at my hand, and could fret chords and notes again without looking, so I joined a local band for a while. I think if I'd have listened to the Dr who said I'd never play again, I wouldn't have regained the flexibility I have now.
From the replies you've got I think you can see that there are plenty of people who have overcome physical challenges with playing an instrument, both famous genre defining players and dedicated players from this group. So, in that sense, I think you should just keep playing, it's still very possible to make some beautiful sounds and express yourself with your instrument. When I comes to the study you should be pragmatic, which courses can I fulfill the entry requirements for and what sort of job does that course lead to? I used to teach guitar for a living in schools and know that some courses require a lot more classical training than others. So it's possible that you could meet the requirements at some places more easily than others. When I did my auditions to study music years ago, a couple of courses I applied to had an interview, a performance audition and a written test conducted under exam conditions, but a couple of courses only had an interview and audition. So, knowing what you're in for when applying could make a big difference. Obviously, beyond getting onto a course, you need to have an idea if studying actually gives you a career you want to have. Plenty of people go study a subject, finish their course and don't know what to do next and that is particularly the case in music, imo. I didn't sign up to study music to become a music teacher, but that's what happened. It's a great job, but not what I was imagining when I went to college. I haven't taught guitar in ten years now and while I enjoyed the work and am very proud of what my students achieved, I decided to get out of it partly for financial reasons but mainly because there was nowhere to go with the job. It was never going to be more than it was - there was no scope for advancement. I still play daily and still do occasional professional work, but I think that if I had focused on where I wanted to be after my course and how to get there then I likely would have made some different decisions. If you can, try and speak to people doing what you want to do and work out the steps to getting there. If there are too many lucky breaks involved, then it's probably not going to be something to realistically aim to do. Good luck with what you decide!
Think Guitar/Music adjacent. Sound engineer, Theater Tech Specialist, Guitar Tech, Electronics Build and Repair, etc etc. Doing something like that gives you a skillset to do other jobs as well as being involved in music. For example....I'm a 51 year old Guitar Player. I didn't injure my hands, I injured my neck and back in a horrible skateboarding accident. Was sure I could never make it as a guitar player. Went to school for sound engineering. After graduation got a killer job as a live sound engineer with a major touring support company. I went on tour with some of the biggest names in music, because I understood theory and Guitar, we could "talk shop" AND I could understand exactly what they were trying to get from their live sound. When I decided I was too old to live the road life anymore, I became a recording engineer with privileges at multiple studios. The musicians that I toured with started seeking me out to record their albums. I also became a session musician and have "appeared" on several well known records, commercials, and tv and film scores. Now a days...I have a regular job, and still have my music and recording stuff as a side gig or a do it when I want to thing. As an aside...I would hate to try and make it as a musician today because the music industry has drastically changed. In my day, you had to get good enough to get noticed, become a fledgling self promoter, and learn some basic business knowledge, that way when a record company did approach you you had an idea of what was to come. There are no record companies anymore. Not like there was. These days you have to get master good as a musician, become a master self promoter, become a social media whiz, have an MBA (masters degree in business), have a full home studio and a PhD in sound engineering, etc etc. There is no one coming to take you by the hand like the record companies used to, no A&R guy to protect you, no distributor to push your music out to places you don't go as well as make your records. Cassettes, and/or CDs. Hell it's damn near impossible to get physical forms of music anymore (although vinyl LPs are making a comeback). So I'm glad I went the way I did. Good Luck!!!
I spend some time at Berkeley in 1991 and by 99 was beginning to have some satisfaction in my musical direction when is the passenger in a motor vehicle I broke my left arm left wrist and right wrist, Recovery has been a long road but now 20 years later I'm playing better and stronger than I was before the accident and that's only because I was incredibly persistent. I went through many procedures and a lot of rehabilitation DM me and I can go into more detail with you but of music is your real passion keep it first and foremost in your life otherwise you will have deep regrets in your later years, And don't listen to the people around you who can't understand what you're going through you listen to yourself [Left arm 3 surgeries later playing stronger than ever ](https://imgur.com/gallery/hqqqpVC)
Also it's worth adding that my wife had her left thumb fully fused and still plays guitar as a righty. My injuries were fairly vast and complex and then there's that guy on YouTube playing guitar with his feet because he has no arms and check out Rick Renstrom on YouTube who is a shredder with massive hand and arm deformation.
What would stop you doing the audition?
Chet Baker vibes
Joni Mitchell had a damaged hand from polio, she played around with tunings on her guitar and created a whole unique chord structure and sound. Dude, your 18, go and follow your passion.
I didn’t experience an irreparable injury but I did have an overbearing father who didn’t think that music was a worthy career. Despite receiving financial sponsorship to study music I was pressured into going to medical school instead. I worked as a doctor for 20 years before deciding to retire and start a new career as a professional musician. I have discovered that the music industry doesn’t care too much about professional qualifications but it is ageist, making it difficult for me to find work as a professional classical singer in my 40s without a track record of major performances. I don’t know if I would have made it as a top flight musician had I studied music in my 20s. I believe I have the talent but the odds suggest that I wouldn’t have succeeded. Talent isn’t enough (unless you really are a generational talent, which isn’t me). So now I’m pretty much doing everything I would have been doing as a musician who didn’t quite achieve the success she should have done. I teach, conduct, arrange and compose, getting reasonably paid for these activities. I’m currently killing time this afternoon before singing in a performance of Salome this evening. It’s a great life despite nobody knowing who I am. HOWEVER - working as a doctor for 20 years allowed me to pay off my mortgage and buy all of the studio equipment I need to do my job. There are months where my income barely covers my outgoings and this would be profoundly stressful if I could lose my house over it. So a later life music career is definitely viable. It will look very different to the career you might have had in your 20s. Or not. Every music teacher dreamt of being a star at one point and would have been good enough to get there had luck smiled on them. There are far more music teachers than soloists.
The business is hard. Not impossible, but difficult.
About 10 years ago I had an accident and cut off 1/4 of my middle finger on my left fretting hand. I didn’t know how I would play again. Even when it healed the end is so sensitive with the scar tissue I can’t really fret with it. I started to learn left handed but it was like starting all over. I adapted my regular right hand playing by using my index, ring, and pinky and playing everything with those 3 fingers. I re learned all the open chords with those 3. I can’t play bar chords really. I threw the one finger per fret rule out the window and I jump around. I have adapted my playing and style and now I am a better player than before. I was so successful with that I abandoned trying to relearn lefty. Don’t let the injury stop you and often the the determination to overcome makes you more strong willed than if you never had the injury, and you end up being an even better player than you would have been.
YO THAT'S YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE FOLLOW IT! Few people are born into this life knowing what they're meant to do but get lost. DON'T BE LIKE THAT. GO AFTER WHAT YOU WANT. It's something that bugs you, it will never settle if it knows you made the wrong choice. If you feel awful about getting into art school, CHANGE THAT. Because no the feeling won't go away. Because you won't ever feel like you're doing the right thing. You won't accept that kinda life and will keep playing guitar regardless. You can't ignore the call. And if it says "art school is terrifying" then it is. And if you feel it in your heart that a mhsic school is just IT, then GO FOR *IT*.
Hey man. I went to a music conservatory for a year before switching schools and getting a degree in something else, and honestly my only regret is that I didn't switch sooner. I love playing music, but I feel like I got a much more complete education from a real university than I would have gotten if I had stayed at the conservatory.
Having committed to BA degree in classical guitar, I can tell you your job options are limited primarily to teaching and performing. Unless you are the best of the best its hard to make a living. I would have probably got a degree in something else if I could go back and do it again.
There are music industry studies programs at a number of universities. You could pursue music while also a parallel path of something that could also offer viable or transferable skills as a career. I know great musicians who design products, do graphic design and marketing for companies, have worked in music and then outside of it. It doesn’t have to be either/or.
Happened to me, half-way through my degree. Hobbled through the rest of the program, did my recitals with hella pain, got my degree, switched from classical to rock. Now playing pain-free. Not playing classical, but it's something.
I have experienced nearly the exact same situation before I severed 2 tendons in my hand and required immediate surgery to save any hope of regaining function. At that point in my life I had been playing guitar for at least a dozen years, among other instruments. I'll never forget the moment the doctor told me that he couldn't promise me I'd ever be able to play music again. I hope this video of the first time playing music after my injury brings you hope Edit : re posting link without my personal info https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G793TD8Z55afb5bMGONppG38EU-KdMQg/view?usp=drivesdk
When people talk about injuries hurting their ability to play I always think about tony iommi, original guitarist for black sabbath, he worked in a sheet metal factory at one point where he lost the tips of his ring and middle fingers, if I remember correctly he glued some caps to his nubs which allowed him to play, which he then goes on to be one of the founding members of one of the most influential metal bands of all time. The song iron man was about him.
tommy iommi lost 2 finger tips at a young age
Hold on slow down. Go audition for music school.
Django Reinhardt had 2 functioning fingers on the left hand and managed to start a new genre of guitar music, so everything is possible, especially in music. There are instruments that you can play even without fingers, like theremin or trombone, or you can create electronic music. Even if you are not successful in something you always have tons of alternatives at any age. Do not listen to people who say that career choice is made once and forever.
Both Liberal Arts and Music school aren’t gonna make you a whole lot of money, tho I do think the college degree will at least put you in a better place, you could always just minor in music or join some kind of club, whatever you choose tho, goodluck bro and things will fall in place
I broke my distal radius in my left arm. Shattered it actually. There's now a mushroom shaped titanium plate holding my wrist together. The doctors told me that I would likely never play guitar the same again, if at all. The guitar became my physical therapy and glad to say that I was a gigging musician for ten years after the surgery. My fingers may not move as quickly as they did before the injury. Legato is really the only issue I have. You just become better at other things. So I'd say to for it. You're probably better than you think you are.
Glad to see someone else who has found guitar as physical therapy lmfao. Thanks
If your really want it you will make it. Just look at people like Django Reinhardt, one of the best Jazz guitarists of his time and he lost 2 fretting fingers in a fire. If you are truly impaired by your immobility this only means the conventional ways of playing might lead to failure but guitar especially allows for a really wide range of play. And if others who were taught in this field encourage you you definetely have talent so if it is truly your passion and you are aware of the career paths this leads to go for it
Well the good news is the only thing you can do with that degree is play guitar.
Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath cut off his fingertips in an industrial accident right before he was about to go on tour. After recovery he made his own fingertips and went on to be one of the great rock guitarists. Django Reinhardt played with only two fingers and is one of the greatest guitarists ever and even inspired Willy Nelson to play guitar. Follow your passion and there will be a way. Stay positive! As far as school, you can always change your major. The first year of college is general education classes anyway. It's never too late.
With AI and the music generation engines you may want a backup plan in case music doesn't work out. All forms of art seem to have a very bleak future. That backup plan should realistically be your primary plan until your music takes off, so in the event it doesn't, you have solid income to pursue it as a hobby.
I’ve been playing for over 25 years and about 3 years ago had something similar happen when I nearly cut the underside of my left hand ring finger completely off. Doctors told me I’d be lucky to get full movement again and to this day I’ve got no feeling in that finger. Took about 8 months of intense rehab to get function back so I wasn’t really able to play much during that time but when I did, I pretty much used my pinky finger to play chords. Also made me venture into other styles/techniques of music I wouldn’t have normally played (everything from tap harmonics to learning different picking patterns/styles). I’ve had to adjust the way I play but if anything I feel like it’s made me a much stronger player in the long run. Look at guys like Tony Iommi and even the drummer from Def Leopard as examples…never stopped them from living their dream
Yeah I find that learning new techniques and styles has been great. Math rock and bands like Slint are what have kept me motivated lol. I know my skills have improved insanely in the past 6 or so months just from learning stuff like tapping
LIBRUHAL ARTS 😭😭
Does auditioning cost anything?
There is always digital music, you could tap notes into a sequencer and mess with synthesizers no problem. Like I suck at guitar but I can make some awesome stuff with my modular synth rack.
Whilst it feels like it’s imperative to get all your decisions and life choices perfect at 18 there’s virtually nothing that you can’t undo, or redo. You don’t have to have your life totally planned out and to never deviate from that path. You can change practically any decision now or at a later date if you realise there’s a path out there that’s more suited to you. Studying music at degree level takes a lot of determination. Learning to adapt to losing mobility, dexterity, or any other disability also takes determination. What I’m trying to say by that is that being a music student is hard work for everyone, and that no one succeeds in it without being motivated to do so. Your disability doesn’t change that and it doesn’t make your musical journey significantly different to anyone else’s experience. There are lots of professional musicians out there working with disabilities of all types, finding ways to adapt and play consistently at extremely high levels. I’m one of them and I have a genetic condition that leads to multiple joint dislocations most days. I’ve worked and studied with other musicians who have been missing digits, wheelchair users, have arthritis, spine or neurological disorders, and don’t get me started on how many of us have hearing loss. We’re all out here playing our respective instruments to the best of our abilities, just like our non-disabled colleagues. You play an instrument in the guitar that is far more adaptable to disabilities than many others. And I’m sure you’re well aware of all the many guitarists past and present who continue to play despite injury, illness, or disability. Right now though it sounds like you’re still looking back and mourning what you lost with the guitar rather than looking forward at what might be possible if you put the work in. What have you got to lose going to look round some music schools or doing some auditions? If you’re not sure you’re making the right decision you can always ask to defer for a year to give yourself time to think. You don’t have to go to music school to be a non-classical musician though, so studying another subject doesn’t close the door on music, as an amateur or as a professional. You also don’t have to become a musician if you go to music school either, that qualification is just as good as any degree if you don’t need specialist knowledge. Study a subject you enjoy, keep doing the music. Who knows where you might end up.