Heatheroo99 asked:
I work in the TV and movie industry and am sick of it. Since I was a child, I wanted to be a composer and conductor. My parents didn’t encourage it and got rid of my musical instruments. Now that I’m well in my forties and away from them, I find I am hooked on classical music again and want to write and conduct it. I listen to it all day and night. What can I do to transition out of entertainment back to conducting and writing music? I ought to go to school, but I am in my mid-forties with no formal musical training, just perfect pitch and some music theory knowledge. Juilliard would never accept me. I’m miserable. What should I do? Music was my first love. 
I forgot to add, there are some advantages: I live in New York City and know lots of people at the Musicians’ Union. One of my best friends is a respected and famous musician. But he’s too encouraging – he thinks I can do anything. I need stronger advice than that. I haven’t lived the “music life” – I’m not Asian, I didn’t start playing piano at 10 months (it was more like age 3), didn’t go to Tanglewood, not rich, don’t live in a sliver apartment, didn’t attend a great arts college, I hate my background. I feel like such a loser. But I can’t shake the desire to write and conduct. Do I even have a chance? … doubtful…
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{ 1 comment }
Hey, I’m a freshman music composition major at Temple University. We have an awesome music program, but composition is a very selective program; they take about one student a year and that’s pretty universal to any good music college. If you feel that composition is your calling, then go for it. As for conducting? That’s a graduate program; if you major in music (any degree) you take conducting starting your junior year undergrad, but to be a professional conductor you have to complete a music undergrad, or be ridiculously good and test into the graduate program. If you’re serious about this, I’d brush up your instrumental skills (you have to play an instrument no matter what program you’re in for music) and compose a portfolio of your best music to send to colleges.
I wish you the best of luck!