So...I want to go to college.

by Joshua Rigley Banned
12 replies
Specifically, I'm going to a community college to study music composition, hopefully starting in late October.

The reason why I want to study music composing is because I really love music. Unfortunately, the resources for learning by myself/online are very limited. After extensive research, I've come to the conclusion it's best for me to study at a college setting.

I also have an idea for starting a music composing service for internet marketers. If it works, it's want I'll want to do for a long-term online business.

Here's the thing though:
  1. I've been unemployed since last December, and have just over $20 in my bank account.
  2. I probably will not qualify for finical aid, because I live with my parents and they make too much money.

So, it looks like I'll need to (somehow) get the funding myself. The most obvious solution I can think of is offering a writing service in the Warriors for Hire section (writing is my most obvious talent).

I'm posting here because I need help and guidance.

First of all, if you were in my position (hardly any money, no website, no list, etc.), what would you do?

Secondly, my copywriting skills aren't very good. I've tried to write a few sales letters before, but I'm just not good at it. So any advice on how I can create good sales copy for a writing service would also be helpful.

I'm open to any ideas or suggestions.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Joshua
#college #soi
  • Profile picture of the author Miguelito203
    You already answered your own question. :-) In addition to the WFH section, you should also check out elance.com.

    Good luck,
    Joey
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  • Profile picture of the author Kendra Kiwi
    Do what you think is best for you. Can't go wrong.

    Wish you the best of luck,

    Regards,
    Kendra
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  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    Joshua, what instruments do you play?

    The reason I ask is, about a hundred years ago when I was 16 years old (okay it seems like a hundred years) I worked out a deal with a local music store that let me rent a teaching studio as a self-employed music teacher. I paid the store a small amount per lesson for rent, and the store kept me supplied with students - many of them older than I was. I taught guitar, bass, and some keyboard.

    My parents both played music for fun and had begun teaching me when I was 5 or 6 years old.

    To put that in perspective, what I was making then would be equivalent to a high school youngster making around $60 per hour today.

    Even if you charged $20 or $25 per half-hour lesson it wouldn't take many students to give you a nice income part-time.

    I kept teaching throughout the rest of my high school years, all of my college years, and for another 7 years after that while I started two other businesses on the side. At one point I was teaching 92 lessons a week.

    You could do that.

    :-Don
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
    Banned
    Hey Don. I play a little piano (something I'll be learning more in-depth at college) but not enough to teach anyone else how to play.

    Your idea did generate another idea though. I'm an excellent writer, so I could offer a proof-reading service instead. Or something along those lines.

    Thanks for your input.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
    Banned
    Hey.

    I think I might need to clarify a little. For starters, the genre of music I'm learning to make is classical/orchestral, so it's not going to be so simple to learn as learning how to make a techno beat.

    You will fall into one of the following categories if you're trying to monetize your music talent: *Beat/music production for artists *Scoring music for films *Recording other artists/producing for them *Mastering audio for release *Doing Voice-Overs/editing narration pieces *Creating and selling stock audio *Creating your own courses on how to produce/teach others to play and compose *Be a starving artist for a while until you overlap a few campaigns and tracks/projects that are winners.
    None of the above (see below).

    There's a lot of money to be made in this niche however at the same time it's all over the place - and there's still a lot of creative gaps to fill in my opinion. If I were you I would keep strategizing business models that are not out there yet or that are done poorly and start motoring on creating your own offers for them even if it takes you a while.
    I have actually done this already. I know of a specific model that I want to follow, and it requires specific knowledge (such as MIDI composition, music psychology, video sales letter production, etc.).

    Like I said, I believe the best option for me is to go to college to learn this stuff. I suppose I could try to learn on my own, but that'd be a bit difficult.

    Thanks for your input.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
    Banned
    Originally Posted by ncmedia View Post

    ^ Awesome - Orchestral is definitely a lot more complex than a simple techno beat lol for sure. Hearing you already have the skills you do - perhaps the college will in fact boost you in your area - don't let that stop you from monetizing your talents or in the interim while you learn.

    Cheers.
    I don't have any previous music creation/composing experience, one of the reasons I'm going to college.

    And I don't see how it would stop me from monetizing my talents while I learn...that's kinda the idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author ColinChia
    Hey Joshua,

    By the looks of things your quite an experienced Warrior, so you've been around the forum long enough to understand "How to build a list", "How to build a website" and "How to market" (...and, even if you don't - I'm pretty sure it won't be hard to search for the required thread's to teach you how) so all you have to do now is apply yourself.

    That's the most common mistake that most noob's fall into... they fail to take action and then everything seems too HARD!

    So what I would suggest is that you assess what skills you have and work to your strengths... there are only so many opinions and advice people can give you!

    Take the initiative and make things happen - chase your dreams!

    Hope this helps,

    Colin
    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author Brad789
    Dude - You are awsome! What a site & the tunes are fabulous. The graphics really blew me away. Hats off for a fantastic operation. Nothing but the best to you!!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Celeste Green
    You’ve really got two different skills going on that you’ve got to master – music composition is one thing, marketing is another. I personally don’t see anything wrong with you offering article writing & proof reading services online as a means to finance your schooling, perhaps you can even sign up as a tutor at your community college.

    Once your classes are underway, though, I’d consider creating a blog or classical music-related website. Since you’re passionate already about the subject & have been around enough to grasp some of the skills necessary to promote a site, I can see you having a great deal of success w/a site like that. Plus, being in school & so focused on the subject should give you lots of fodder for blog posts & articles – so no excuse for not having an active site & lots of content.

    You may have to get a loan to get started w/school but if you play your cards right, you could graduate with a well monetized site & a list all related to a subject you’re already passionate about. As that’s all going on, you can take the time to really plan out the specific model you have in mind, create a killer product

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Henry White
    Excellent choice, Joshua!

    Clearly, the WF can help you on the IM side! And if you will hold off enrolling while you establish your online business, say until fall 2012, you'll be in a much better financial position.

    Anyone who is college material should be able to build a solid, steady, consistent income within a year - but it's not going to be a cakewalk, it's not going to happen overnight, and it's not going to happen at all until you take decisive and sustained action.

    [Here, you may have to go where the money is rather than doing your thing and hoping it will somehow pay off - enough and soon.]

    Meeting the admissions requirements and passing the audition is another matter entirely. I'm skeptical that community college is going to cut it, so I would recommend you research four-year institutions for comparison.

    On a much happier note, one of alternatives to teaching is to form your own group and tolerate the commercial realities of being a serious musician in a decidedly unserious culture.
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  • Profile picture of the author ahabcans
    Yeah, that is a very good decision to go to college and finished your studies. Good luck and God bless you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave Albright
    List your services on sites such as jobsfor10 and fiverr. Offer to write articles or compose a 30 second music score for a video.
    Hope this helps,
    Dave
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