The life of a music major is certainly no easy task. For those pursuing a degree in music, days are usually filled with long classes, rigorous rehearsals and countless trips to the practice room. It’s certainly not uncommon to see musicians practice themselves to the point of insanity just to perfect every note of an instrumental piece or choral arrangement. In the end, most embrace the challenge that comes with the major and enjoy pursuing their passion every single day. Talking with junior music and film major Markus Zakaria, I had a chance to gain a perspective on what music truly means to him and how he wants to continue to play music for the rest of his life.
“For the most part, you’re going to start class at 9 a.m. You’re going to be a part of at least three ensembles and usually will be taking those for zero credits so you can try to graduate on time,” Zakaria said.
That highlights perhaps the biggest challenge. Beyond just core classes needed to fulfill their major, music students are expected to get involved with performance groups, attend other students’ recitals and practice daily. Sleep is generally overruled because their day doesn’t normally culminate until the later hours of the night.
“Night is probably the best time to practice in the music department because it’s empty and quiet, so a good amount of people will practice and work then until around 11 p.m.,” Zakaria said.
What compels so many to pursue a career in music? For Zakaria, the unpredictability of life and music go hand in hand. Whereas some jobs are filled with monotony and demand constant routine, music to him is far more dynamic.
“I never could have pictured myself in any other job. I like life to be random to have its ups and downs. Life’s too short to run on a tedious schedule. Getting paid for it is simply just something to keep a roof over my head,” Zakaria said.
Despite days filled with perpetual work and little sleep, musicians are always looking to the future. The old adage “practice makes perfect” applies directly to their lives. Mastering their craft only leads to a bevy of opportunities. Some seek to be performers, and others want to teach. Zakaria wants to be a performer. “I’m going for a singer-songwriter type of career. It is arguably one of the tougher ones, but it’s the main thing I want to do in music and what I’m best at.”
Though he’s developed his own personal style Zakaria draws some of his influences from already established musicians like John Mayer. “He (Mayer) is my favorite singer-songwriter. I would love to be a part of his group when he performs. His lyrics are amazing,” Zakaria said.
As famous musician Bob Marley once said: “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” Music has this unique power to communicate thoughts that cannot be said in simple words. In an age where almost everyone has an iPod, the importance of music is unprecedented. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mr. Zakaria’s music on iTunes and Spotify in the coming years.
Griffin Guinta can be reached at griffinguinta@gmail.com