Question:
My life is singing, and music... I failed, and got screwed over at allstate choir auditions on Saturday. I worked for months to get into that choir.... They screwed up my vocal part.. so i supposedly learned the wrong part..
Now that, what I have worked up to has failed.. I feel as though there isn't anything left in this world for me.
What should I do? (and i need a little more advice than "just pray")
Answer:
Originally Posted by ForeverPraise My life is singing, and music... I failed, and got screwed over at allstate choir auditions on Saturday. I worked for months to get into that choir.... They screwed up my vocal part.. so i supposedly learned the wrong part..
Now that, what I have worked up to has failed.. I feel as though there isn't anything left in this world for me.
What should I do? (and i need a little more advice than "just pray") It looks like you had your priorities wrong in the first place.
While it is understandable that this singing was important to you, and that you are dissapointed, to think that there is nothing left in this world for you is way over the top. Stop focusing on all the stuff that has gone wrong, and start focusing on all the good things you can do and all the people you can help.
You still have amazing opportunities, and God still has great plans for you. Read Jeremiah 29:11.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Simo It looks like you had your priorities wrong in the first place.
While it is understandable that this singing was important to you, and that you are dissapointed, to think that there is nothing left in this world for you is way over the top. Stop focusing on all the stuff that has gone wrong, and start focusing on all the good things you can do and all the people you can help.
You still have amazing opportunities, and God still has great plans for you. Read Jeremiah 29:11.
God is my top priority, but in THIS WORLD.. there is only one thing that I have, and that is music.. without it, i would lose my sanity, without it, i have no way of connecting to the world... music is how i communicate...
My priorities are NOT in the wrong place.. i just have nothing left in this WORLD... why stick around if there's nothing left in the world? i would rather go to heaven, and just be with God, but i'm not suicidal.. i just dont' believe that there is any other gift that God has given me, that i actually could use in this world...
Answer:
Why do you want to be in that choir so much at the first place? (if I may ask)
Answer:
Originally Posted by ForeverPraise God is my top priority, but in THIS WORLD.. there is only one thing that I have, and that is music.. without it, i would lose my sanity, without it, i have no way of connecting to the world... music is how i communicate...
My priorities are NOT in the wrong place.. i just have nothing left in this WORLD... why stick around if there's nothing left in the world? i would rather go to heaven, and just be with God, but i'm not suicidal.. i just dont' believe that there is any other gift that God has given me, that i actually could use in this world... hey=) I kinda understand how u feel.. but still.. God loves you, and he has great plans for you.. you just gotta trust him, and he will show you the way! Even though it might seem like there is nothing left for you, it's not true.. cuz GOD HAS GOT GREAT PLANS FOR YOU!!!!! And i know you said you needed more than "just pray", but that is actually the right thing to do. Cuz if u ask God, he will answer you, and he will show you what to do. Who knows, maybe singing still is the thing you're meant to do. You just gotta listen to what God says. God loves you, and he never leaves you, he wants you to have a great life! Just trust him! =) I'm not sure if this is any help anyway.. but I'll still pray for you,, and i hope u figure out the right answer=)
Be so much blessed
Answer:
Originally Posted by ForeverPraise God is my top priority, but in THIS WORLD.. there is only one thing that I have, and that is music.. without it, i would lose my sanity, without it, i have no way of connecting to the world... music is how i communicate...
My priorities are NOT in the wrong place.. i just have nothing left in this WORLD... why stick around if there's nothing left in the world? i would rather go to heaven, and just be with God, but i'm not suicidal.. i just dont' believe that there is any other gift that God has given me, that i actually could use in this world... Your priorities are out of place. God should be your number one thing in THIS WORLD. Music should be how you worship Him since that is apparently the greatest thing He has given you.
By the tone in your posts, you've been singing for yourself, for your own satisfaction. Instead you should be singing for God and he will satisfy you to a point where getting turned down for a choir group won't even phase you.
Answer:
Originally Posted by ForeverPraise God is my top priority, but in THIS WORLD.. there is only one thing that I have, and that is music.. without it, i would lose my sanity, without it, i have no way of connecting to the world... music is how i communicate...
My priorities are NOT in the wrong place.. i just have nothing left in this WORLD... why stick around if there's nothing left in the world? i would rather go to heaven, and just be with God, but i'm not suicidal.. i just dont' believe that there is any other gift that God has given me, that i actually could use in this world...
Your priorities are seriously out of whack here. Realizing that is the first step.
1) There is more to your life than music if your priorities are more than having music be the real God you worship. If music is your life, it is an idol.
2) Choir is not music. So you didn't make a part in a choir. I auditioned at one point for Haste the Day, you may have heard of them if you are into Christian hard rock. I quote "Your breakdowns are just too heavy to mesh with the band" That was a dissapointment.
3) If music and not getting what you want has you so down, you need to reexamine your priorities. Your personal happiness and getting what you want is not the point of life.
4) God doesn't tell us just to sing. He gives us many things to do that are required. It isn't just that your hobby, (yes, I do mean hobby) is all you are good for. You are commanded to be so much more.
5) Best guess is that God is trying to take an idol out of your life thast you have been bowing the knee to.
Answer:
Originally Posted by ForeverPraise My priorities are NOT in the wrong place.. i just have nothing left in this WORLD... why stick around if there's nothing left in the world? This is going to be harsh.
That is one of the most self-centered and short-sighted statements I've ever read. Because you didn't make the choir you think it would be better to die and be with God now? Why stick around?
Using the most liberal estimates possible, there are at most 2 billion Christians on the planet (this is an extremely liberal number). This means there are 4 billion people hell bound in need of the gospel. There are cities in Europe where less than 1% of the population are Christians. Urbanization has led to massive increase of poverty and suffering (such as child prostitution). 10s of 1000s of children starve to death every single day. An epidemic of AIDs still plagues Africa. Here in the United States were constantly moving more and more towards being secular, post-Christian society. We need the gospel here too.
Why stick around? Because the world doesn't revolve around you and singing. God's main concern isn't your singing career. God's main concern is His glory. Stop looking at your own wants and start looking to the needs of the world. We have been called to make disciples of the nations.
Why stick around? To glorify God....to spread the gospel....to edify the body of Christ...help the needy...etc.
Further, you're talking about God as if He's your favorite toy. You can't wait to go to heaven when you get to play with Him. You can't detach God from God's Word and God's plan for this earth. God's Word makes it clear why we're here on this earth, and you can be apart of what he's doing. If the God was truly your top priority, you would realize that choir is not your reason for being here.
If God was truly your top priority, you wouldn't be so focused on yourself but rather you'd be focused on what He is doing in the world.
Answer:
I'm not going to continue the point about priorities because I think the others have done a most excellent job...
but darling, if you expect the music world to always be fair and you to always come out on top, it's NEVER ever going to happen! I cannot tell you how many times I've been completely screwed over by a biased conductor or jury during an adjudication or something...or just had something outside of my control go whack and as a result I mess things up. It's called life and it happens in all cases, though the music world is definitely prone to this.
I understand you're disappointed--I remember after solo/ensemble regionals my senior year, I sat in the car and just sobbed...I hadn't been allowed to warm up before performing, my shoe fell halfway off during the pedal sequence of death, the judge was a non harpist and totally slammed me for ridiculous reasons (feet moving too much? uh, hello...that's how you get sharps and flats! No feet moving, no key changes!)...I had worked for the LONGEST time for that, because I'd taken third in state the previous year and wanted to have a shot at first and thought I could do it (I ended up later still being able to go to state...but didn't place due to a whole other can'o'worms! Judges should never have their own students in a competition..)
Life goes on, though. Sure, it's miserable and disappointing! But there are other goals! Why not set a new one for yourself...so you 're not going to all-state, well OK, state solo/ensemble is coming up! form an ensemble, sing a solo, maybe try to do well there. Or join another choir. If you're a junior in high school, remember that there's always next year to do all-state. and really, c'mon, all state is not all that it's cracked up to be, really.
Believe me, there is SO much to life after high school. Music was a huge chunk of my high school life, and now for good or for ill it occupies a much smaller part of my life. And I'm still happy and doing well!
if you really are interested in the awards/recognition that come with being an allstate musician, maybe check out the local music festivals in your area too. a lot of them have competitions for students and stuff like that plus they are a lot of fun and a good way to get feedback from professionals.
Another thing, I'm not sure how well this would work in your area, but a friend of mine here is actually doing a pseudo-internship with the professional opera! Again, I don't know how well that'd work for you but if you have connections maybe you could work something like that out, and believe me, all state can't hold a candle to singing with the pros!
I really do think you need to step back and examine what your priorities, are...but I didn't want to hit on that too hard since the others have already said what needs to be said. I know for me, I had a night where I woke up with severe anxiety over an exam I'd just written. It's the first exam where I think that it could be concievable that I failed the class (not the likliest scenario, but it's a distinct possibility). This class is a requirement both for my current major and the transfer I want to make. Failing it would be really, really, reallly bad. I got to thinking, so what is there for me if I fail this class? What can I do? Then I snapped myself out of it. Life goes on. Look at things in the broader perspective. In the long run it won't make that much of a difference, really. Maybe focus some of your musical efforts, and you're obviously quite talented if you're auditioning for allstate with a good chance of making it, take those same talents and maybe go sing carols at a nursing home, sing at churches, use your music to give back to God who gave you the gift. I PROMISE you that you will feel happier and more fulfilled. I never felt better about my music than when I was using it for God's glory...not even the time I played a concerto with full orchestra was as fulfilling personally as knowing that I was using my talents in a good way...and my senior recital was a wonderfully memorable experience because I sort of themed it around giving back to the people and community who supported me all the while.
I know this is relatively incoherant, 6 hours of exams in the last 24 hours has left me pretty zombied out
If you ever want to talk about music, competitions, etc, please send me a message!
Noelle
Answer:
There are other ways you can use your musical talents to glorify God and bring joy to others than allstate choir. I know it seems like the worlds collapsing around you because of this, but try to find the bright side of everything. Think of some other avenues for you to embark down.
*EDIT*
I want to be a pastor one day, but right now, I'm serving God the best way I can (teaching 8-9 year olds).
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Also, Foreverpraise, I found it always very dangerous to get too focused in on any one thing, whether it be music, dance, school, etc. It is always good to have a variety of interests. I know music is crucial to you and as such probably takes up a great deal of your time, but maybe explore some other interests, join a club at school, learn a sport, etc...something else so that when music goes south on you you will have other things to focus on.
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Hey sometimes in our lives we all have pain. We all have sorrow, But if we are wise, we know that there's always tomarrow. Keep your head up. More oppertonities will come and some will pass you by but remember that God knows what he's doing. And he'll bless you if you trust him. Keep on singing!
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if it was what God wanted in your life right now then it would have worked out...talk to him and figure out if theres something else he wants for you not what YOU want
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I understand your disappointment. It's difficult to work hard for something that doesn't come to fruition. Whether something was unfair or you just were having an off day, you still are going to reap the benefits of all the work and practice.
I've been in All-State choir. No one is communicating anything when they're in All-State except "Yes, I was chosen out of thousands of musicians." You are still one of hundreds. You are singing selections chosen by someone else. You are following a director. You are not given artistic freedom or the opportunity to communicate a specific message. You are meant to become one voice. I honestly don't see how being in All-State would be a reflection of you, personally, at all. And I'm pretty sure that when you woke up the day after auditions, you could still sing.
The only reason I'm posting this is to help you gain some perspective. Please don't think that no one understands what you're going through.
I think this comes down to major disappointment and maybe a need for too much affirmation of your ability. You obviously have a passion about music and you may very well have a gift for it. Don't forget that the only Giver of gifts is God and it is meant for His glory. He chooses where He is glorified. To obey is better than sacrifice...