My Brand

I was speaking with my theory professor today about the future. He told me that when it came time for doctoral work, I’d really have to decide what I want to do — or, to put it another way, how I want to define myself.

Dr. Wood is a, “composer who plays piano.” He has a doctorate and masters degree in theory/composition, but he also holds a bachelors and masters degrees piano performance. That’s his brand. According to him, a doctorate really says, “this is who I am, and what I do.”

So as I pursue more education, at some point I’m going to have ask myself what exactly I am. I have to really decide on my brand. Right now, my brand is in description of myself on this website: guitarist, blogger, entrepreneur. I listed those in order of importance. I’m a guitarist first; guitar is the thing from which my blogging and entrepreneurial activities spring.

But perhaps that will someday read: music theorist, guitarist, entrepreneur. This is a hard thing to work out. I’ve been a guitarist for the past ten years, and I can’t imagine myself as anything else. No matter how much I love music theory, I don’t think that can replace my guitar activities.

Posted on September 10, 2009 in Life