Canadian Student Panicking! Should I Go To Finland Or Not?

lost_in_transit · Post by **lost_in_transit** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:38 am

Hello,

Okay, long story short. Years ago I began to hunt around for music technology schools and I found one, Sibelius Academy, in my 'favorite' place, Helsinki. Yes, I have been there before. Very random (er...we won't go there) but good times all around. Anywho, I applied to Sibelius after many months of hunting down studios to help me put together a portfolio and help me with some music engineering lessons...and I've been invited to take exams in May. My heart tells me to go for it. "Go try the exams, see if you can actually pass them and live your dream!" My logical side is saying no. "You have no money (other than student loans and such) and you can't speak Finnish...and you're not going to get a job in Helsinki due to the lack of Finnish skills". So I'm torn and need advice. Sibelius does require students to learn Finnish at some point in their studies so I'm sure I'll learn it eventually (it's not that hard when you're surrounded by it for awhile...I picked up some words just from sitting in my hostel during my last trip)...but I'm freaking out! I know no one in Helsinki (personally. Rock stars don't count...)and I'm terrified about trying to get a job there. I guess I shouldn't be worried about this stuff now but I need to know if I should even spend the money to fly to Helsinki to try to pass the exams. So my question is, should I just go for it? Try the exams? (and any nice encouraging words would be much appreciated...especially on the job front).

Laura.

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Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:42 am

You can always sit home in Canada and wait for the caribous to come home, you can then tell the grandchildren of how exiting life was as the wind blew but no caribous ever came...

Besides - you were invited to take a test. So if the probability of you even getting in is so minimal so yes- what the heck is you worrying at now of possible futures? Seize the moment. If you by some insane freak of luck manage to pass the test and get admitted - then you can toss the coin on coming or going and even then how the heck are we going to know what the job situation is in 5 years? Besides which that is a niche job profession so its who you know that counts so you make your own chances while you are here - and when you're in school you'll get to "know" a lot of people.

And theres always the caribous...

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:45 am

There's very little chance getting a job until you can speak Finnish. I don't speak Finnish and I work, so there are exceptions.

As for everything else...you might as well give it a shot. I've been to Japan, Czech Rep and everyone said..."Noooooo, don't because..."

Just give it a shot...It's only money. You'll regret it more if you don't than if you go and have to return.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:51 am

If you have good English skills you may be able to find some part-time work teaching English and also tutoring music (presumably you play an instrument ????). I think that is how most foreign students at the Academy get by. The Academy has a great reputation, so if the course fits in with your ambitions, then you should go for it!
They probably have their own discussion forum, so maybe you could get more info directly from students already on the course????

karel · Post by **karel** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:56 am

If you manage to get in, and you manage to get enough loans / money to pay for your studies and stay here during that time, go for it.
If you don't get a job during your studies, take an extra loan. If you do get a job during your studies, you're good to go.

Like BE says: You're going to regret it more if you don't give it a try.

And if you're studies are done and you can't stay here, you go back with a degree from one of the most well-reputed music academies in the world.

Heck:
Esa-Pekka Salonen

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:57 am

penelope wrote:If you have good English skills you may be able to find some part-time work teaching English and also tutoring music (presumably you play an instrument ????).

There's been a few folk on this forum advertising music lessons, doing the private lesson thing. Could be one way to go. Not gonna make you rich I am sure but...http://muusikoiden.net/ could be good if you get over here. Lesson advertised and bands looking for members etc.

(and there's people on this forum looking for music lessons in English)

Mind you if you get lessons at sibelius in finnish what the darlek are you worrying about?
Think you just need a kick up the arse!

lost_in_transit · Post by **lost_in_transit** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:06 am

Thanks so much!
I doubt I could teach someone to sing (my instrument...sort of) but the English thing would be neat.
The course at Sibelius does have everything that I could ever want in a school course, so I think I would deeply regret it if I waited for 2 years (when the course is repeated again) or gave up on 'the dream' completely. The whole having to move there and survive without my parents or any emotional support (other than over the phone) is what is truly scaring me to the point of not wanting to go. This fear has happened before though and lots of regret came after I chickened out.
Darn fear...it holds me back to much. I wasted a week of 'random Helsinki time' because of being scared to step out of my hostel. But when I did, I found out that I fit right in. Somewhat. I fit in until I spoke.

karel · Post by **karel** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:10 am

Many fit in until they speak

You'll be in good company.
And the emotional set back will probably be a temporary thing, until you've made yourself at home and found some friends here. You're gonna have a blast, I'm sure.

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:13 am

Get a grip!...An attitude like that won't get you very far in your singing career. How can you be a singer and worry about those silly things?

You'll be ok...You'll get Finnish in your school, do some private work, get some band time in, get your loans, get in debt, develop an alcohol problem or personality problem...It's all good!!!!

It was my dream to go to Japan. It didn't work out. But I can say I went, and have good memories...wouldn't swap them for anything...well...maybe some old records I want.

I look at my friends back in the UK half of them haven't even been to Scotland!!!!

lost_in_transit · Post by **lost_in_transit** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:21 am

Bubba Elvis XIV wrote:Get a grip!...An attitude like that won't get you very far in your singing career. How can you be a singer and worry about those silly things?

You'll be ok...You'll get Finnish in your school, do some private work, get some band time in, get your loans, get in debt, develop an alcohol problem or personality problem...It's all good!!!!

It was my dream to go to Japan. It didn't work out. But I can say I went, and have good memories...wouldn't swap them for anything...well...maybe some old records I want. I look at my friends back in the UK half of them haven't even been to Scotland!!!!

I don't want to be a singer really. I don't have the vocal skills for that (I've been in bands though...and do dream about performing to millions and having a tour bus and traveling around the world). I want to be an audio engineer/producer. Someone behind the scenes.
True about the 'saying you went' thing. Most of my friends haven't even been out of the province or sadly out of the city.

...and I won't become an alcoholic. That's one of my life goals. A personality problem will fit right in with my career goals though =)

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:25 am

You should get into doing the sound at gigs....bloody terrible sound here, could be the acoustics, dunno.

There's 1 or 2 other forum members that are in music school here maybe not sibelius. Talk to them.

About the teaching: One of the good things is you can be quite flexible, i.e. work part time or just mornings etc etc. So it could
fit into your other studies/work.

I do know of a Scottish guy who went to helsinki to do some kind of music production. I'll see if I can dig out his details.

lost_in_transit · Post by **lost_in_transit** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:31 am

Bubba Elvis XIV wrote:You should get into doing the sound at gigs....bloody terrible sound here, could be the acoustics, dunno.

There's 1 or 2 other forum members that are in music school here maybe not sibelius. Talk to them.

Most sound guys (I say 'guys' because I have met only one sound 'girl' in my life) nowadays just concentrate on loudness...which I understand. Make the audience deaf so they can't tell if the sound is terrible or not. So sad. I shall look into that once I figure out where to look.

And I'll keep my eyes open for the other forum members that are in music school.

Thanks again!

lost_in_transit · Post by **lost_in_transit** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:32 am

karel wrote:Many fit in until they speak
You'll be in good company.
And the emotional set back will probably be a temporary thing, until you've made yourself at home and found some friends here. You're gonna have a blast, I'm sure.

I hope it will be a temporary thing. It will be for sure if I can find a way to ship my cat...

EP · Post by EP » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:47 am

I want to be an audio engineer/producer. Someone behind the scenes.

My guess: You are shy.

The whole having to move there and survive without my parents or any emotional support (other than over the phone)

Look, I was an exhange student in the US when I had just turned 17, and at that time phoning back home meant 8 hours of waiting for the connection and cost a fortune. So it only happened once during the year just to ask if my father had recovered from a stroke. Information about the stroke I had got by a telegraph (does that even exist today?). All the connection was by letters. Snail mail.

You have phones, voice mail, e-mail, cameras, all of it. And also more money and possibilities to fly and meet in person if things turn our nor so good.

lost_in_transit · Post by **lost_in_transit** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:56 am

EP wrote:
I want to be an audio engineer/producer. Someone behind the scenes.
My guess: You are shy.

The whole having to move there and survive without my parents or any emotional support (other than over the phone)
Look, I was an exhange student in the US when I had just turned 17, and at that time phoning back home meant 8 hours of waiting for the connection and cost a fortune. So it only happened once during the year just to ask if my father had recovered from a stroke. Information about the stroke I had got by a telegraph (does that even exist today?). All the connection was by letters. Snail mail.

You have phones, voice mail, e-mail, cameras, all of it. And also more money and possibilities to fly and meet in person if things turn our nor so good.

Right, I'm very shy. Not on stage though. Just in front of a small group of people or a single person. Throw me in a room with a hundred people and I'm peachy.
Yeah, I guess I have lots of ways to get in contact with my family but just the thought of not being about to walk out of my room to see them is scary. But on the other hand, there is a bit of me who can't wait to get away from them and their drama.

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