Michael Stephan:"We graduate with $150,000 in student loans"

[pjohn519]

I played the sousaphone in the Marching Illini Band back in the late 1970s and remember it took many years to pay off my student loans. I now have two children who are paying back their student loans which are much greater than they were 30 years ago. I have discovered some ways to help them pay off their loans faster. But it is still painful, especially in our current economy when it is difficult to get a full time job even with a college education.

[BrianReport]

weird

[HotVideoZone]

wishing they had chosen a nano scientist to address this concern instead of a musician, because they're having the same problems.

[OnlineDatingMatch]

sad

[contrabassbob]

Bottom line, you choose your future and tuba playing is not the most profitable one, ESPECIALLY in the "legit"/orchestra field (I don't know why so many brass players think that's a reasonable future). Want a future in music? Join a military band. How do you think I paid for my contrabass trombone? :)

[bassplaya1992]

Is that a St.Petersburg tuba?

[tubamanjuicyk]

what song was that

[Nixonfan2011]

@tubamanjuicyk Der Ritt Die Walkure-Richard Wagner

(english) Ride of the Valkyries

[kaktus3001]

:´D

[waverly2468]

I once took a violin lesson with Dorothy DeLay at the Aspen Music School. She told me that, unlike other teachers, she encourages students to listen to recordings. Why? Because if you took a lesson with a famous violinist like Francescatti, he might say "Well do it like this" and then play a passage for you. It's a lot cheaper just listen to his recordings. So I wonder if it's worth it to pay so much to attend a conservatory. Just buy some cd's of artists you admire.

[mpmcd81]

Why you study with a teacher is that while you will need to hear them play, you need someone to hear how you are playing and fix the physical things that are wrong with what you are doing. Their ability to diagnose your strengths and weaknesses and help you solve your problems is what you pay them for.

[TtAtA1111111]

Work on your embouchure it sucks, technique

[starofthewesttuba]

everyone's embouchure is different- don't be playing god buddy

[TtAtA1111111]

He could be a much better player if he would center is mouthpiece on his mouth, at least, there is a certain technique in getting a good sound with the embouchure, sure everyone has a diffrent one, but the proffesionals there embouchures are pretty close in technique

[rubix12321]

@TtAtA1111111 Actually, many professionals have different embouchures, you play with what works for you. He probably wouldn't be any better even if he managed to change it.

[fanpiregirl91395]

yay micheal.

[Luciusdv8]

150K for music? he must of missed the joke about liberal arts majors on orientation day. it goes something like "would you like fries with that?"

[jakewayd]

This guy's a moron. A fool and his money.

[61twin]

You didn't know the costs before you signed for a student loan? I didn't go to college because I couldn't afford it. I didn't just say, "What the hell, I want a degree", and sign my life away. It meant military service and then mainly service-oriented jobs, but such is life. I'm retired at 46 and loving it.

[neurogrrl]

Only $150,000? Try med school tuition!

Seriously, you're right...people are trapped in dead-end jobs because they have to pay loans for years and years.  Government funding for education has suffered since Reagan, and unfortunately it shows in what Americans know about the world.

[dentb404]

Alucinando los silencios míos,

al asombro de un cielo estranñeza

la flébil devoción de tu cabeza

aletargó los últimos devíos.

Con violetas antiguas, los tardíos

perdones de tus ojos mi aspereza

mitigaron. Y entonces la tristeza

se alegró como un llanto de rocíos.

[dentb404]

Una profética efluxión de miedos,

entre el menudo aprisco de tus dedos,

como un David, el piano interpretaba.

En tanto, desde el místico occidente,

la media luna, al ver que te besaba,

entr´´o al jardín y se durmió en tu frente.

[junkie4vids]

Student tuition is the tip of the iceberg. College textbooks cost more than scalped Hannah Montana tickets !

[shmankersox]

Sorry, no disrespect intended, but conservatory tuition is ridiculous, textbooks are nothing in comparison. We're talking 30,000 per year not including housing. (If you are lucky, they might deem you worthy for 1/3 tuition scholarship. The lack of government funding in this country for the arts is appalling.)

[eXhail83]

It's a very valid point. All you that are name dropping this guy had mommy and daddy pay for your entire education... if you even had one.

Cut down on superfluous spending (i.e. brand new sports stadiums that had nothing wrong with the old ones to begin with) and concentrate on the our youth's future. Education is fully covered in other parts of the world. Why not this one?

[telemainiac]

Way to rock the Tuba man. Nice Ride of the Valkyries excerpt...!

I FEEL YOUR PAIN! I am about to finish grad school, and will have about $90K in loans...

Federal loans didn't even cover barely half. So what didn't get covered I had to take out with private loans. Which are *much* more expensive. If students HAVE to go into debt for school, is it really that difficult to expand the Stafford program and even provide students a halfway decent loan?!?

[schnitzelbeer]

Dude, not everyone needs to attend Harvard and Yale. What about community colleges and state schools?

It's a personal choice to borrow money and go into debt. No one made you take out a loan.

[QueensDynasty]

Harvard / Yale is free if you make under 60K a year. Many people at community colleges and state schools are there because the private schools they got into are too expensive. If they worked hard enough to get into Harvard / Yale, they wouldn't be in this predicament.

[SuccessB4Death]

OMG ur absolutely right, why doesnt everyone in the country just go to harvard/yale. Your so smart. Do u make less than 60k cause u prob could go to harvard/yale for free!!!!

ur awesome forreal u should be president

[Rockynurse]

@ Queens

So the solution is "everyone go ivy league"

Unfortunately even if you are qualified if you are white the odds are stacked against you getting in to an ivy league. Tens of thousands of students with 4.3 gpas and perfect SATs get rejected every year.

While hard work matters somewhat you must consider the economic disadvantages faced by students.

You honestly cannot say it is their fault they didn't get in to an Ivy league?

There are many things out of their control.

[beechmtn]

So you think taxpayers (in other words me) should pay for your education? What happened to people taking care of themselves in this country? The government has no money - they only have OUR money.

[esgranny]

Your are paying 2 billion a week for the war in Iraq - I think college education for all would benefit our nation a little bit more.

[snoopdog68]

Thats guy is a dumb fuck loser idiot

[RainbowSeizures]

Wow alot of you people are such jerks, this guy has wonderful talent. Musicians are so underrated... I mean, they really work their asses off and for some people to just say so openly that it's a waste of time?

You go practice an instrument for over half your life and maybe you'll have some respect for a music major. Fucking talentless asscracks.

[ReneLuijk]

Why spend 150k on that?! Spending that kind of money on going to med school, law school, whatever, seems much more useful to me. Now he has 150k debt, he still doesn't know how to play the tuba. This contributes to society how exactly?

[ColostusRex]

Just a plain-jane Ford dealership in Montgomery Alabama. TWO of their techs top 100K. Hell we have correctional officers making that too. Now that isn't to say they aren't working for it- they put the hours in that are necessary to make that, not this pushin paper, 'customer service', start-at-the-top-while-really-­doing-nothing type job that recent graduates seem to expect (or demand). But college DEFINITELY is unnecessary.

[Rockynurse]

@ColostusRex

You are very ignorant of service jobs. I will be moving into retail management when i graduate and I assure you people on top of the service world work their asses off.

I know CPAs who work 90 hour weeks doing taxes. Obviously college is unnecessary but it opens doors that otherwise would be closed

[ColostusRex]

Scuse me, you little typist. I HAVE a service job. If you'll re-read my post carefully, you'll (maybe) understand that my hypothetical job was a fictional one that RECENT GRADUATES SEEM TO EXPECT. And REALLY? College opens doors? Duh. I never said it didn't. I just said it was unnecessary. I know carpenters who work 90 hours a week. I know lazy teenagers who play video games 90 hours a week. What does working 90 hours mean? You get a medal? If it takes 90 hours to do your job, your job sucks.

[Rockynurse]

CPA's are paid by the number of billable hours they rack up. During tax season they try to bill as many hours to as many clients. The ones who work 90 hours a week can make over 300k a year if they work in a medium or large size firm.

[avataz]

@Rockynurse  Speaking as a CPA, you are damn right. Is it always fun, no. But I paid off my student debt and I'm hella paid. These people can keep their bullshit Liberal Arts degrees and work at Starbucks

[Rockynurse]

@avataz

Yep it really is irritating sometimes. My cost accounting class is next to an upper division "gender studies" class. It irritates the hell out of me when my stressed out ass is taking a massive exam and crunching some numbers and you hear the professor in the other room cracking jokes every 5 minutes to the applaud of the "gender studies" majors. I took a few upper division liberal studies courses for my general eds and they really are a joke. 4 hours of work a week for up div LMAO

[avataz]

@Rockynurse Just remember man. Those people will be unemployment line while you'll be raking in the dough. Fuck them

[Rockynurse]

@avataz

Do you work in public accounting or for a company? If I don't get the job I want when I graduate I am debating as to whether or not I should go to a good grad school like USC or USD. Think a masters in taxation would give me an upper hand when interviewing with national firms?

[avataz]

@Rockynurse Yes I work for a public accounting firm. My advice is start out with a smaller size firm just to get experience on your resume and then after 2 or 3 years try to apply to a Big Four. I don't know if they are hiring right now, but that's my advice.

[jambre1]

I'm a mechanical engineer(BSME)eight years out of college and still making payments on a student loan. My cousin, who's the same age,dropped out of high school, did a four-year hitch in the navy, got out, got an apprenticeship with a Steamfitters' local near me(He's an HVAC tech, and the union gave him credit for his USN experience), and (this is without overtime)is making the same, and no student loan...go figure

[Javierzzzxx]

apenas y lo puedes cargar

[gregnick3377]

What a waste of time to learn the tuba.

150K? If you can't afford it, go to STATE college. In-state student tuitions is $970/year for undergrad at my former school today and it 18 years later. If it stays at that rate it's $3880 for 4 years. Obivously doesn't include books and fees but still easliy affordable!!!

[snoopdog68]

Dont go to college and take Music you retard, how about you get a real fucking job dumbass. you blowing a tuba does not even qualify you to be a burger flipper.

[Sieg350]

it is a real job you idiot. he could go to work for an orchestra or something -.- and why would you ritisize him for music when you wear the screen name of 'snoopdog68' if i'm not mistaken Snoopdog is a rapper and thats music -.- Think before you speak -.-

[snoopdog68]

snoop is a real dog you fucking retard

[Sieg350]

-.- he's a rapper

[nbritcher]

maybe if you didnt spend 20 grand on your tuba you wouldnt be so in debt...priorities man. quit trying to get other people to bail you out of your self made financial situation...take responsibility, its part of being an adult. if you're looking for the candidate who can blow the hardest...Obama would be your man

[apexpark]

majoring in music is far from the only major that puts people in onerous debt. My boyfriend went into accounting and now makes 100,000, and its been 7 years and he's still in debt. in the US people are just constantly working to pay off one loan or another. its like we're living in the middle ages. meanwhile, most western countries ensure that people have lives rather than debt.

and don't pretend that having to work for the rest of your life paying off debt of 150,000 is "adultlike"

[nbritcher]

just out of curiosity...where does the 100 grand your boyfriend makes go? thats well over what the average working class family makes, your boyfriends got no family and kids to pay for. what sorta car is he driving...im sure he lives lavishly.

[apexpark]

he lives in bayonne, nj. i can assure you that he DOESN'T live "lavishly"

and when you say "average working class family" you have to be specific to location, because 100grand in the tri-state area will get you exponentially less than 100grand in like nofuck,tennessee

[JohnR22926]

IMO one reason tuition costs far outpace the rate of inflation is because universities have little incentive to lower costs. The mentality is they can raise fees because the people will always support higher education. BTW, I absolutely do NOT favor free higher education like they have in Europe. The cost is exhorbitant, and IMO whenever soemthing is perceived as "free", it gets abused.

[xr4gdo11x]

im from new zealand - why do you americans think you have it worst off. that sucks... we cant even leave our country to make money being doctors or we have to pay mega super interest on student loans, and out dollar is worth NOTHING in comparisom to yours. im sick of people complaining. BAH!!

[shmangzy]

As you might have noticed, the title of this video pertains to issues in the US election that Americans feel are important, and has nothing to do with you or your little island of a country. And I find it very difficult to think of a country that is more unrelated to the United States geographically and to problems actively discussed in election campaigns. Next time you leave a post, try to make it applicable to the topic, and try to not make it a dumb impertinent complaint.

[ColostusRex]

Uh, if you were FORCED to take out that big-ass loan then I'd say you have a right to bitch, but since you went through a good bit of B.S. to get it, that's your little red wagon. You built it, now ride in it. Paying a lot of money for school is completely voluntary. You notice the class-envy? 'Affluent students can pay for THEIR educations easily, but less-fortunate...' ah STFU tubby. GED holders working as mechanics can make over 100K and that's in ALABAMA so fuck you and your grab-ass plea.

[allycatherine]

too much music

[senoperalta]

hey clown, all you need is money education.

[oldmanshawn]

The government already has a program to help pay for your college, its called the GI BILL.

[locus154]

i could learn to play a freakin tuba better than this guy in a year with no outside help. and he paid 150k. thats kinda sad.

[curtmastor]

The kid is a fucking idiot for doing what he did. Everyone thinks there entitled to the American Dream. Ben Franklin said the best thing about America is "you have the right to fail in this country."...i like that qoute. your not entitled to any handouts which also prevents the government from holding you back. you want a music career badly enough to pay 150k in training then accept the risks that come along with it. if you cant find a job with your "music" degree than thats your problem.

[trigga1uk]

Americans, go to another part of the world and look at their college system, its so much more down to earth than that in the USA. I dont know what they try to do to you guys but they seem to justify the massive college costs with convincing you that you are better than the people who dont go to college. For a start, maybe less of all the shiny stuff - like the sports, cmon, most of your fees probably pay for the NFL sized stadiums, and whats all that fraternity c**p, is that for real?

[jawster09]

i read somewhere that the average college student graduates with $80,000 in debt. $30,000 of that went to spring break trips, and stuff like that. the actual cost of college was only $50,000. so you can do what my sister did, which is get a full ride(not attainable for everyone, i suppose, and a lot of work); or you can do what my dad did, and get college paid for by uncle sam via the marines; or you can do what i will probably do: SUCK IT UP AND GET A JOB!

[Tibbon]

Instead of "somewhere" I'd like to see the sources on that. Maybe at some party school, but that honestly doesn't make sense. 7.5K/year on spring break sounds a little on the high end

[Kangaroots11]

I'm a musician too, and I know what it's like to struggle to make it. There are 150 of us that show up at any one audition for ONE JOB, even if that job only pays 30,000 a year. But I'm not for a minute going to listen to whining about paying $150K in student loan debt - there are plentiful scholarships and teaching assistantships available to premier students. Either choose different schools that will pay you, or work to put yourself through school. Stop blaming other people, it's pathetic.

[Uncloudedcobra]

First off it's called capitalism... They worked for their money... Just keep working at it... You can't just complain that some people have money and you don't and say it's unfair. I do think prices on colleges are extremely outrageous, but just keep trying. It will work out eventually.

[umyepismine]

Lol, 'apparently', my fault.

[umyepismine]

Agreed, you chose to amass that sort of debt for an apparantly useless form of education, deal with it. You sound like every other waste of space with their hand out. Furthermore, my first clue would have been that I want to study the TUBA in COLLEGE! Consider it the price of being an idiot.

[Tibbon]

Music and the arts is not useless. Your life would be far different in a world with no music, arts, etc... Musicians have always had it tough, but the 7% a year increases in education costs and the new "student loan" culture is horrid.

[umyepismine]

I play music myself, douchebag. The point is, don't be pissed at a consequence that YOU have incurred. He knew the outcome of taking out the loans, they weren't mystery figures. You wanted to study the tuba, then don't bitch about circumstances you created, get a clue.

[hecklerhouse]

Today, the cost of a college education, a state college education, is about $10,000 a year. The average income of the bottom half of taxpayers is about $15,000. Think you can go to college if two-thirds of your income would have to go to college? I don't think so.

[QueensDynasty]

If you make less than $60,000 a year, Harvard will pay for your tuition, room, board, and all fees. You would be getting a free ride. Same with Amherst, Bowdoin, CalTech, Colby, Columbia (income under $50K), Dartmouth (income under $75K), Davidson, Duke (income under $40K), Emory (income under $50K), Brown, Stanford, Princeton, UPenn, Yale, Williams, Rice, UChicago, Ponoma, and MIT.

It's not about how much money you make, it's about how hard you work in high school to get into a top college.

[Rockynurse]

@QueensDynasty

Pfff top colleges are overrated. Academics are not the real world. Plenty of fortune 500 CEOs have degrees from no name schools.

Hard work in the workplace is what gets you far in life! A good friend of mine has a masters and a Doctorate from MIT. He has mentored me through my studies at my community college and some of his most successful friends have degrees from no name state schools.

High school is overrated too. In cali you can transfer from CC to UC.

[Rockynurse]

@QueensDynasty

Pfff top colleges are overrated. Academics are not the real world. Plenty of fortune 500 CEOs have degrees from no name schools.

Hard work in the workplace is what gets you far in life! A good friend of mine has a masters and a Doctorate from MIT. He has mentored me through my studies at my community college and some of his most successful friends have degrees from no name state schools.

High school is overrated too. In cali you can transfer from CC to UC.

[QueensDynasty]

@Rockynurse Great, if that's your opinion, then people shouldn't bitch and moan about attending a crappy college, and then graduating with 5-6 figures in debt with little to no hope of paying it off

[captwasabi]

I'm amazed at how many people in this world want things handed to them. When did our sense of drive and ambition become replaced with laziness and entitlement? Tuition prices went up because banks started loaning directly to the students. This is not something the federal government needs to be involved with. One day you are going to wake up and realize that the Fed is governing every aspect of your lives. At that point the Constitution is shredded and Liberty is gone.

[1brocka1]

so wait a minute when exactly is this tool thinking of going and getting a job!! nine years in college!! next thing he will be needing is a college that pays a retirement pension

[chelmattmom]

Good luck to you with your music career and future!! I wish you well. Please, although you WILL not hear about Republican candidate Ron Paul in the media he is without a doubt the absolute best man to become our Pres. If you Google him or search him in YOUTUBE you'll be amazed at his knowledge, integrity and ability to directly answer the most important issues we now face. The war, the economy, immigration & healthcare. Checkout the Aimee Allen Ron Paul REVOLUTION video, it's AMAZING, really.

[janbee88]

Much of the comments here are criticizing his choice of major and missing the point: middle class families are finding it harder and harder to afford a college education, and government funding favors those on welfare and leaves the working class to sink or swim in loans. This is not a smart long term for our economy, and it is also deterring many able-minded students from attending college after high school. I feel his pain. I work, I scrimp on food. I have scholarships, but it's still hard.

[captwasabi]

The government should not be funding anyone for college. College is not a right. There are a number of jobs that are just as worthwhile that do not need a college degree. This tool in the video is in school for 9 years to learn how to play a fucking tuba? If he was my kid I would have cut him off after the 4th year of uselessness.

[janbee88]

If America does not start investing in our education, including college, this country is going to be left in the dust in the global market. Plus, unless the Feds increase the min. wage substantially,it is next to impossible to create a comfortable living on a GED. I'm wishing they had chosen a nano scientist to address this concern instead of a musician, because they're having the same problems.

[QueensDynasty]

MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE in education. It is a flawed system. Search for "Stupid In America" on Youtube and watch the 40 min. video. If the min. wage increases, stores will have to increase the cost of their products to offset these extra costs. Now product costs increase, and people complain AGAIN that the min. wage must increase. It is an endless cycle that just feeds inflation. The solution here, is for Americans to stop being lazy, get an education, and a job that pays more than min. wage.

[lilminty05]

I agree! Well put, QueensDynasty!!!

[curtmastor]

my father would of laughed at me if i asked him to help me pay for a tuba degree...i would empaphize slightly with the kid if he was like in med school or something...but hes just a fool who wants a handout. and cant take responsibility for his own actions and decisions...i personally dropped out of college...now if i would go into the police force and see people in my academy class get promoted ahead of me sooner but not be any better of a cop i wouldnt complain. hey they worked for it.

[curtmastor]

im not rich and i was in college...my brother is going also...you know how? my brother worked his ass off in high school and got some scholarship money and we qaulified for a little financial aid. hes also going to the state school and paying in state tuition...to become a DOCTOR. not a fucking tuba players. This kid is a fucking dumbass. he wants the government to foot the bill for him to learn a fuckin hobby. the economy wont get anything back by him being proficiant at tuba.

[hecklerhouse]

But did you GRADUATE from college? I was in the military so I go to college for free. I'm an engineering major. My girlfriend is aNurse Practitioner. She qualified for financial aid and was awarded a scholarship in High School. And guess what? She's still drowning in $75,000 of student loan debt. I'm not saying that everyone should get a free ride to college... but I have to admit, the system is flawed and has room for improvement.

[QueensDynasty]

If you make less than $60,000 a year, Harvard will pay for your tuition, room, board, and all fees. You would be getting a free ride. Same with Amherst, Bowdoin, CalTech, Colby, Columbia (income under $50K), Dartmouth (income under $75K), Davidson, Duke (income under $40K), Emory (income under $50K), Brown, Stanford, Princeton, UPenn, Yale, Williams, Rice, UChicago, Ponoma, and MIT.

It's not about how much money you make, it's about how hard you work in high school to get into a top college.

[Tibbon]

Top colleges for music, Berklee and Juilliard. Do they give everyone free rides for income under 40K... umm, no. Not at all. They produce some top musicians (you probably have their albums) and most are able to pay the bills in a few years, but they can't pay $1000/month in loans the day that exit.

If you want to do your research, do it well. MIT and Harvard's music programs suck compared to Berklee.

[QueensDynasty]

Here's an idea, smart guy. You're spending $40K+ a year to go to a school, to go to an industry where less than 1% of the people succeed. You'd have better odds playing blackjack at Vegas, at least your odds there are 49%. Don't whine like a little baby when you have to wait tables at the diner because you can't pay your $150K loans. No one forced you to choose a major which: 1. Isn't Practical, 2. Is in low demand, and 3. The graduates have a very slim chance of succeeding and hitting it big.

[Tibbon]

So there should be no trained musicians in the world? People should only go to school with money in mind? We should have no writers, artists, musicians, etc? I suppose everyone should be a doctor or a lawyer from Harvard eh?

[curtmastor]

i love music and think good musicians are a nice luxury in form of entertainment but not at the expense of handing 150k to train one.what the return to society?a nice CD compelation of star wars covers?come on..id rather help a kid study biology or math in form of a scholarhsip than this fucking dickhead.This isnt a communist nation. not everyone is equal.there are winners and losers...you decide which one your going to be. your responsible for your decisions.like wasting $ on music degrees.

[QueensDynasty]

People should go to school with the knowledge that there is a very high chance that they will be waiting tables for $8.50 an hour paying off their $100K+ student loans when they graduate, because they chose music or liberal arts or a major that is low in demand. And people shouldn't whine about said loans.

[Tibbon]

You should perhaps realize that it's also rather irresponsible for the loan companies to grant such loans in the first place. Similar irresponsibly is what has set us in a bad place with the mortgage market. The lenders need to play their part and not give out loans for totally unsecured things.

[QueensDynasty]

Why is it irresponsible? You CANNOT CLAIM default or bankruptcy on a student loan. Companies can have writedowns on bad mortgages. These loan companies will get their money from you, no matter what. These companies are not breaking the law, it is the student's fault for being dumb, irresponsible, and not reading fine print. They need to stop whining and live with it.

[Tibbon]

I believe it's rather naive to say that 100% of student loans have been paid for in full by those that took them out. Its a poor idea for them as a company to make loans that won't be paid for on time, or potentially at all. No, you cannot generally (apparently you aren't a bankruptcy attorney as there are some cases) absolve student loans through bankruptcy, but its possible

If companies aren't to fault at all for anything, why is congress seriously looking into them and their practices?

[QueensDynasty]

Obviously it's working because these companies are still in business. No, you cannot claim bankruptcy through student loans. There is a clip on Youtube where Suze Orman tells some woman with over $100K in student loans this.

Until Congress does something, these companies were not at fault. Investment banks just packaged the CMO's and passed them off to the investors.

This guy is going to pay $150K in student loans for playing 4 years of tuba. He needs to stop whining and deal with it.

[PT6RS]

actually, MIT Has a joint program with New England Conservatory.

And Berklee.. well, they DO take anyone that applies. Berklee is a business, as well as a good music school. they are one of the only schools that actually MAKES money every year. they take everyone who applies, takes their money, then half of them flunk out.

[hecklerhouse]

Man I'm just saying that the system could be improved for the average american. The average american doesn't get into ivy league schools. And sometimes it's not because we don't work hard. Some of us had to work full time jobs in high school just to help our parents get by. I already said everybody does not deserve a free ride to college... I'm just saying that the system could be improved. And when did this guy say he majored in "tuba playing" in college? I didn't hear him give a major...

[PT6RS]

Yale offers a full ride to every music grad student. reguardless of income.

[flipped06]

So he got $150000 in loans to learn the tuba? I think I see a future credit crisis looming for the student loan program. I hope every tax payer enjoyed that star wars tribute on the tuba cause thats the only pay back your every going to see.

[arugulaburglar]

What a whinging baby! At least he has the opportunity to attend university and to live that lifestyle. There's plenty of people who dream of going to university but never have the chance.

[iluke1]

yeah buddy, what is the next president going to do about your student loans!?!

get a grip, let's get some money in to the inner cities, fund literacy programs, boost the level of HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, then maybe we'll see if we can help support the struggling tuba musician with his higher education...

fucking idiot.

[WWWoDMOCRATSoORG]

Help end the war, fix health care and more.

Go to liberal2 . democratz . org

[farhadcoyote]

Come to WNMU, a small Liberal Arts College in South West. Tuition under $5000. Google WNMU

[etool782]

this is pretty much like majoring in lottery. he doesn't want to study anything he can make a viable living, then complain about student debt. i worked during school, split a 600 sq ft apt to make ends meet. they refuse to make any sort of sacrifice to their cushy means of living, and when it comes time to pay the piper or get a real job, the waterworks start. its ridiculous.

like the housing crunch. 80% of people lied about income or tax status to get a home loan, and are ass out now.

[navtel]

simple.. america has become elitist.. only the rich families will have the money for their sons and daughters to go to college. does this seem fair.. george carlin was right when he said ' the american dream, only you have to be asleep to believe it!'

[curtmastor]

Carlin is funny but hes a fucking nutcase. He sounds like a conspiracy loon. The american dream is alive and hasnt changed since my grandfather who didnt have any formal education came to ellis island and broke his back building a small buisness ffrom the ground up...you want to go to college and make a great life for yourself...bust your ass and take our loans. just be sure the juice is worth the squeeze. loans dont exist to send this asshole off to fucking band camp.

[WWWoDMOCRATSoORG]

Call your local Exxon/Mobil gas station and tell the manager that you will not get your car repaired there, nor will you buy gasoline there until their parent company sets their price so that they can sell you gasoline for $1.75 a gallon. Then only do business with other gas stations. We will no longer stand for $3 a gallon gasoline.

[flipped06]

Spoken like a true supply and demand ignoring democrat. There are other folks in the world purchasing oil as well. Do you think you can get them to follow your plan or do you think they might want to eat, work, play or do anything else that requires energy?

[WWWoDMOCRATSoORG]

Call Republican contributor Wendy's restaurants at 614 764 3553 and tell the person in that you want their CEO to get the congress and the President to enact a $10/HR MIN. WAGE into law and until this happens you will not go to a Wendy's Restaurant.

[WWWoDMOCRATSoORG]

Call Republican contributor Rite Aid Pharmacies at 800 325 3737 and tell the person that you want the Rite Aid CEO to get the congress and the President to enact HR 676 single payer universal health care and repeal Medicare Part D and place the drug benefit in Medicare Part B covering 80% of the cost of drugs with no extra premiums, no extra deductibles, no means tests, no coverage gaps, and remove the means test for Medicare Part B and until that happens, you won't buy ANYTHING from Rite Aid.

[etool782]

why don't you call nancy pelosi and tell her not screw over people that can starkist tuna. its not republicans that are the root of all evil, you douche.

[pkscolax]

Agreed etool782. It's always one side wanting to make you think the other's to blame.

[carlhess]

"Michael, a star tube player and grad student at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA thinks education and the rising student tuition... "

don't encourage him

[thfunpolice]

The real problem here is not that some people have tuition covered by family but that anyone should graduate with $150,000 of debt from college loans and a degree in a field with limited, poorly paid job opportunities. Maybe it's capitalism - you pay through the nose to study in the best arts program because it's valuable to you while your audience shrinks.

[MURPHY777777]

I have the answer.. pssst dont be a musician??

[PT6RS]

You would hate life without music.. how would you feel without radio? how would u feel with out film music? you wouldnt know what to feel... tool.

[pkscolax]

Nietzsche once stated that without music, life would be senseless. If you want to be a cabbage, then never listen to music again.

[tubaman1966]

The politics here make me sick. There are so many rich people who don't have to worry about paying for college, so it's not fair that you

have to take out loans? What happened to working through college so you don't have to take out $150,000 in debt? What do you want a politician to do about it - take the rich people's money and give it to you so you can study tuba? Best of luck on that.

Nice excerpt, but your low E doesn't speak - sounds like a half-step instead of a major third. Next!!!!!

[PT6RS]

lets hear your ride....

[tubaman1966]

Oh, that's right...I forgot. YouTube law says you must be able to do something better than the video in question to comment on it. Then, you have to prove it by posting your own video with the superior quality.

I don't recall saying mine was better, but I've got a good enough ear to notice that the low E doesn't speak. The guy's trying to get a job...perhaps he appreciates constructive criticism.

The entitlement attitude still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, especially from a fellow tubist.

[PT6RS]

ive got 4 jobs... thank you.

[PT6RS]

uh huh...  suure.. where do you work?

[sinfonian39]

Also, this guy has a couple jobs. The fact is that only so many jobs in the orchestral world make you enough money to live comfortably. Major symphonies only have so many jobs open per year per instrument. Then, you have to compete with hundreds to thousands of applicants to get the gig. It's hard even getting to the finals. These days there are tons of talented kids playing who are surpassing the greats, but they're not getting jobs. Why? It's because of tenure.

[PT6RS]

that guy is friggen amazing!!

[sinfonian39]

Get a job? Our jobs take talent to get...it doesn't take a piece of paper. In our field, pieces of paper don't get you shit.

[WWWoDMOCRATSoORG]

Call GOP contributor and war contractor General Electric Corporation at 800 386 1215 and tell the person, that you want the GE CEO to get Bush to end the war in Iraq and then Bush resign with Cheney and until that happens you will not buy any GE products and that you will tell your friends. Then call a local appliance store that sells GE products and tell the person you will not buy any GE products from their store until they can convince the GE CEO to convince George W Bush to end the war.

[Airman41]

If any of you idiots knew how hard it is for classical musicians to come by permanent jobs these days, you wouldn't be saying that. Students who major in music in college work their butts off, only to graduate and find that there are no jobs, and no money coming their way. Is that fair? especially considering that is far easier to major in business or criminal justice; and the people who get business and c.j. degrees have jobs available to them. jobs that will allow them to pay off student loans

[curtmastor]

Fair? its called free market fuckhead. not communism. let the market and demand decide. kids who are smart enough to realize that majoring in something like music is not smart becuase we dont need musicians...we need doctors, lawyers, cops, stockbrokers, investman bankers, military officers, pilots, researchers, etc. Those people get jobs becuase 1) they realized the demand and 2) they put the work in towards it. what the fuck will society reap from star wars on the tuba? nothing!

[pkscolax]

Oh hoh. First off Curt, every major a college offers is there for a reason. Being in entertainment is just as important as having any other career. The problem is that people like you think musicians have little value, and therefore don't give a rats arse if these creative individuals are drowning in student loan debt. If you were staring at -$150,000 net worth just because you pursued something you were passionate about, you'd think differently. Also, that was "Ride of the Valkyries", twat.

[QueensDynasty]

Welcome to capitalism. Supply and demand buddy. If you're drowning in $150K of debt by taking up a major which has no practical value, that's your own fault.

[pkscolax]

Precisely the kind of skewed thinking that has put America in this mess. Capitalism works from a business perspective because it sets the framework through which companies can acquire wealth. But capitalism does not and should not dictate how human beings make life choices, simply because not every human being is entirely interested in a career in business. There are plenty of creative people in the world who just want to go to college to learn and develop a sense of culture, not how to con ppl.

[curtmastor]

um no its not. Entertainment is not as much of a necessity as say law enforcement, buisness, and the sciences. im passionate about baseball. could of gone to a smaller school with a lesser respected program to do it but i chose not too. you know why? becuase i want a real job when i get out of college. a real one. you want to pursue your "dream" then go do it...but dont expect handouts just becuase your doing it. entertainment is not a necessity. those other professions are.

[pkscolax]

I'm not talking about government handouts strictly for musicians. I'd very much like to see every major come at no cost to the student so long as he or she remained in good academic standing. Do you have any idea how many billions of dollars America's top colleges are raking in, all the while hiking tuition fees for students? It's downright mad.

[QueensDynasty]

Thank you. Thank you very much!

[pector55]

We aren't the ones investing $150k and 9 years for something we know there will be no jobs for. Way to call us idiots. ;-) Yes it's fair.. pick a better career. It's not that hard.

[Tibbon]

Right, as the world would be far better without professionally trained musicians. Few classical players are "self taught" and you need schooling for it as much as anything. Go back to your job as a gas station attendant.

[wytkracka]

amen, here's an idea, jackass, don't agree to pay 150k..........

duhr it ain't rocket surgery..

[umyepismine]

THEN DON'T MAJOR IN MUSIC, DUMBASS!  Otherwise shut the fuck up and enjoy the ride, because it's the one you chose.

[slimgoose2]

any field worth pursuing is hopefully an attempt at giving back to the world (local, national..) maybe this guy is great at teaching MUSIC, which is often dubbed a universal language + it is one thing we might all have in common. "western" world music would be nowhere without medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, etc. Consider how it opens us to endless cultures. But consider your education (words) and what you are paying for it. The American standard is clearly behind its potential.

[war723]

get a job

[ReeferCity]

I got an answer for to your student loan "problem" and funding - GO GET A JOB!