Ep. 47- The Powerful Decision to Pursue the Music Career of Her Dreams at 41 with Monica Shriver

More Than Your Age

I was introduced to my guest on today's episode in a really neat way thanks to social media. I saw a brief summary of her life and knew she would be perfect for the podcast.

Monica Shriver, Saxophonist and Composer, shares her journey from being primarily a teacher for 20 years to pursuing the kind of music career she always wanted at age 41. She discusses the challenges she faced in the education system, and how she felt forced to put her musical goals on hold. Monica talks about her decision to pursue a master's degree and her move to Nashville during the pandemic. She also shares her experience recording her first album and her goals for her music career and the Brave Musician community. In this conversation, Monica Shriver shares her journey of pursuing a music career in her forties, what that looks like now and what her goals are down the road. She discusses how age should not be a limiting factor in pursuing one's passion and the joy of creating a life of art and collaboration.

If you’ve had a desire to chase after that dream or goal you’ve always wanted to pursue, but feel as though you missed your opportunity. THIS is the episode for you.

Takeaways

-It's never too late to pursue your passion and dreams.

-Teaching and performing are two different skills.

-The environment and culture you're in can greatly impact your ability to thrive and pursue your passion.

-Creating a supportive community and seeking guidance from others can help you navigate challenges and achieve your goals.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Connection

01:24 Transition to Teaching Career

03:40 Teaching for 20 Years

05:16 Teaching vs. Performing

07:23 The Joy of Performing Beaten Out

08:41 The Impact of Negative Environment

10:06 Struggles as a Teacher

11:35 Navigating Different Teaching Styles

13:23 Feeling Out of Place

14:10 Pursuing Masters Degree

16:24 Midlife Crisis and Moving to Nashville

20:31 Recording First Album

27:49 Releasing First Album

37:00 Creating Brave Musician

42:26 Future Goals for Brave Musician

42:57 Performing and Touring

46:17 Future Plans for Music Career

46:52 Grants for Musicians

48:16 Pursuing Passion Regardless of Age

52:05 Creating a Life of Art and Collaboration

53:37 Encouragement for Women Feeling Blocked or Limited

55:19 It's Never Too Late

56:19 Where to Find Monica's Work

Connect with Monica

https://monicashriver.com/

Bravemusician.com

Spotify

Instagram: @saxymoni Facebook: @monicashrivermusic

Connect with Erica

Email // Facebook // Instagram // Linkedin

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