Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Wood.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Eric. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started teaching clarinet lessons in my senior year at the University of North Texas. After I graduated with a degree in music, I continued teaching. When money/students became scarce, I worked other non-music jobs to make ends meet. In addition to teaching, I also wrote music. At that point, music became more of a hobby than a career. I was not happy with where I was (executive assistant in a retirement community), and I wanted to teach again. A friend of mine who was an assistant band director in Frisco ISD said that he needed a clarinet instructor. After many weeks of careful thought and planning, I decided to quit my comfortable 9-5 in favor of a more fulfilling career doing what I love.
When summer came after working for just one semester, I realized that I would not have enough money to make it through the year. Taxes, car trouble, and health problems had taken their toll. I had no choice but to stop teaching again. I felt like a failure, but I would not let this stop me from pursuing music in some form. I found that writing music brought me even more joy than teaching, and I continue writing when I am not at my day job.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As anyone passionate about music will say, it is NOT an easy road. There have been many struggles along the way. Self-employment taxes, a lot of competition, and lack of affordable health benefits are all very realistic things that many musicians deal with. I got through all of this by having faith that I would find work. I cannot bear the thought of working in an office for the rest of my life. I am currently still looking for that dream career, and I will never stop.
Please tell us about your work.
I provide music composition services. I can write music for any occasion, from the marching band to weddings. I believe the quality that sets my music apart from others is its simplicity. I don’t enjoy writing music that goes over people’s heads. I enjoy writing accessible music that everyone can enjoy. I write music that I like to listen to.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Perseverance. If you tend to give up at the first sign of difficulty, you will find it hard to succeed in music. Music is about discipline, but it is also about having strong mental fortitude.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soundcloud.com/eric-wood-composer
- Email: ericmwood2013@gmail.com
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
