One of our favorite things to do with our Music Life and Times podcasts is to interview other musicians about their perspectives and pathways. Vinnie D’Agostino—saxophone, clarinet, and flute—first performed as an 8-year-old and started playing professionally at 15. Throughout his youth he was convinced he would live his life as a professional musician. But as he approached his 20s, he decided on a different path, as an IT professional, first in government with the Department of Defense, then almost 30 years at Coca-Cola, where he rose to Global IT Director for Global HR Technology. Today, he is again a full-time musician, involved in a wide range of projects, and recognized as a highly accomplished player.
Vinnie serves as an example of many players who pursue other careers but come back to their first love, music, either to start or resurrect a professional music career, or simply to play for their own amusement. That often involves taking lessons again, as explained by Music Life and Time podcast co-host, pianist and educator Kevin Bales.
“What you might think is unusual about my teaching is that I teach a lot of adults,” Kevin notes. “I’m working with doctors and lawyers, people who were very successful in their careers, and all they want to do now is play music. All of them have a story, such as how they wanted to go to music school and their parents wanted them to do something else.”
Based on his early successes in music as a youngster, and with the support of his parents and years of lessons, Vinnie began college in music. But after a year, he decided on that alternate career path. Why?
“At the time there were a couple of reasons. One, I wasn’t seeing the value of being in college and spending eight hours a day practicing. I’d rather just practice on my own. The other was that I wanted to get independent at the time.”
But why go back to doing it for a living?
“In short I feel like I’m making up for lost time. There’s so much I want to do and accomplish and experience. I was a weekend warrior for a long time. But then, with my three kids grown, I was in a position where I thought it was my time. And I’m having a blast; as I guess what you’d call a freelance musician, I’m doing lots of different things.”
Is there anything from your previous career that carries over to your music?
“I think there are some things about my life experiences that I can draw on, habits and skills that carry over. A couple of things come to mind, probably number one being preparation. Coming in prepared is a very big deal, so important in the world of music. Also, having an understanding and appreciation for being numbers driven; the art needs to be the art, but also, you want to make ends meet.”
What doesn’t translate?
“In corporate life, you make a plan, you do a certain number of things a certain way, and you have a high chance of success. In the world of music and art, you can do everything right, but if it doesn’t hit with the audience, it’s not successful.”
For more of Vinnie’s commentary, listen to Music Life and Time Episode 16: Vinnie D’Agostino: Out of the Corporate World and Back into Music