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Do What Makes You Happy

Written By Olivia Throssell

“Oh, what can you do with that major?”


It is a question Sophomore Dustin Kneidl hears all too frequently, as do many Performing Arts majors. Despite the doubt surrounding his major, however, Kneidl intends to follow his heart. “I have wanted to be a music major since I was in high school. [F]or a little while I thought maybe I could be a Biology major because it was a better choice financially,” he asseverated, “but I soon realized, a semester in, that I … wanted to do what would make me happy rather than what was financially a slightly better choice.”

Sophomore and Performing Arts Major Dustin Kneidl. Photo courtesy of Daniel Nathaniel.

A Performing Arts major with a Music concentration, Kneidl has been playing guitar for nine years. His experiences in the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) Music Department have proved influential. Unable to declare music itself as a major, Kneidl took courses outside his area of interest, but which reinforced his desire to major in melody, in music.


By enrolling in Music 185: Music Theory I, a course that he agreed encouraged him to move out of comfort zone, Kneidl learned he could have a successful career teaching music. He learned he could teach youth to read and write music both within and without the school system. Moving on from playing guitar to reading and annotating notes, after all, fails to be a leap.


He has also gained technical skills which allow him to understand concepts, such as that from his favorite course thus far, Drama 280: Basic Stagecraft—stage presence. Even though this course was not a music-specific, it enlightened him on the technical appeal of performing in addition to background information many individuals do not take the time to learn as aspiring musicians.

Kneidel performing outside the university. Photo courtesy of Kris Mai.

The sophomore stated, “DRAM 280 doesn't have much to do with music other than the technical appeal of the performing side. [However,] being able to be apart of what makes a show tick feels pretty great, to know that … you helped the actors, or dancers, or musicians succeed. I was glad I could learn to be the inside support of one of the things I enjoy most about being a musician, and that's performing.”


Kneidl employs his musical skills in the UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra and Kapili Choir as well as in two bands outside the university. What he currently does is better than what he considered doing, at least for him, as he has experienced the ultimate learning situation: doing what one loves.


“The way I see it though, a positive outlook is the best approach to doing what you enjoy most in life,” the Performing Arts major concluded.


Students interested in Drama courses may visit the Drama courses webpage; those interested in Music courses may visit the Music courses webpage.

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