Music Conservatory, Arts High School, College, Etc.

So, are you supposed to get a degree to be a successful talent?

I found 2 of the best people in music got an honorary doctorate, one at Juilliard and one at Harvard.

I read you need to get a Master's, maybe at a competitive school, with a teacher who produces results, people getting in orchestras.

I heard in Education that getting a doctorate might change your career path for some reason from teaching grade/high school and that they didn't want it therefore.

My experience is that school in general can seem to be a sacrifice, maybe for some with different reasons to do with things like everyday life, who knows!  For me, it was hard to settle down on one specific thing, but I knew I liked the creative and performing arts.  I started out liking art.  I know an organist I met did arts and crafts and at some point I piano; she became an organist in her 40s, I think.  So, for me, it was tough thinking of sacrificing things like ballet, which I never got to do a lot when I did it.  Also, I was a piano/organ major with surges of thinking of going over to classical singing.  I ended up having to leave and am coming back thinking I like violin, which with not practicing enough is very tough too besides for me, along with maybe some nerve damage in my arms.