Thoughts on writing a research paper in 20 days

My advice to future professional musicians is simply to choose wisely.

As you go through your musical training, just as you do in life, really listen to what you gut, mind, and heart are telling you about what you are doing artistically. If you find yourself contemplating other majors, or trying to figure out what else you can be doing, don't feel pressured to always remain in what you're doing because people tell you that you can.

I spent 3 years with a voice teacher who kept telling me I could have a big career if I wanted it.
That's great and fabulous news. Right?
Well, yes. If you want to be an opera singer.
I tried it. I did some work on actual operas, preparing a role, working on some scenes. I did well with it, but simultaneously I was always online exploring other concentrations in music and the arts in general.
I didn't listen to myself early enough. I kept feeling pressured to pursue performance, and ignored what my gut was telling me.

So...here I am, having made the decision just a few months ago to become a musicologist rather than a singer, writing a 12-page research paper in 20 days

Here are some thoughts on that experience and what I've learned.

Exploit your resources. This sounds "wrong," but trust me it's not as bad as it sounds. Use your librarian's knowledge, and scourer the brain of your professors for information and ideas.

Make a rough schedule, and try to be as reasonable about your free time, and try to stick with the plan.

Make sure you're in a class and frontload the paper. This way you have a professor as a resource, and an ever-growing abundance on the time period you choose. The bonus is that you're done with your paper when everyone else is flipping out near exam time.

Focus your topic as you research. If it's a time period you aren't as familiar with. Start reading as much as you can and take notes. Be sure to write down the bibliographical information of the sources you use. As you take notes and get ideas, keep track of where your info is coming from. This will help later when you are documenting and formatting.

Don't misplace that style manual you were required to buy freshman year. Make sure it stays on your shelf every year.

And work a little bit whenever you have free time.