The Daily Challenge of Pursuing a Career in Music
In college, Ted Yoder was told to quit chasing his dream of a music career. But he pursued his passion and now has a video with over 100 million views.
Video Transcript
Ted enrolled in college to become a music teacher. But that wasn’t his passion.
Ted Yoder: My first semester in college, my music professor told me I should quit because I was just buying into the lie that everybody says you can’t make a living off of music.
Now, Ted makes his living off of music.
Ted: My wife spent wedding money, wedding gift money to get me a hammered dulcimer, so that’s how it started.
”To yield and give way to our passions is the lowest slavery, even as to rule over them is the only liberty.” —St. Justin Martyr, Fragments, Fragment 18
Ted: You should be always progressing on your instrument. Part of the drive for me is just that constantly thing of knowing that I can get better. I’m playing totally different now than I did eight years ago, and eight years from now, I better play a lot better than I do now.
Be in the know with Grotto
Explore more Grotto

Improv Taught Me to Embrace the Fail

How Humor Can Help You Learn

Using Comedy to Showcase Life’s Beauty

Joy That Refuses To Be Eclipsed

Good and Decent EP 21: Comedy of Life

It’s More Important than Ever to Engage in Politics

Start Your Day With These Yoga Postures

Creative Magic Behind Chicago’s Improv Comedy

How and Why to Pursue Comedy as a Hobby
