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Paul Buono: Musician and 2L [By Mahsa Khalilifar] When Paul Buono decided to enter law school, it was not based on some passionate urge but, rather, a realistic approach to his future.
“I know this is not an idealistic answer, but
and received an M.A. in Jazz Performance/
political science courses. My elective courses
it was just more of a practical option,” he
Composition in 2004. After taking some time
usually included law-related courses,” he
explained. “I decided to go to law school
off to work as a full-time musician, Buono
said. “[I was looking into] finding a job and
because I loved being a musician, but there
received a “generous scholarship” to attend
[making myself] marketable.”
were other things I wanted in life, like a
Western New England College in Springfield,
paycheck, a car, or an apartment, without
Massachusetts, and at 27 years old, he is
He saw the different opportunities law could
having to live with four roommates.”
now in his second year.
bring him, so he decided to make the best of
When Buono was younger, his parents gave
During the time that Buono was a full-time
him private music lessons, which started in
musician, he spent his days playing on cruise
Buono said he has come to prefer certain
the second grade.
ships, including those operated by Princess
aspects of law.
the situation.
Cruises. He would work as a musical “They made music a part of our studies;
director or a sideman. After realizing that his
“I like giving arguments, and I like being
it was like [our] education. We practiced
financial future was not looking as bright as
in front of a court and in front of a judge,”
every day, so it was like doing your history
he had hoped, he needed another plan.
Buono said. “I like being called to discuss
homework,” Buono recalled. It was not until junior high that Buono saw music more fondly rather than as a chore. One of his biggest supporters was his grandfather, who was a musician-a pianist, to be exact. “He drove us to our [music] lessons, so he was a primary force in our education and upbringing, especially in music,” said Buono. During his senior year of high school, Buono participated in a student exchange program though his school, studied in New York and Hawaii, and then returned to New York for a while. He graduated cum laude in 2002 from the University of Massachusetts with a jazz studies degree. His concentration was in piano. Buono then entered the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, CUNY,
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“I did always have an interest in law. As an undergrad, I took a couple of ethnic and Q. What do you do for fun? A. A lot of my fun stuff involves music. I play with wedding bands and jazz ensembles on weekends. I also go down to New York and check things out when I can. I’m a big summertime guy, so I like a lot of outdoor stuff-camping, hiking. I also like to travel.
a case law. I think, more generally, I really like the idea of debating in the courtroom setting.” Right now, Buono is hoping to apply for a law student internship with the United States Olympic Committee for the summer of 2008. He currently teaches at Clark University in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. He usually takes classes during the day and then works from around 5:00 p.m. until
Q. What CD is in your CD player right now? A. Avishai Cohen-Colors.
well after 8:00 p.m. Buono also provides
Q. What is the last magazine you read? A. National Geographic Adventure, the only magazine I subscribe to.
students, his specialty being the piano.
Q. What is your favorite TV show? A. Arrested Development. Q. What is something most people don’t know about you? A. I got my scuba-diving license in BoraBora.
private lessons and other musical services to
Buono has temporarily put his personal goal of playing music full-time on hold, but he hopes that law school will provide a musical path just the same. “I want to work in the music industry somehow in the future…whether it be on the A&R side, I want to get my foot in the door
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somehow,” he admitted. “It was never my
that ‘it’s more work than you’ve ever done
Buono is hoping he will be one of the
intention to leave the music industry. If I can
in your life,’ and I didn’t really listen to them
students who stands out and makes it to
merge the two in any way, [I will be happy].
a lot, but they were right,” he said. “The
where he wants to go.
I think what I would be interested in would
workload at law school is [immense]. It is so
be an agent or a manager for a record label.
much more than I expected. But there is a
“In 10 years I hope to be involved in music
That is my goal.”
‘brotherhood’ between a law student [rather
somehow. I would love to work with a record
than] a non-law student because you get
label and maybe [incorporate] that with jazz,”
each other.”
he said.
representative, Buono is just taking it day by
He said that his experience in law school has
On the Net
day right now. His favorite memory so far has
taught him a lot so far, and he advised future
been getting through finals.
law students to check prospective schools
University of Massachusetts
out before picking one.
www.massachusetts.edu
and as soon as I finished it, I looked back
“There’s a lot more merit in visiting a law
Aaron Copland School of Music
on the entire year-you know how they do in
school class. Really consider sitting in
qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/music
the movies? I literally thought back and was
classrooms, because you can get a sense
really impressed with how much work was
of the environment. You can see how the
Western New England College
involved,” he recalled.
courses are,” he said. “It makes a difference
www.wnec.edu
Whether he will ultimately become a professional pianist, a composer, or an A&R
“The last final was constitutional law in May,
to see if you want to do this. Overall, I made Buono said that things have not been easy,
the right choice, but I had many moments of
though, and that he’s had his moments of
thinking long and hard about it. [Law school]
regret and doubt.
is so competitive even friends become afraid to assist you. So much weight is placed on
“I remember I had a few friends who were
where you graduate in comparison to where
in law school before I went and would say
you are placed.”
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