[Michelle]

I'm in a master's program for vocal performance. My remaining obligations to the school are weekly voice lessons and my final master's recital in February 2008.

This past summer I was engaged professionally to sing main roles in two operas. It was a great experience and I really felt myself grow and blossom there. Returning to school was hard though and since the new semester started I have felt blocked, unable to practice, with feelings of dread and avoidance before voice lessons ... it is not a good situation.

So, I wrote my professor that I'd like to prepare my final recital alone without lessons. After 8 years of study, my success does not depend upon these three months.

She refuses to even speak to me about this possibility. The moment there is any conflict she calls me "unprofessional". I dislike that and feel my request should be taken seriously.

I also feel I will sing a better recital if I am allowed to work alone now. My choices are:

- stick it out and suffer with her til the end, perhaps sing a weak final exam

- make the decision to leave her class and prepare my exam on my own, sing a strong exam. There may, however, be consequences if the school does not agree with the arrangement. I may be thrown out of school with no diploma.

That said, a performance degree is not worth a lot in my profession. I already have my pedagogical degree which is most important and I have received the education of a master's program.

Am I missing something? Am I somehow in the wrong? I just see that I became stronger this summer while performing and now that doesn't fit somehow in the relationship.

I would be grateful for any thoughts or advice.