adult returning for second degree...in vocal music

College Majors Music Major
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<p>As you can guess by my screen name, I have a job involving music and, in fact, have been a director of music for a church for three years. I have instrumental music "training" and experience, but my undergrad and grad degrees are in speech pathology! I have applied (as a transfer student...as is required with two previous degrees) to a local university's music program and am attempting to work up a vocal audition for their choral music program (for music education) in an attempt to further my training in the areas I most need. Thing is, I have NEVER studied voice. I have a good "ear", but have never considered myself to be a soloist. I have some dear friends (professionals in the music field) working with me, but this is almost the scariest thing I have ever done. In case you are wondering, the scariest thing was taking the job I have been doing for the past three years...and that has been wonderfully gratifying in ways I cannot begin to explain...</p>

<p>I really, really want the chance to go to school, though! I have SO MUCH I WANT TO LEARN!!!!! Not to be a performer...but a teacher and a good musician who knows how to "use" her voice as a better teaching "tool", at least!</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

<p>Oh, and I just sent my youngest child off to college this year. I will be 50 in a couple of months....</p>

<p>I am very, very excited about doing this. Am I totally crazy???</p>

<p>I hope not!</p>

2

<p>No advice, just a cheerleader! Go, you! What school? We're returning to the Atlanta area this August. I actually considered returning to school myself, to get my teaching degree. Sent off an email to Berry (only school I could find that offered ESOL certification, which is what I'd like to do) but I've chickened out at the thought of returning to school/work after being my own boss for the past 20plus years.</p>

<p>But I do remember once reading a Dear Abby letter about somebody who was returning to school (med school, I think) and was worried because she was going to be a certain age by the time she finished. Abby said, "How old will you be if you don't go?"</p>

3

<p>I am auditioning at Ga State, though I have an appointment with another smaller private college in the area that offers a program that sounds very attractive. The choral director called me and we talked for quite a while...problem is, I have a child at Columbia and cannot afford tuition for MYSELF at a private college, even one in Georgia!</p>

<p>Oh, well, we will see what happens. It's all good!</p>

<p>Binx, Best of luck to you and WELCOME HOME in August! I hope your experiences in Germany have been good... If I can help you track down any ESOL resources, let me know. I cannot imagine there not being more than that in this area (at the risk of "hijacking" my own thread! LOL)</p>

4

<p>Churchmusicmom, best wishes to you as you follow your bliss. I had my daughter read your news, as she's currently debating between two colleges and whether to major in music at one school or pursue something different at the other school. She's been beating herself up a bit about this, so I was glad to be able to show her your post with the observation that "it's never too late for anything." Your role as a teacher has already started...thank you!</p>

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<p>awww, thanks! Best to your daughter!!</p>

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<p>Hi all. I am 38 years old and am employed as a bilingual elementary school teacher. When I was in my early 20’s, I was offered a partial scholarship to study voice at Roosevelt University in Chicago. I had some health issues and was unable to attend. Then life happened. I got busy with other things, got married…</p>

<p>So now it’s today. Since that time I’ve kind of been haunted by the fact that I didn’t pursue my dream. But I’ve always just pushed it to the back of my mind thinking “Well, what’s done is done.” </p>

<p>Today I’m wondering if I could ever recapture that dream. I would need to get an undergraduate degree in voice. As far as I can tell, all the programs only offer classes during the day, with some performances at night. How can I possibly follow my dreams?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>J.J.</p>

7

<p>Since you are an elementary school teacher, I am going to guess that you already have a bachelors degree in something and possibly a masters degree. That is going to make getting financial aid very difficult if you want another bachelors degree.</p>

<p>What do you want to do with your voice? Perhaps that does not require an actual degree, only that you sing very well. You could probably take a few decades worth of private voice lessons and pick up the music theory/history classes in a non-degree program for what it would cost to get a BM.</p>

8

<p>I’m going to jump in and say I’m another one of those adults who love music dearly, but was not able to major in music as an undergrad when I was in college back in the 1980s. </p>

<p>Hopefully after both D1 and D2 finish high school, I will find a way to fulfill my dream of getting a music degree. I love learning about music, but also want that little piece of paper saying I have a music degree.</p>

<p>In the meantime, I’ll cheer both churchmusicmom and maestrajj in their musical endeavors. I don’t think it’s crazy to want to study music seriously well in adulthood, it’s only natural to want to follow a passion. Perhaps one of you could attend a Performing Arts College Fair and talk to some admissions representatives from music conservatories and music departments at universities? Some of these fairs are going to be scheduled in this coming fall. </p>

<p>[Performing</a> & Visual Arts College Fairs](<a href=“http://www.nacacnet.org/EventsTraining/CollegeFairs/pva/Pages/default.aspx]Performing”>http://www.nacacnet.org/EventsTraining/CollegeFairs/pva/Pages/default.aspx)</p>

<p>It would be interesting to find out which schools have age cutoffs for adults interesting in obtaining a BA or an MA in music.</p>

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<p>Most of the major music schools (both conservatory and university affiliated) have attached community music schools, often with excellent faculty and on occasion a stellar peer level. There’s a few threads and I’ll try and pull the links.</p>

<p>And one a few years old asking a similar question. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/354634-options-adult-students.html?highlight=adult[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/354634-options-adult-students.html?highlight=adult&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And recall bratsche <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/854107-seeking-thoughts-older-students-going-conservatory.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/854107-seeking-thoughts-older-students-going-conservatory.html&lt;/a&gt; (post 6) from last year, who at about thirty decided to go back for a performance MM (with exceptional offers) after seven years in the work force. Granted she had a music BA and continued high level instruction and participation during the hiatus.</p>

10

<p>Emerging from lurking for a little bit…</p>

<p>I can’t believe I’m almost done with my first year (4 weeks to go!). I don’t know if it makes a difference when you’re 50, but around here nobody seems to know that I’m not 23. I guess visually I’m not obviously out of the average age group (yet). So unless I tell them, most people assume that I graduated from college last year. And most of the time even when I do tell them, it makes no difference. It’s weird, but it’s like the past 8 years never happened.</p>

<p>One thing also is that there are a lot of grad students at Indiana, many of them doctoral students with spouses and even kids. So people are not that surprised by having older students around. I have met other people here too who have spent time in the work force, like another grad student, also in performance, who spent 5 years teaching middle school. There was also a post-doc student in one of my music history classes who is probably about… 60? Certainly didn’t seem to make a difference to anyone else in the class.</p>

<p>Probably much of how the experience will be depends on what you make of it, I guess. But I certainly would say that if you can make everything else work, age shouldn’t be the factor that stops you. I fully intend to get a doctorate one of these days! Even if it should be much later on in life.</p>

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<p>Yay, bratsche! It’s good to hear back from you. It sounds as if you are having a great year at IU, no regrets? Congrats again.</p>

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<p>You don’t have to have a bachelors degree in music to study music at the graduate level. Think about all of the other BA or BM course requirements that are not getting you where you would want to go. You took that stuff already for your first degree. Explore what it would take to get into a masters program. That would give you more concentrated music study. Many masters students are older and have had other life experiences before concentrating on music. </p>

<p>Locate a good private teacher and get started there. That is what you need to get ready.</p>

13

<p>I recently finished my second bachelor’s degree, and it is in music. I am in my 50’s. It was a difficult, but rewarding experience, and I could write pages on my experiences. I wanted to offer some suggestions for considering this path. </p>

<p>Before you even consider attending a university program, study with a private teacher, practice, and work smart and hard at reaching at least a high intermediate level of proficiency on your major instrument. I started a new major instrument later in life, and, although I improved immensely while getting my degree, I think there would have been more playing opportunities in better ensembles if I had taken extra time to become more proficient before I even started my program. </p>

<p>Get yourself into as many playing opportunities as possible in community and college ensembles or on your own. Test the waters, whether its orchestra, choir, or jazz ensemble. This will give you a good idea of your skills, plus a lot of playing experience. Consider adult-oriented summer programs as well or some community college courses. </p>

<p>Bone up on your theory. Starting with pre-theory is no fun. You will probably have a theory placement test. I did a combination of self-study and classes to increase my theory skills and did well on theory, sight singing, etc for placement. </p>

<p>Get your basic piano skills well on the way. You will need a degree of piano proficiency.</p>

<p>If at all possible, try to get into a graduate program. Advantages, as already mentioned, are older students with life experience and probably a more adult work ethic. Being a graduate assistant can mean some great experience and money. I could have gone for the grad degree, if I wanted, by taking enough units in music, without the undergrad music degree. </p>

<p>And finally, get clear on your goals. Do you need a piece of paper or are you really looking for certain knowledge or competence? Or both? Much of the music world does not care if you have a degree. Some of it does. </p>

<p>The university path is not inexpensive. Although I had the relative luxury of not working for awhile and getting a degree, if I did not have this option, I really could have accomplished many of my goals with a good teacher, self-study, finding my own playing opportunities, adult-oriented summer programs, and a few classes. A frustration is this: As an undergrad level, you will be going to school with some not-yet adults, and if you have a well-developed work ethic, it sometimes can be difficult. </p>

<p>Whatever you do, do not give up on your dream. Do evaluate what will be taking away from music studies, whether it is a job, family, kids, caring for parents, pets, and/or the house. The point is that there are so many important people and adult things in life that can derail us from music goals, that do not derail the younger students. In order to develop performance skills, we need stretches of relatively uninterrupted time with our instrument (or voice) on a regular basis. It is good to give thought before hand as to when and how you are going to find those hours to practice and study. Study ways of practicing smart.</p>