AM I right for the major?

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hello! Before I drop a massive question on you, I must warn you I am here for reassurance. I'm a nervous person who's often afraid, and while I'm decisive, big decisions like... my college future... often cause me to get quite flustered.</p>

<p>I am the son of two teachers, the cousin of teachers, the nephew of teachers, the grand-child of teachers... Since I was a young boy I've had my heart set on being a secondary-teacher. But what subject!?!?! I've had high marks on AP Exams and subjects ranging from English to Microeconomics. (With the exception of Math. ;) ) Lately I've been thinking about Music Education.</p>

<p>I'm a Junior in Highschool. I've taken a few Theory courses which resulted in B/A grades for the first course and C's for the second. I know I didn't push myself, but when I see my class mates I become scared. I've played all the Saxaphones with ease, I picked up Trombone in 2 months, and I've began to branch out to the other woodwinds and brass instruments. I can play some percussion parts and have begun taking lessons on set.</p>

<p>But I'm afraid. Why? I'm nothing special. I look to the left and I see students with scholar ships that are amazing that do what I do only better. To the right- kids that aren't the best performers but have published compositions and high theory marks already in high school. I'm not exceptional at my main instrument. I'm good but only when I can keep my nerves cooled in concert. For most instruments, I'm average. Average at just about every instrument I pick up. I'm average at composition...</p>

<p>However, I've TA'd a bit in Highschool and have taught fellow students their parts in the underclassmen band (before I was even playing their instruments). I've been told I'm a great teacher. I've taught History and Tennis at-well, and no matter the subject I've yielded success. I'm just afraid because as a performer, alone, I've never been exceptional at playing. Baritone, Tenor Sax, Trombone, and even Tuba parts were easy to sight-read, but for most of that crazy college level jazz I was always behind the section leader considerably.</p>

<p>The truth may be harsh, but bring it on. I need to know whether I'll make it. I rather teach History than waste 2 years in college only to find out I'm not music major material.</p>

<p>I feel if I work hard I could, but I'm afraid. I'm truly scared in making this decision. I thank you for reading this horribly written wall of text and considering a reply. I don't mean to sound like I want attention, but I just need reassurance before making this large decision.</p>

<p>Thanks-
Insanitee</p>

2

<p>You sound like you have a facility for multiple instruments, a love of music and a love of teaching music. I cannot see any reason for you not to take hold of your life and create the kind of future you want. You just need to “own” your decision to proceed, and to commit to yourself to do what it takes to get there.
That might mean brushing up on a main instrument and digging into theory a bit more; taking on a private instructor to kick things up a notch, and spending a lot of time researching and touring music education programs to find the right fit for your level of play (where you’re at and where you can “get to” by the time auditions roll around next year). </p>

<p>I’ve seen my own son go through a similar process. While always musical, he was late to music in some ways. While he was a very entertaining performer in winds and jazz, he was not top drawer conservatory material in terms of performance on his main instrument. Nonetheless, he was good at playing multiple instruments, and working with others in ensembles, and even won an award at music camp (although technically the weaker player) because he was an outstanding collegial ensemble member and leader. Once he set his mind on the path he wanted to pursue (summer before junior year and junior year) he went to town, getting outside assessments, taking college courses at night to beef up his piano and theory skills, taking on a private recording instructor, creating a portfolio of songs for the programs he wanted to apply to, and so on. Throughout the process, he garnered some great recommendations for college as well, in addition to a few awards (in songwriting, in jazz, etc).
He got into his dream program at a top university school of music and is still loving it. </p>

<p>So I know that a motivated person who has a glimpse of what they want has the power to go out and get it, and I hope you share my belief in your capability.
Fear is sometimes a useless emotion – it was useful to save us from tigers long ago. We don’t need to live in fear, because guess what! The universe is perfect :wink: No really – just live like the universe is perfect and it will be.
Now, go get in the game. Life is not a spectator sport!
Cheers,
K</p>

3

<p>Thanks a ton. I’m feeling more confident :]</p>

<p>So I need to be a top performer before I become a music teacher? I’m a bit behind my level but I’m willing to work. I’ll be going to one of the UW school’s so I’m not to worried about making it into Berklee or being amazing.</p>

<p>What’s the easiest degree for music education? I’m confused on the difference between Music Major and Music Education etc.</p>

4

<p>Your passion for teaching is obvious, and you clearly have an ability to learn. I think you may just need to focus your instrument playing in one instrument to get deeper so that any auditions are more successful. For schools that have auditions, they focus on one instrument only (the “instruments” being trumpet, flute, drums, alto sax, voice, etc.). I would also not go for the “easiest” degree, but for the degree that best aligns to your strengths and goals. Many schools have music education, which sounds like what you are. What are you not (yet) is a music performance major (outstanding on one instrument). A music major may be one that studies theory, history, and/or a specific instrument, but does not necessarily lead to an education degree.</p>

5

<p>First of all, I don’t know anything about music.
Second, believe it or not, fear of the answer is actually worse than knowing you are not cut out to do something.
Finally, I will just say that I love the way you write - you seem to have a “visual” or “3D” sense, if that makes sense, which I do think indicates an ability to instruct others in the different ways that different people understand.</p>

6

<p>Why not study music ed? You love to teach & play and are passionate about it… those are all key elements! Also, as a music ed major you would be required to learn different instruments, which you seem to be able to do already.</p>

7

<p>I would suggest that you “go for it”. My son is also interested in being a music ed major, and like you, he is enthusiastic about playing multiple instruments. He is fairly decent with trumpet (all-state musician, first chair and soloist in high school) and took 3 years of violin in middle school and started piano last year. One of the reasons that he wants to be a music ed major is because that may be the only music major that actually encourages becoming proficient on multiple instruments.</p>

<p>However, SnowflakeVT is absolutely correct about your need to choose just one instrument to be your primary instrument. Probably the reason that you are not as good on any instrument as some of your peers is because you have spend so much time trying multiple instruments. Pick one, and practice like crazy on it and don’t worry right now with becoming good on anything else. You will need to be fairly decent on just one instrument for any music degree, and you will have the opportunity to learn other instruments in college as a music ed student.</p>

<p>To get into most any music programs, with the possible exception of composition, you will be required to audition on one instrument and they will expect you to be reasonably proficient on that instrument. As a potential music ed major, as opposed to a performance major, you will probably not be expected to be an amazing performer though.</p>

<p>By the way, both my parents were teachers, my son wants to be a teacher, but I ended up as a business person. Now I wonder how I missed that “calling”.</p>

8

<p>Thank you all so much! Your comments have reassured me alot. It’s given a bit of confidence and I truly appreciate the behaviour of this forum! (I’ve been to other places, and people were plain rude!)</p>

<p>I didn’t know about Music Ed! I asked my teacher and he said UW has it. Does anyone know, and are willing to enlighten me on this?</p>

9

<p>insanitee, there are more schools with music ed than we can list, so if you give us some more info about your other preferences, we can be of more help, like location, for example. (Northeast, California, Ohio, Florida, etc). If you have a school in mind, like UW (University of Washington or Wisconsin??), then you can go to that school’s website and search for Music Education under their academic section. Many large schools will have that major; many liberal arts schools may have that major as well. Since you are a junior, you are at the perfectly great point in your life to explore many websites, brochures, and colleges to find several that meet your needs. You have plenty of time, so enjoy the process.</p>

10

<p>Wisconsin ;]
I’ve been called crazy for deciding to be a teacher even after what’s going on here currently with all the anti-education movements.</p>

<p>Ah alright. I’ll do some research. Just confused cause I read on some sites that Music Ed is a Music and Education Double Major. Conflicting information ;]</p>

<p>Anyhow I’m in a hurry, I’ll let everyone know if I have any questions here.</p>

11

<p>At most colleges music ed is a BM degree with a concentration in music ed, but one of the colleges my son has applied for actually gives you two degrees, a BM and a B Ed (its a tofer - to degrees for the cost and time requirements of one). One of the schools he considered only offers a BA in music but it has a five year program where you get the BA plus a Masters of Arts in Education. </p>

<p>The advantage of a BA in Music and then a Masters in Education is that the BA programs gives you a broader curriculum with lots of electives and general education classes, while all BM degrees or the rare BS in Music degree are very music intense with more than 2/3rds of the curriculum in music/mued/ed. </p>

<p>But if music is your only real interest in college then the BM in music would be a better choice. Also, generally you cant teach music in public schools without some sort of education degree, either as part of a music degree or a seperate Bachelors or Masters in Ed or Music Ed. </p>

<p>It is another “it just depends” situation.</p>

12

<p>I would like to teach at the Highschool level. Not even theory courses, just direct pep bands, band etc.</p>

<p>I really want to teach, and it just happens I’m into music/have a bit of background knowledge in it.</p>

<p>I’m confused on all these different degrees xD When I get closer to knowing which colleges accept me maybe I can contact their dept. heads.</p>

<p>Anyhow my iPod’s battery is almost dead so I’ll keep this message short. I’ll keep that in mind. I was planning on a Masters in Education no matter what field I decided to go into it</p>

13

<p>It seems to me that your interest is primarily in teaching, and that you just kind of picked music as a possible subject to teach, because you are moderately interested in it. But I could be wrong.</p>

<p>I just want to say that there are all kinds of contexts for teaching. My son did computer science and teaches groups all the time, at his job as a software engineer. I worked with the homeless, and taught groups about homelessness, at the shelter and at churches and schools. And, of course, there is school teaching in all kinds of subjects.</p>

<p>Rather than pick a subject to teach according to what might work out practically, I would think about what you are really interested in. And please know that you can enter college as an undecided student and spend 1-2 years exploring before even declaring a major.</p>

<p>Music study, whether a performance BM, a music BA, or a music ed degree, takes intense focus and work. People are suggesting that you step it up and do a lot of things in the next year. Teaching other subjects, or in other contexts, would not require this kind of intense effort in your last year and a half of high school.</p>

<p>It is not obvious to me that music is a huge academic passion for you, though it sounds like you have a lot of fun with it. You could continue to have fun with music at college, playing in extracurricular ensembles and taking lessons, and study something else.</p>

<p>If you like teaching, chances are you can end up doing some teaching of some kind, no matter what you major in.</p>

<p>On the other hand, if music is truly a passion, then follow the advice of the wise people here, increase your attention to it, and apply for music ed programs in a variety of schools. Good luck!</p>

14

<p>Well I’ve done a majority of those. I’m in 4 bands (the max we have at school.) Jazz I, Jazz II, Concert Band, Symphonic Band. I’ve taken theory courses, I take lessons from a very good jazz saxophonist who’s a UW Professor.</p>

<p>I just feel discouraged by my class mates after watching them play etc. The section leaders are all getting scholarships and going to great schools! I feel discouraged cause I’m not on their level :[</p>

<p>Confidence, I gotta have it huh?</p>

<p>I apologize for sounding like a <em>insert your term for whiny kid</em>. This just helps me alot being able to write out my thoughts and get some other’s views on my thoughts.</p>

15

<p>Do your section leaders all jump around from instrument to instrument, or have they just focused on on instrument? Personally I don’t see any issue with learning multiple instruments, especially for a music ed major (you have to do it as a music ed major), but they are probably better than you on their instrument because they have focused only on one instrument. </p>

<p>If you focused on just one instrument for the next year, you may find that you can catch up to them, or even surpass them.</p>

16

<p>You do sound like you have done a lot of music classes and activities, for a junior. You have a great saxophone teacher. Is that your primary instrument do you think? Do you have teachers for the other instruments? As someone said, maybe focus on one instrument, study with a good teacher, and practice a few hours (or even 1-2) a day, and see what happens!</p>

17

<p>Yes. I’m probably a better trombone player, but I have more knowledge on the Sax than anything.</p>

<p>I plan to focus/practice a couple hours each day in the summer. All the seniors that have been chairs since freshman and won superior ratings since 8th grade etc will be gone. People are afraid saying “we won’t have any stars!”</p>

<p>I want to step up and fill their spot :]</p>

<p>So how does this college audition thing work? I’m guessing I can make it in cause while I’m not exceptional I’m above average. (I’ve never auditioned for anything but a youth group :stuck_out_tongue: )</p>

18

<p>Depends on where you audition at, how many are applying, and how many they will be accepting. Also, some posters have indicated that at some schools, your playing ability may not have to be quite as high for a music ed major as a performance major, but that it is also possible that your overall grades and test scores may have to be a little higher for an ed major than a performance major.</p>

<p>Some colleges will accept just about anyone for their music program, as long as you can make a tone on your primary instrument. Others will have hundreds of people auditioning for just a few spots and thus will tend to be more selective. It’s actually kind of shocking when you realize how few people on each instrument that most colleges accept. A large college may have thousands of business majors, but maybe only 12-30 people on each instrument (or less). Then you divide that 12-30 students by 4 years of college and you have like 3 to 10 per year admitted.</p>

<p>One of the colleges that my son applied at is only looking for 4 people playing his particular instrument - regardless of major. Another indicated that they would be accepting at least 10 (trying to “beef up” its studio for that major). Of course many colleges will accept more students than they really desire because not everyone accepted will choose to attend. There tends to be a lot more people interested in majoring in music at the more prestigious than there are slots for them, so getting into a “good” school is VERY competitive. Getting into a “not so good” school is not very competitive at all, especially if you will agree to doing marching band.</p>

<p>To be safe, you really need to practice your rear off. It’s not unusual for potential music students to practice 3-6 hours a day, particularly in the 11th and 12th grade. That sounds like a lot, and it is, but that is how much you will be practicing as a music major (including ensemble time, private lessons, master classes, etc). I guess that is one of the reasons that I never ever ever considered music in college (although I did the high school band thing).</p>

<p>As far as practice time, one of the professors at one of the schools that my son applied for explained that the minimum amount of individual practice that he requires for a music ed major was 1.5 hours. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but that is private individual practice on the primary instrument. Then you add the class time, ensemble time, piano classes and practice (piano is generally required for ALL music majors), and as a music major you will take classes for 10+ instruments and will be required to achieve a basic proficiency on all of them. By the time you add it all up, you will be involved with music more than 6 hours a day - on top of academic course work.</p>

19

<p>Well… I read your posts and scanned the replies. How hard are you applying yourself? To <em>something</em>?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Dude… Time for a reality check. You’re going to be competing against kids who have been busting their butts for years. And, who, frankly speaking, ARE exceptional. But want to teach rather than perform. </p>

<p>If this is something you really want to do? You need to buckle your rear down and get serious.</p>

20

<p>It sounds like you are on the right path. Being a music major is tough for anybody. And really, it doesn’t matter squat what your past achievements (or non-achievements) are. </p>

<p>There is only the Present, so instead of comparing yourself to other peeps, which is not going to help you if you are going about it in a negative manner, “buckle down and get serious” as the above poster very aptly put it! The competition is going to be great. Auditioning is as well a learned skill. You’ll need to begin performing and putting on mock auditions for people pronto to get used to the adrenaline. I personally seek out auditions wherever I can for the sheer experience of it.</p>

<p>It IS possible to catch up, put the work in and improve at a rapid pace. If you want it bad enough, it will happen.</p>

<p>As far as practice goes, that is an interesting thing. For instance, at my college Musid Ed majors are required to practice two hours a day at least on their primary instrument. The general rule of thumb is one hour is expected out of every credit of applied lessons. This could end up being less (or more) according to how badly the student wants to advance on said instrument. And this is not counting time spent in ensembles and practicing music for said ensembles, as lesson material is often different.
I might also add that all of the music ed majors at my state university are amazing on their instruments and have clearly devoted themselves wholeheartedly to this often tempestuous muse. </p>

<p>Though my school is not known for it’s music program outside of jazz, it is small and personal and of very high quality. All of the teachers here without exception are extremely accomplished musicians. Major competition winners, active recorders, leaders and members of world class groups and festivals, students of legendary pedagogues all of them. And while this is no conservatory or top name music school, many of the department alumni have gone on to prestigious grad schools and successful careers.</p>

<p>I am telling you this so you understand that all it really comes down to is your own desire to work hard and put yourself out there. Do your homework and search for a program that best suits YOUR needs. Don’t gravitate toward a name brand only. </p>

<p>I feel compelled to remind, however, that it is not quantity of practice that matters, but quality. Do a bit of research into how to practice efficiently and intelligently, so you are not wasting time. You can hack away at an instrument 8 hours a day but if you are doing it mindlessly, then yes…you are making very little progress for the amount of energy you just spent. Go into the practice room with a goal clearly defined in your head, and work toward that goal, finding solutions and experimenting.</p>

<p>One more thing…practicing through visualisation, if done correctly, supplements physical practice like none other and will vastly improve your playing. Studies have proven this.</p>

<p>In short…put the work in, know yourself, and you’ll be fine.</p>