I’m currently trying to figure out my college plan, and I don’t know what will serve me best. I want to be a singer/songwriter and I think going to college for music with an emphasis in voice would be the best way for me to pursue that at this point. However, being a singer/songwriter does not exactly give you any financial stability. I’ve always had an interest in computers, and I love to help people, so I’m thinking of studying computer science in college.
What I don’t know is, how would I go about studying both areas? Should I major in Computer Science and minor in Music so that I get the music knowledge and experience that I need while funding my music career? Or should I major in Music and minor in Computer Science because music is ultimately what I want my career to be? Or should I double major and cover both of my bases?
I guess one of the main things I want to know is can I minor in Computer Science and still use that to support my music career, or do I need to major in it if I want to get any mileage out of it?
Double majoring is certainly doable (time-consuming) as long as both majors are part of the same school. I say this because often CS is part of an Engineering school which makes it almost impossible to double major in. Similarly, sometimes Music majors are part of their own school.
These would be some of the top in the county, but I am sure there are others. S19 applied to U of Mich for a Dual SMTD Vocal and Engineering degree but did not get in for music. He is more focused on the engineering side and is attending Ga Tech for MSE but plans to pursue a Vocal music minor.
Or you could do a BA in CS with a second major or minor in music (or creative writing).
Look at the CS BA at UMN for instance.
Or you could look at the informatics programs at UCincinnati, Cornell CALS, UIowa… Not house in Engineering so more flexible and thus more likely to accommodate a minor in writing or voice.
Btw check out St Olaf for music (+ solid CS).
Try to look at the course schedules for the schools you are interested in. I know of several students whose double major plans in music and a STEM field fell apart because required classes were offered at the same time. Students couldn’t make their class schedules work for both disciplines.
OP, if you are still following this thread… depending on your stats, this might be a program for you to consider. You would acquire a technical background that could be used inside or outside the music industry, and you would also train as a performer, without having to juggle two completely separate degree programs. http://bulletin.miami.edu/undergraduate-academic-programs/music/music-media-industry/music-engineering-technology-bs/ In addition to this interdisciplinary program, Frost School of Music has several programs specifically for singer/songwriters.
Computers, music, robotics and game development are examples of current interdisciplinary growth in the music/CS arenas today. For examples of work in these directions see:
There are excellent employment opportunities for both CS and Robotics majors from these programs. WPI does not have a music major, but does have a performance minor in music.
CMU is an excellent suggestion and very competitive on admissions. WPI also has an average unweighted secondary school GPA of 3.9, but is less competitive than CMU on admission.
Go to the music major forum and read the Double Degree Dilemma essay by David Kane, posted near the top. That is the Peabody essay referenced above. Many if not most performance majors do a BM. You would probably want a double degree, not a double major, since both music and CS are intense majors with sequential courses. You could consider a BS in CS with some music classes ( theory, history etc.) with extracurricular lessons and performance.
