<p>I am a lawyer who represents a Local Union which is part of the American Federation of Musicians and which is located in a major city with a plethora of professional live music performances. Major orchestras, ballet, opera companies, musicals, pops orchestras, studio work, back up bands for name performers etc. I also have 2 very close friends who majored in music; one went on to become an educator and often uses music in what she does and the other opened a music store to provide some stability of income while trying to make it as a performer. I am also a parent of a daughter who had an unweighted 3.9 in high school with loads of AP's and honors classes who is now in a BFA program for Musical Theater. I tell you all of this so that you can put into context my comments which follow.</p>
<p>I firmly believe that a student who has a dream and passion to be a professional performer should pursue that dream. If you don't do it now, when you have few responsibilities, odds are you will not have an opportunity to return to it later in life when your responsibilities are many. That being said, there is a gigantic caveat. You need to be sure, beyond any doubt, that you are ready to commit the next 4 years of college and probably the next 5 -6 years thereafter singularly pursuing this dream to the exclusion of all others. You must be sure that you can not envision yourself doing anything else for the next 10 years other than trying to make it as a professional musician.</p>
<p>And, you must enter into this process with your eyes wide open to the countless hours of commitment it will take. To get the training you need, you must prepare yourself to audition this fall or early winter to get into a strong music program. Once in, be prepared for a time commitment that greatly exceeds the time commitments required for most academic programs. BM and BFA music programs not only require a full compliment of course work in your major, and often also including some liberal arts, but also require hours of studio time, practicing, auditioning for school performances, rehearsals and performances. Once you graduate, be prepared to hustle to get work. There are very few full time musicians jobs and those that do exist are with major orchestras. Some musicians are able to land regular part time work, which is often seasonal, but most musicians, including those who get the seasonal part time work, must hustle to get what's called "single engagement" work. Most musicians' lives consist of going from one gig to another, one audition to another, and it takes time, effort and luck (in addition to professional talent) to establish a reputation in a city or a segment of the business. Most of the musicians I come in contact with regularly play for ballet companies, opera companies, pops orchestras and various single engagements (studio musicians, back up bands for name performers etc). And it is a constant struggle to juggle scheduling to maximize work opportunities and avoid scheduling conflicts.</p>
<p>So ask yourself: "Is this my life's passion? Can I see myself doing nothing else for the next 10 years other than everything I possibly can to make it as a professional musician?" If the answer to these questions are anything other than an unequivocal "yes", if your music is more of an avocation that you love, if engineering and physics pull you strongly, then think hard before you decide to apply to music programs to major in an instrument. While many musicians make it and can earn a comfortable living, there are many who are "starving artists". If you are going to roll the dice and take that chance, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and with your eyes wide open. And, make sure to think through a back up plan by which you will be able to support yourself as you are trying to make it professionally after you graduate. Finally, keep in mind that you can pursue a different career path and still remain involved in your instrument enjoying semi professional playing opportunities that come your way.</p>