<p>Hello everyone! I'm a junior in high school and have been playing alto sax for 5 years and little piano. I am in my school concert band, marching band, and was in the jazz B band for two years and this year I got into the jazz A band as second alto (this band is really good and wins basically every competition). Just recently I've started taking music seriously and am considering studying jazz in college. My main concern is if I would even be good enough to get into any decend jazz programs and if I could make a living as a musician.. I am also interested in psychology. I'm considering majoring in psychology and taking a lot of music coures but not majoring in it, so I could be a psychologist and gig as much as possible and possibly give private lessons. I'm also considering music education and teach in a public school, give private lessons, and gig. What level musician do I need to be to consider playing music, all-county, all-state, or what? I definetly would not get into UNT or those top schools, so what are some good schools with good jazz programs but also other study oppurtunities?</p>
<p>Sorry, I asked so many questions. Any input is appreciated.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Do you study with a teacher? Do you have access to an excellent teacher who can help you develop and guide some of these decisions?</p>
<p>Also, are you close to a conservatory preparatory program, or some other form of weekend classes at a college or conservatory near you (for jazz theory, for instance)?</p>
<p>As a junior, you still have some time to decide on what kind of school you want to apply to. Maybe you could focus on music for awhile this year, and then go to a summer program of some sort, and see how you feel about being in a that kind of environment.</p>
<p>As for an academic major, you do not have to decide on that yet. Many students change their minds often during college, and most schools do not ask that students declare a major for a year or two.</p>
<p>But deciding on a conservatory (BM) versus college (BA) needs to happen before you enroll. You could go ahead and apply to both, though, because a lot can happen between now and April 1,2012.</p>
<p>All-state may or may not be an indicator. It can be part of the equation in assessing your skill sets, but it is no guarantee of success in ANY audition centered admission process. </p>
<p>Music ed is a highly structured (and time/credit intensive curriculum), and you are into the requirements from the first semester at most programs. There is not a lot of room for out of discipline academics or electives, especially in a science. Yes, anything is possible (school and student contingent), but realize the double major/dual pursuit may well take five years. </p>
<p>compmom has offered good advice, but from the standpoint of an instrumentalist (even for music ed), now is the time to kick it up a notch musically if you are seriously entertaining music as a major. As a minor, your options will not be as deep or broad as they would be as a major in many programs.</p>
<p>And do yourself a favor. Stay out of the “Chances” forum. With few exceptions, no one there has the background or experience to even begin to counsel you musically.</p>
<p>Thank you for the info, both of you. I have taken private lessons for the past 3 years. My teacher went to NEC and teaches in a public school, gives lessons, and gigs. I went to litchfield jazz camp for a week this past summer. Recently, I’ve started to practice at least two hours a day. If I didn’t major in music would it be possible to gig?</p>
<p>Having an instructor with an NEC background, you most likely are in a position to have a fairly accurate assessment of your current skill level and potential. The summer experience is a good one, as it can expose you to a broader range of peers, and often will put you in a position to be in an intense, full immersion scenario. Many see this as a determining factor as to whether they want (or can handle) the rigor, self drive, and competitiveness of an undergrad music pursuit.</p>
<p>Something else to think about: Given your interests in music and psychology, have you looked into music therapy as a potential career?<br>
[Welcome</a> to the American Music Therapy Association Website](<a href=“http://www.musictherapy.org/]Welcome”>http://www.musictherapy.org/)</p>
<p>Violadad - I would have another job such as psychologist or something and gig at night. I’m not really sure what I mean actually. I just want to play (maybe make some extra cash) - I obviously wouldn’t be good enough or well known to do any good gigs because I didn’t major in music and don’t get around that much. But could I do small gigs in restaurants or something? Would I have more gig options living in a city?</p>
<p>Just adding that I know a young woman who did a flute performance major (not sure where), then a music therapy master’s at Berklee, and now she is studying neurology in the context of music at Harvard. I may not be using the right language, but you get the idea. Oliver Sach’s book “Musicophilia” might be a good book for you to read.</p>
<p>I think this young woman is a good example of the kind of happy meandering that can happen over the years. If you are doing what you want to do each step of the way, the path can kind of open up as you go, so don’t worry too much about figuring out exactly what you are going to do at the stage you are in…it will work out!</p>
<p>I’m reading This Is Your Brain on Music by John Levitin which I htink is similar to Musicophila - it’s about how music works in the brain - it’s pretty cool. It probably will work out but I feel like I am not good enough of a musician to major in performance or even get into any good programs… What do you think about music education? Teach in a public school, give private lessons, and gig sometimes?</p>
<p>These are questions none of us can really answer for you. We can offer some advice, point you in a few directions. Part of the decision lies in you, and just how much music is a part of your life. The Peabody link clarifies and puts that in perspective for a great many. </p>
<p>As to whether you are “good enough” to get into any decent programs, your private instructor (and other music professionals) are the best sources to assess your talent AND potential. No one here has heard you play. My posts 138 & 139 in BassDad’s thread have links to some food for thought threads addressing the paths and experiences others here taken in getting to and making these decisions. </p>
<p>As for music ed, think long and hard if you want to teach in a k-12 public school setting. That is what that degree path is designed to achieve. My son set out on it, but decided very late in the game he is a performer, but still teaches, although not in a public school setting (and gigs, which can be feast or famine). Do a title search on both “music ed” and “music education” (use the quotes). There are about two and a half pages of thread titles on each. Read through them, and you’ll see some recurring themes and advice. Know the difference between pedagogy and music ed. </p>
<p>The path you describe is a common one. Many are unsure. Do some reading, and come back with questions. Hopefully some of the jazz parents/students will comment as well (my “expertise” is more strings and chamber focused).</p>
<p>Remember, that whatever path you choose, nothing is cast in stone. Do your research, and understand the chances for success (and failure). Many music ed programs will boast about 100% job placement for their graduates, but in tough economic times, arts and music programs can be the first education budgets to get cut, and it’s last in, first out.</p>
<p>As binx suggests, music therapy may be right for you. </p>
<p>Thanks for the input, everyone. Also, what are my chances of getting in? Is there somewhere I can check acceptance rates into music programs? And, when are auditions for most schools?</p>
<p>The busy season for auditions is mid-January through early March, but some schools have earlier and later auditions. You need to do some research and check the websites of the schools that interest you. Some schools with rolling admissions have auditions that start as soon as October. Others may have a late round in April or May if there were not enough qualified applicants on a particular instrument to fill all the available openings.</p>
<p>Acceptance rates for a music school as a whole are not particularly useful, other than to get a very broad idea of whether the school is extremely selective, moderately so or will take anyone who can pay the tuition. Rates can vary considerably within the same school from instrument to instrument, from teacher to teacher and from year to year. </p>
<p>What can be much more valuable to find out is how many people a school plans to accept on your instrument and possibly the number of applications that they expect to receive for those slots (although this would only be an estimate until the application deadline.) You would have to contact the music department at each school to find out the numbers for the upcoming admissions season, assuming that they are willing to give out that information.</p>
<p>One way of telling where you stand is to have an evaluation of your playing made by a teacher who either judges auditions at the college level or one who has been successful at getting their students into well-respected programs. Expect to pay their lesson fee for this service.</p>
<p>Another way is to audition for and attend competitive summer programs. That can give you a feeling for where you stand in relation to others competing for the same places and the audition practice never hurts.</p>
<p>If there is a national society for your instrument, you may wish to join that. Local chapters may host competitions, master classes and workshops aimed at high school students looking to be music majors in college.</p>
<p>I just found out that in our state (MA) the State Ethics Commission is no longer allowing public school teachers to teach privately to any of the students from the school(s) in which they work. This may not be true elsewhere. Just noting this because many interested in music education also mention private lessons as a source of income. One music teacher in our school, who just got his MA in music ed, is having a hard time deciding between his school job and maintaining his private students, and is looking into some kind of waiver, but it is a big problem for teachers in our state right now.</p>
<p>compmom, that’s very interesting. Now I wonder if that policy applies to cross teaching students within the same district, but at different schools. Might be surmountable if teaching peers are able to “swap” private students amongst themselves as a means of circumventing (for want of a better term) the mandate. I’d be interested in the specific policy if you have a direct link.</p>