Hi!
I am currently a sophomore in high school and I am starting to seriously think about college options. My goal is to double major in music (piano performance) and some science (I’m thinking about biochemistry, but am not 100% set on that). I don’t know exactly what I want to do in life, but I know it will either be music, music education (college level), medicine, or STEM research.
My main issue is that a lot of colleges only offer a BM in music performance, and most BA’s in music is mostly theory and history. It seems like double majoring requires two of the same type of degree, so I would do a BA in music performance and then a BA in science. What schools are flexible for double majoring and offer a performance focus in their BA in music?
I took the ACT earlier this month and got a 33 (35 reading, 34 English, 32 science, 29 math). Even though my math and science were lower than my reading, I usually do better in math than English in school so I’m not sure what happened. I have a 4.0 GPA and rank in the top 5% of my school. It is just sophomore year, though, so my rank could change. I live in Louisiana, and money is a big limitation. I won’t qualify for nearly enough need-based aid at pretty much any college, so I would need a really good merit scholarship. In piano, I learned Invention in F major by Bach and Waltz in C# minor by Chopin in about 3 months. I plan to learn a Sonata, Bach Fugue, and a Chopin Etude before I graduate.
What would be a college that has a good science program, good music performance program, and challenging but not so challenging that a double major and scholarship with my stats would be impossible?
I encourage you to post in the music major forum, and also to read the Double Degree Dilemma essay posted there under the Read Me thread. It is really an essay about ways to study music, using hypothetical individuals.
Your choices:
BM (2/3-3/4 classes in music), usually with audition
BA in music (1/4-1/3 classes in music), which may include lessons and performance for credit, and some schools do have a BA that resembles a BM
BA or BS double major science and music (can be hard to due since both are intensive and sequential, and labs and rehearsals make for a crowded schedule)
BA or BS major in science with music minor
Double degree (5 years) in music and science (schools include Oberlin, Bard, Lawrence, Ithaca, Tufts, Harvard. Bard requires conservatory students to do a double degree. (Note Oberlin also has a BA Musical Studies with access to the conservatory resources)
Finally, you can do a BA or BS in science and continue music with lessons, extracurricular performance (both may be for credit) and music electives.
For you, without knowing you, and knowing things can change for a sophomore, the last two sound like the best fit. Is there a reason you don’t want to major in music alone?
Another tip: for BA or BS programs, regardless of whether you plan to major in music or science, you can submit a music supplement with recording/video, music resume, and music letter(s) of recommendation. That can help with admissions in some cases.
It looks like you can do it at the University of Rochester based upon what I see from their Music Performance track:
“Although the music major is demanding, it is flexible enough to allow students to pursue a double major, pre-law, or pre-medicine.”
But I’m really unsure if the money would work out for you or not. Being from Louisiana might help since they actively look for diversity geographically. It could be worth trying if the school appeals.
Small point, but a double major is one degree. One BA or BS for two majors.
A double degree is two degrees, BA/BS and BM or MM.
Eastman is part of U. of Rochester so you need to find out whether music majors at U. of Rochester have access to teachers and conservatory resources or if the best ones go to the Eastman students.
I strongly encourage a double degree if you want to do both equally. Five years. It is possible to do a double major: some have done it. But it is very very difficult and stressful, with labs and rehearsals often conflicting, and you might end up doing 5 years anyway.
Or major in science and do music “on the side” with lessons and performance EC’s/
Or major in music and try to do prerequisites in science to go to post grad school.
You have a lot of time ahead before any decisions have to be made. Enjoy high school!
2 colleges that come to mind are St Olaf (MN) and Lawrence (WI). Both are very strong for science and for music.
You can look at this year’s music scholarship requirements, see if you could prepare.
https://wp.stolaf.edu/musicadm/audition-repertoire-requirements/piano-audition-requirements/
Tufts also offers a music engineering minor that may be of interest.
Thank you! So I can do a double major with two different types of degrees? I thought I read somewhere that you have to do a full-on dual degree for two different degree types but I definitely could be wrong. I am worried about spending 5 years on my undergraduate degree because that means paying 5 years of tuition instead of 4. Is there an advantage to a dual degree vs a double major if I can do a BM/BA double major? As for just doing music, I know this is a very stupid reason, but I don’t want to do just music because my whole family is telling me to go into science. If I do just music and it doesn’t work out, I will both fail and get the biggest “I-Told-You-So” in existence. I do really love science and math, I just love music more. But, I would probably have a more stable career and income in science. Either way, if I do both music and science for undergraduate then I can see if music seems like something I could try to do for a living and make the final decision when it is time for grad school. I would be older, more mature, and have more experience in both science and music by then anyway. Also, I might want to be a doctor and I am worried about pre-requisites for med school if I get a BM because BM’s are extremely music class heavy. Astronomy and chemistry are also fascinating, so a double major would let me explore more of my interests. Thanks so much!! I’m pretty sure Harvard and Tufts both only give need-based aid so they aren’t options for me, but I haven’t checked the others yet. Thanks again! I haven’t posted on this website or any others like it before.
Ok. So I would have to do a BA in music and then BA in science to do a double major? I posted my response to your other response before reading this one, sorry. Would a dual degree be worth it with the extra year of tuition or should I just give up the idea of doing both? I am pretty motivated and I will get the work done, but I also want to have fun. I don’t want to party a lot and I will definitely take school seriously, but I don’t want to spend my entire college life studying.
Thank you!
No. A double major is one degree. That would not include a BM.
A BM/BA is two degrees, in other word, a dual degree.
You cannot do a double major BM/BA. That is a dual degree.
I suspected that science was some sort of backup for you. Music majors have a high admit rate for med school. Look at schools like Brown or Amherst where curriculum is freer and you might be able to squeeze in prerequisites for med school. Or you can do a music major in 4 years, and the do a post-bacc program for med school prereq’s, which will cost but helps with admission.
Music majors do all sorts of things. You don’t have to have a career in music if you study it in college. The work ethic and discipline are well-regarded. You can go to grad school in music or other fields, have access to med, law, business and nursing schools, and have access to many careers. During college or conservatory, you can also volunteer or intern or work to gain more work experience and direction.
Again, a double major in science and music is possible but difficult, and may take longer than 4 years. You could major in one and minor in the other. Or double degree. Or major in science and continue to take lessons and perform outside of class.
Just got this other message. I strongly recommend that you not do a double major.
It sounds like you don’t want to do a 5 year double degree.
So…1) major in science and as I wrote before, continue music “on the side” with lessons and EC performance- this can work at a school with a good music dept. but I would mostly avoid schools with BM programs since the BM students might get the best teachers
OR 2)major in music and squeeze in whatever science you need, either during college or post-bacc after graduating (google post bacc Georgetown for an example)
ps job opportunities for some undergrad science majors aren’t great…for med school it makes NO difference what you major in and a few years back I read that music majors had the highest admit rate as a group- probably not true now but making a point
Ok, thank you! What made you say no to the double major? For the one major, I would much rather option 2 than option 1. I think I haven’t been admitting to myself how much I want to study music at the college level because I thought it wasn’t really an option. Now I’m really excited. What schools would be good for this? Thank you so much by the way.
You basically said you don’t want a path that is too difficult or stressful, that you don’t want to study all the time, and want a life. A double major of science and major is very difficult and even scheduling can be rough (labs versus rehearsals).
Some of the folks on here have kids who have careers in music or in academic music or went on to other fields or other studies. In my area there is an ensemble made up of doctors who all majored in music 
In this day and age of high tuitions and costly loans, it is understandable that parents are nervous. I know many music majors at this point and they have all done well, whether in music or not in music. Perhaps someone in your community or at school or a music teacher can reassure your parents. Or at least discuss it with them.
If you do a BA in music you can still have lessons and performance, but have room in your schedule for some science classes. Maybe that is a good compromise. Or do a BM and then do post grad (post-bacc) work for med school prerequ’s. Or maybe at that point you will have other plans.
For a double degree to work financially, you could look into merit scholarships or state universities (SUNY’s are relatively affordable even for out of staters). There is a thread from the past dealing with merit scholarships. Maybe someone else can refer you to that thread.
Thank you! I will definitely keep all of this in mind.
I responded at length in your other thread. Please read the Double Degree Dilemma in the Read Me thread posted at the top of this music major forum.
For a double major it is one degree, not two BA’s.
When there is more than one degree, it is a dual degree. I know it is confusing.
As I wrote in the other thread, after reading several posts by you, I don’t think a double major (stressful, might take longer than 4 years) OR a double degree (5 years, more cost) would work best for you.
It seems best for you to consider 1) majoring in science and continuing music with lessons and EC performance or 2) majoring in music and squeezing in science classes for med school prereq’s during college or in a post-bacc program
Science undergrads don’t have great job prospects generally. Music majors, like any other major, have access to grad and professional schools (med, law, business, nursing etc.). You would have access to jobs outside of music, especially if you work, volunteer or intern during college. But if your family wants a “backup” major, and you like science, fine, you can major in a science and continue to develop your music. I would encourage you to do whatever you love. The finances won’t be that different.
Ok, thank you. I read the double degree dilemma and I am pretty sure you are right, that is not a good idea. I kept seeing things saying “oh yes double major is best of both worlds” and only mentioned in passing how stressful it is, so thank you for telling me that. I think I must have mistyped something or forgotten to change something when I copied the old question into this thread because I remember you telling me that about the double major/dual degree. Sorry. I will go fix that. Thank you for all of your responses!
I can’t figure out how to edit it and fix the double/dual thing. Oh well.
fwiw, CMU has pretty good science and fine arts colleges. They also have a degree that combines the two.
The Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA) program was launched in 1999 as a joint venture between the College of Fine Arts and the Mellon College of Science. Based on the successful BHA model, the BSA curriculum is carefully designed to allow students the ability to balance studies in the fine arts with studies in the natural sciences or mathematics.
Thanks! Realistically speaking, do you think I could get a scholarship with my stats? I know Carnegie Mellon is a really good school. Finances are an issue and I probably won’t qualify for much need-based aid, but I also definitely can’t afford anywhere near CMU’s tuition.
Oberlin, Lawrence, University of Puget Sound. And yes — majoring in both would be extremely difficult. Music is very time consuming. My D is a music major and has had to overload on classes every semester except for the first to try and squeeze in anything other than music and core requirements. I can’t imagine having to do labs on top of lessons, practice, mandatory concert attendance, sectionals,rehearsals, performances… It is really busy.