<p>I'm not exactly sure where to post this thread, so pardon me if I made a mistake.</p>
<p>Well.. I really want to study choral music to become a choir director in future, but my parents(esp. my mom) are rather strongly opposing me from doing so and it's upsetting me so much! It's been a strong interest of mine since young that grew into a passion and I was even appointed both Section Leader and Student Conductor in my high school choir and also got a school award for my contributions!</p>
<p>However, my mom apparently thinks I "won't have a good future" being a choir director and that "it's not a realistic career option". She said a whole lot of other stuff like there isn't a demand for choir directors and everything blah blah blah.. She even asked me, in spite, to quit the choirs I'm in now. I understand that she wants the best for me, but I really have confidence and belief in myself that I can become successful. I'm 18, and she's treating me like a kid and I hate that!</p>
<p>I think the fault lies with me to some extent as well because I initially agreed I would study to become a vet(which is my second interest and I suppose it's a "better career option") just because I wanted to please her and I knew that she would oppose me from studying music and I didn't want to create tension between us. But I've realized that choral music is what I truly love and want for my future so I've decided to "fight" for it. I'm going to form and lead a high school alumni choir and audition for pro choirs which competes internationally to show her I'm dead serious about what I want for my future.</p>
<p>So I'm here, to seek advice from you guys on how I can convince my parents to allow me to study choral music.</p>
<p>Oh btw, my I'm parents are Asian. Just thought you guys would need to know that, LOL.</p>
<p>Please don’t tell me things like “You’re an adult now, you can do whatever you want. you don’t have to listen to them.”</p>
<p>I want to respect my parents because I know they love and want the best for me and that’s why their giving me such a hard time on this. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Lots of parents have concerns about the possibility of their children finding work in the Arts. You need to recognize that.</p>
<p>But Veterinary Medicine isn’t a sure thing either. You have to complete the undergraduate pre-vet courses (which are essentially the same ones as the pre-med and pre-dent courses) with good grades before applying to vet school. Every year lots of good applicants don’t get into vet school and have to come up with another plan for your life.</p>
<p>If you choose a college or university where you can take classes that would lead to both of these degrees (as well as other possible career choices), you will keep your options open. I know a young person who is about to graduate as a Music Education major with certification in instrumental music, vocal music, and German language. Her department sat the students down and told them that they should also seek certification in another subject area to improve their chance of finding a job. That would be another option for you.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I am going to agree with your parents. Even if you get your dream job, it will more than likely only be a few hours a week. There is nothing stopping you from doing both. I would try to do a major in another subject or either double major or get a minor in music.</p>
<p>Agree with momof3. Perhaps you can double major or maybe a major and a minor. That should make your parents happy.</p>
<p>Momof3greatfirls,
Excellent advice, I like it very much.
MrMyself,
If you cannot listen to your parent, listen to Momof3greatfirls.</p>
<p>Hmm… I was thinking of doing pre-vet/pre-med and majoring in Choral Music. How bout’ that? </p>
<p>I don’t want to major in something else and minor in Music because Music is too extensive and contains a lot of stuff I’m not interested to learn. Choral Music is more exclusive but there is no minor program for it…</p>
<p>The undergrad requirements for pre-vet/pre-med are probably just as demanding (time consuming) as Music or Choral Music. It would be very difficult to do both well and keep your sanity. </p>
<p>My suggestion is to enter college as an “undecided” major. Tell you parents that you will spend your first 2, 3, or 4 semesters trying out the vet, med, and choral programs. You will meet with advisors and map out course plans for multiple major paths. </p>
<p>But, you both agree that you won’t declare a major in anything until you’re a sophomore. That way, you can find your footing, explore some options that neither of you have thought of yet, and avoid making 12th grade a tense, year-long battle. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Actually this will work itself out over time because:</p>
<p>1- you are fine right now doing what you like to do </p>
<p>2- you absolutely do NOT have to select a major right now; the earliest opportunity you have to do that is when you start attending college and that is almost a year away</p>
<p>3- start changing your OWN mind set about this; it sounds like you are truly interested in music,pre-med and and pre-vet, so stop talking about “majors” and instead talk about what you are interested in: “I’m interested in both pre-vet, pre-med and music.” Say that phrase a hundred times a week; ban the word “major” from your vocabulary.</p>
<p>4- When you get to college you CAN start taking classes in both areas; you WILL at some point start specializing but it is rare that there is no room to “explore” (OSU is right to call it “Exploring” not “Undecided”) 2-3 different sets of classes in subjects that you are interested in.</p>
<p>5- When you get to college you can then talk with your advisor about these issues and how to meet your school’s breadth and/or graduation requirements. In almost all cases there is room for you to take classes that you are interested in because they are also required to meet institution-wide requirements.</p>
<p>Bottom line: you and your mom and fighting over a problem that actually does not exist yet (declaring a major). Rather than try to find a solve to that problem now, concentrate on using the “interested in” language instead of the “majoring in” language . . . and trust that over the next 1-2 years you will find a path that works well both for you and your parents.</p>
<p>P.S. The nice thing about the “interested in” language is that it makes it harder for anyone to reasonably argue that you are incorrect in saying what interests you.</p>
<p>Whoa, other than the post above me, I have to disagree with the direction this thread is going. My daughter started out in pre-med at Boston U, was getting great grades, but then at the end of her freshman year realized that she could not move forward in that major. In HS, she had been the director of her a cappella group, got a 5 on her AP Music Theory test and also won the highest state award for a jazz musician (instrument=voice). She took private voice and piano on the side and was highly accomplished and involved. She had strong SAT scores and excellent grades and was taking a rigorous AP courseload, pretty much getting all A’s in her AP classes. Clearly she was destined to be a doctor. However, every bit of her free time was music. She wrote music, arranged music, studied music, composed music, practiced music. She performed at open mics, had a few paying gigs and pretty much lived her non-academic life as a musician. She got into Boston U (w/ some merit $'s) and started going down that path because that was the path (pre-med) that would best pay off for her strong capability in academics </p>
<p>Well, we are now a year and a half later, and she is a scholarship student at a music school and making the dean’s list there. The key thing here is that she is following her passion, she’s challenged and most importantly, extremely satisfied. She may or may not make it as a jazz singer, but she will make it as a writer, composer, jingle writer, or arranger. She knows this and every music major after their freshman year realizes this. </p>
<p>Maybe you have tiger parents and they don’t see the value of music. A choral director inspires many high school kids to enjoy and appreciate music. When they see a kid with true talent and passion, they get to encourage and nurture that student as well. Choral directing includes learning a lot of music theory and vocal techniques. You would also learn a lot about music history and the evolution of music. The first two years of college you could make sure you are taking electives that would also benefit a pre-vet path (chemistry, biology). If you play your cards right, could you be a choral director with a music education degree? What does it take to also be able to teach science? </p>
<p>I don’t know exactly how to convince your parents. They have a perspective and they also likely have social and family pressures if you’re Asian. For now, try to keep both paths open … the a rigorous courseload of sciences, but also add music as electives to keep a good balance. I’m rooting for you, but I understand the family pressure. Good luck.</p>
<p>SnowflakeVT - Thanks for that advice… I think I’m somewhat like your daughter. I study and do well in school and everything but my free time is just music music music. I’d always be practicing my conducting, studying choral music, harmonies, vocal techniques etc. You and Kei-o-lei gave me the most useful advice for me out of everyone else. I will consider your advices thoroughly. Thanks for the support too! :)</p>
<p>I don’t agree that a choral director can only secure work with 2-3 hours a week. There are full time choral directors at every one of our public schools and we are one of the largest school districts in Texas. I have a daughter in law that just graduated from vet school and I have a child that did music performance. My music performance kid makes more money, has no student loans, and IMO happier. Doing what he loves, loves what he does and wouldn’t change it for the world.</p>
<p>Collegeshopping - Thanks for sharing that. That’s the thing… I don’t want to grow old and regret not following my passion and doing what I love.</p>
<p>* I was thinking of doing pre-vet/pre-med and majoring in Choral Music. How bout’ that? </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>That’s fine. As a pre-health major, you can major in anything you want.</p>
<p>Pre-vet can be done alongside any major, although music performance may involve a lot of courses and time so that it may be hard to fit in all of the pre-vet courses. What are your parents trying to get you to major in?</p>