I gave up on music, did I do the wrong thing?

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>UIL results came in and I got 2's again. My parents do not have a lot of money, but they were driving me to lessons an hour away and pay more to get the best. I started crying a lot over this, the stress got to me. I have a full time volunteer job this summer anyway so the viola got put up because I am too busy with working and a summer class. I do take it out on occasion, but, really not preparing for music auditions this fall.</p>

<p>But then I got asked, if money were no object, and you were not worried about supporting yourself after you graduate, and you could get in to school for it, what would you major in? Well, that is a no brainer! Music...I love performance and composition. It would be a dream to be in that. </p>

<p>My second choice is to study languages. I really do enjoy studying this too, just not as much as music. </p>

<p>Problem is, I wonder if studying languages (I am currently studying Gaelic, French, and Japanese, I studied Latin in the past, and already took the AP French exam) is any more employable than music. And while I would LOVE professional employment with composition and/or performance, I would also enjoy being a teacher. However, even my high school orchestra teacher (amazing teacher) told me that it is very hard to get good jobs in teaching music at the high schools, and that it is just getting worse. </p>

<p>Even just the audition process for music school seems daunting. I cannot afford to fly all over the place to do these auditions.</p>

<p>Also, I suspect my viola teacher thinks I am not good enough to major in it too. When I told her that I wanted to go to college for music, she discourages it. Honestly, I have only been playing the viola for 3 years. Before that, I played the cello for a few years. I am probably not to where I would have been if I had not switched instruments. Honestly, the viola had been my first choice to begin with, but then there was a lack of teachers and I ended up with the cello. I had great teachers there and loved it, but still felt pulled to the viola. And eventually switched when given the chance at the end of 8th grade, going in to 9th.</p>

<p>So honest opinions, hold no punches, I am not cut out for a music major, am I? By music major, I would want to do performance or composition.</p>

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<p>What is a UIL test?</p>

<p>You do not need to fly everywhere to audition for music schools. It may seems that way, reading this forum, but many students attend a public university near them for their music education. If you are interested in music education/teaching, that might be ideal. You could study foreign languages at the same time.</p>

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<p>UIL is the Texas state competition - for solos and ensembles. I’m assuming that the OP is referring to UIL solos. The scale is 1-5 with 1 being the best. A 2 is not particularly bad but I would think that most potential music performance majors would make straight ones. But, you might be able to get into a state music program (not UT or UNT, but lots of others in Texas) and be a music ed major. The auditions for music ed are, in many cases, less rigorous. If you play more than one instrument (and it sounds like you do) you will be ahead of the game. </p>

<p>Also, for composition, you will not need as rigorous an audition. But you will need a substantial portfolio of compositions already.</p>

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<p>If you go to a college or university for a BA (not a BM), most of them will not have any auditions at all for admission. You could apply to schools you like for many reasons: location, dorms, academics, and"vibe" as well as whatever you can find out about the music program. There is a book entitled “Creative Colleges” that gives info on colleges, universities, music schools and conservatories with good music programs. (You can also look up schools like Bennington, a personal favorite, or Sarah Lawrence, in which you can study several different things and connect them in some way.)</p>

<p>I kind of hope you can let go of planning so concretely for your future, vocationally and financially, if at all possible. You sound like a good candidate to do some real blossoming at college. You can certainly major in music (composition tends to be in academic music programs) and continue playing instruments in a variety of ways, extracurricular and perhaps in class. You can continue to explore languages, and also explore some other areas you might be interested in, that you have not been exposed to in college.</p>

<p>A bachelor’s degree will give you access to all kinds of jobs (well, assuming the recession is well behind us) and to all kinds of graduate and professional schools, including music education. See what happens…</p>

<p>There are usually music ed programs for undergrads, often at state universities as someone else said, so if you are sure about that direction you can start early, but you can also do a one year grad program for that as well.</p>

<p>Music students can get a BM, a BA, do a double major, a major and minor, or a double degree. The Peabody Institute admissions site has a good essay on this entitled “The Double Degree Dilemma”. I cannot link it right now but if you google it, it will come up.</p>

<p>DO you have a composition portfolio? If you do, and if you apply to colleges/universities that don’t have auditions, make sure to send a sample of your work (with music resume and /or music teacher letters of recommendation) as a supplement to your applications.</p>

<p>So no need to leave music behind!! Good luck…</p>

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<p>ps I am unable to edit for some reason and wanted to add: “What is your volunteer job this summer?”</p>

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<p>I work at an environmental center. They have a day camp and I have been teaching the kids for a while. I used to just help, but now, I usually have my own group and lead. I work M-F from 8-4.</p>

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<p>undecided,
Are you committed to classical music only? The classical world can be very competitive and frustrating especially for somebody who plays a string instrument. Jazz and Pop departments at conservatories attract strong musicians but there is more emphasis on creativity and expression and personal style. What music do you enjoy listening to? </p>

<p>Also I know of several students who were not quite mature on their instruments when they graduated from HS and went to second tier conservatories who are doing amazingly well. One just graduated from NYU and has his own big band and is being successful as a professional musician in New York (no small feat). High School is not an end point it is the beginning and if you feel strongly that you love music and most importantly if you are willing to put in the time and hours to improve and get better (keep in mind that to do that you have to love practicing) then go for it. What is the worst thing that can happen? You fail. Well failure is not a bad thing. It doesn’t kill you. It can even make you stronger. Failure should not be feared. Instead you need to realize that all artists and creative people worry that they are not good enough or should not pursue what they love. Frank Gehry was told by one of his professors that he was the worst architecture student he had ever seen. William Kentridge was told that he should not become an artist and could not draw. Sometimes those that innovate in the arts are exactly the people who are told to give up by others. </p>

<p>As for money…well if you read up on these boards there are plenty of ways to fund college and music education without going into massive dept.</p>

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<p>When I was at music camp earlier this summer, a counselor told me a really inspirational story about her journey. She started playing the violin when she was in 7th grade, but didn’t take her first lesson until she was a sophomore in high school. She started being serious about it in 10th grade and actually practicing. However, because she had been playing for such a short time, she was nowhere near good enough to get into music school. She went to St. Olaf, which was affordable for her family, and continued to take music lessons. She practiced hard and declared a music major at the end of her sophomore year of college. It was hard, and she encountered many failures but she did graduate with a music degree. However, she was rejected from all the grad schools she applied to. She used a gap year to improve immensely, and got in to the Boston Conservatory. She graduated and is on her way to being a successful musician.<br>
There is hope for anyone to be a successful professional. The woman in the story above currently has her own music studio and plays in an orchestra. However, if you really want to go into music, you must seriously consider your options and what profession you would want to go into. You could minor in music, which is what I plan to do in college as I want to major in biology. You could also consider a 5 year double major program, such as the one at Northwestern.
Even if the thought of going into music seems daunting, you don’t have to quit by any means! There are plenty of people who love music and continue playing, while pursuing other professions.</p>

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<p>I really only like classical, but I could probably get in to Jazz. As a violist though, not sure how much Jazz is out there for me.</p>

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<p>Despite the commitment music requires, there’s no reason why you can’t pursue both interests. You and I are actually quite similar (though you’re much younger) :slight_smile: … I actually got a bachelor’s in another field (I had to), and I frustrated my grad linguistics professors because almost every paper I did involved music lyrics. Now I’m trying to (finally) go to school for music composition, so I can live my life doing what I love. I say all of that so you’ll know that you aren’t the only one who goes through these sorts of dilemmas. Music is a language, and your dual talents (both for spoken and musical language), while confusing, will serve as major benefits in your future. </p>

<p>Your aptitude for music may take you to regions where you’ll need to communicate in another language; you just never know what life holds for you. So don’t give up on either.</p>

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<p>@undecided</p>

<p>You mention that teaching music is within your interests. I’m a music comp major at NYU and know quite a few music ed majors here… quite a few of them aren’t exactly wildly proficient at instruments either! However, NYU’s music ed program requires the student to pick a concentration on the side, e.g. voice or an instrument. Therefore, you could possibly pick viola as a music ed concentration if you apply to NYU. Just my two cents!</p>

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<p>@undecided (latest post)</p>

<p>It’s become accepted fact that the music landscape is a tough place for employment. As an undergrad composer for film and commercial music, I’ve already had to write for a ton of styles for my clients, whether they are film students or outside NYU.</p>

<p>My suggestion is to start to familiarize yourself with styles other than classical… you don’t have to like all of them though. Being diverse is key to succeeding in music these days, at least that’s the vibe I’m getting.</p>

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<p>Mike, what you are suggesting, to be honest, is from a very different world than most academic composition departments. The emphasis, in the classical composition field, is on finding your own “voice,” not writing in whatever style the market demands. There is nothing wrong with writing commercially, but I did want to caution “undecided” that for many years, the study of composition does not usually involve pleasing clients or anyone else, but exploring one’s own path and style in writing music. Many composers in academia continue for many years in PhD programs then teach at the college level. That means living on a stipend!</p>

<p>Undecided, even within a music major, you are not sure if you would do performance or composition. And you are not sure you want to do music at all. I just want to reiterate that you sound like a perfect candidate for entering a college program (not a conservatory) as an “undeclared major”, exploring music classes, taking some language classes, taking some other completely new classes in areas you are not familiar with, and deciding on a major at the end of sophomore year. You can play your instrument(s) in extracurricular ensembles, and take private lessons.</p>

<p>I don’t know what year you are in, in high school, but I think you can relax and stop trying to decide right now. It is worthwhile to play music now, regardless of the future, so enjoy.</p>

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<p>Whatever you choose, don’t ever stop playing music. For most of history people played music because it gave them pleasure, not a paycheck. Don’t lose sight of this. Music as a profession is quite different than music as an art ; the two do intersect beautifully though infrequently, and don’t confuse the two. I’m a professional musician but my father, who was an architect played piano every night for hours on end and viola in string quartet on Sundays for decades and enjoyed life fully. He was a musician in every sense of the word.</p>

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<p>Great post JB!</p>

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<p>One of the posts made me stop and think a bit, to talk about the concept of realism and so forth in terms of getting into music. I appreciate the id that there is enthusiasm for the idea that the late bloomer can make a dash on something like violin, then slowly work their way towards becoming proficient enough to work professionally, and I am very, very leery about that. The story of the camp counselor in particular got me thinking, when the description was the person was on the way to a professional career, what does that mean? Knowing what I know of the violin world, and it isn’t a little, the playing level is so darn high and the competition so fierce I wonder what that means. Is the person planning on teaching violin privately and doing gig work? Are they planning to try to get into an orchestra or a chamber group? I hear stories like this and I am always a bit scared of them, because often there is no detail to it. Sometimes I am sure they really are true, someone starts late on violin and somehow does something spectacular , works their tail off, and suddenly is really out there, making it, but I suspect a lot of them are wishful thinking. </p>

<p>I hear the same thing even from musicians and teachers who 20 or 25 years ago, were ordinary students in high school, got into a good music program, and then got the pro job,the orchestra job, etc…prob there is it was a way different world back then, a lot of the kids getting into the top programs today are playing better IMO then those people did graduating from conservatory. </p>

<p>The most valuable thing I think OP can do is if at all possible, try to get in contact with a teacher at a college or a private teacher who has taught high level students, gotten them into top music schools, and get an evaluation. I don’t know anything about the standards the OP mentioned, but if they are anything like ASTA and the national strings teacher association evaluation, they can rank kids who wouldn’t get into a good program highly and rank kids who will get in not so highly, it may not be accurate (again, I can’t claim knowledge of that evaluation). At least with this kind of evaluation, you would know where you stand. </p>

<p>Viola is a bit less competitive then Violin is (simply because of numbers, has nothing to do with ease of playing it) but even so, it is pretty stiff.</p>

<p>There are options, you can go to a college,major in something non music with an idea of the future, and take lessons privately from a good teacher, maybe play in school or youth orchestra in the area, and see if you are good enough to get into grad school for it. If you aren’t, you still can play, lot of people go on to be doctors, lawyers and such, and then play in amateur or semi amateur orchestras and chamber groups. Heck, Charles Ives composed while his full time job was as an insurance agent:). </p>

<p>The other thing depends on the type of music. if you wanted to become a gig musician doing a lot of different things, like maybe recording work, playing with jazz or rock bands, it is very different than the classical world, where the competition even for gig work like filling in in orchestras, pit orchestras and so forth is pretty stiff…it could be you find yourself in other music. </p>

<p>I would highly encourage you to keep up with music whatever you do, it always can be with you even if you don’t do it professionally:). I would not discourage you from attempting to go into music, even getting a music degree, if that is your passion, I don’t consider a music degree a waste any more then I consider an English degree a waste, or a history degree, it is still a college degree with a lot of rigor around it. Or if you choose to study somrthing academic, do music and take lessons “on the side”, and then try for grad school, the worse that can happen is you don’t make it…and you find another path, and play music for joy. As long as you are looking at things realistically and understand where you are, I think there are always options, but whatever it is, there are going to be choices and compromises and such:)</p>