Hello everybody! I’ll be going into my junior year in high scool this august and I would like some information about double majoring. I know for sure that one of my majors will be classical double bass performance. The other one will probably be Anthropology, Japanese language, architecture, computer science, or astrophysics. I know that the classical music world can be a cruel place, and I’ve been told that you need to work extremely hard to make it into a professional orchestra. My question for you all is this: Is there realistically enough time to practice my tail off AND study/go to class for one of the other majors I listed?(For Japanese I would most likely have to study abroad too) And if so, which colleges would be best for this?
Here’s what I have so far
USC(SoCal)-they say that they encourage double majors and they have a strong bass program
Oberlin Conservatory/College - Another strong music program (it is a conservatory after all) and I’ve heard it’s the place to be to double major in music but i don’t know too much about the academics and the rural setting isn’t really my cup of tea
Rice University- The Shepherd school of Music is one of the top bass programs in the country but they don’t seem as supportive about double majors as USC and Oberlin are.
Indiana University-Another top notch bass program but double majors sound difficult here and I’m not a fan of the rural setting.
Probably not, unless you want to take 5+ years in college.
Many schools will say that they encourage double majors, but the truth is that some majors are more amenable to doubling than others. For example, psychology, English, or math - those are “normal” majors that typically require 40 credits (10-15 classes) and don’t have cognate classes in other fields. So their majors are a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of thing.
Majors like computer science and astrophysics are much more demanding. The reason for that is because in addition to the 40 credits these majors require, they also have cognate courses in other fields that are required for the major. For example, computer science is a major that requires a lot of math and physics to understand, so most computer science majors require several courses in math (at least two semesters of calculus, a semester of linear algebra, discrete math, potentially a statistics class) and a semester of two of physics in addition to the 40 credits of CS classes. Astrophysics will require the math, because you’ll need multivariable calculus and potentially other classes to understand upper-level physics.
The other problem with some majors is that they are sequenced in such a way that you have to take the classes just so, and know very early wha you want to do. The sequence might mean that your classes are difficult to schedule. In psychology or anthropology, usually most classes only have the intro class as a prerequisite. Some classes might have a statistics or research methods class as a prereq, but it’ll only be a few, and you can wait until senior year to take those. Conversely, in a major like architecture, astrophysics or computer science, the course sequences can take several years. You’ll have to finish calculus before you can take some upper-level classes in both of the latter fields (and maybe even architecture), for example, which takes 2-3 semesters. You have to know a programming language before you can take upper-level CS classes, which can also take 2-3 semesters. And in Japanese, obviously you have to take two semesters of intro before you can take intermediate, and you often have to have 3-4 semesters before you can take some of the upper-level classes which are taught in Japanese. So often you can’t take your real major classes in that field until late sophomore or early junior year, which is about the time that you’ll be taking the most demanding classes in music.
And it’s not just the classes, but the outside project time. CS and architecture are likely to require time-consuming class projects, sometimes in groups, and in architecture I think you have to develop a portfolio. (In CS, if you wanted a job, you SHOULD develop a portfolio too.) Astrophysics will have time-consuming problem sets and labs. Japanese will probably require some time in the language lab practicing speaking and listening, and you might be required to study abroad (or at least strongly encouraged).
Realistically, if your goal is to play the double bass professionally in an orchestra and you plan to major in double bass, double bass should be your only major. You’ll not only need time to take the classes, but you’ll also need to practice your tail off (as you say) and take private lessons with your instructors. You’ll probably have to, or want to, join an orchestra on campus or in the community, and you’ll need time to rehearse with them and play performances. There may be recitals. In your junior and senior years your time might be spent flying off to audition for graduate programs or professional positions in orchestras, particularly if you attend college in a remote area like Oberlin or Indiana. And at least in my experience, my music major friends had to prepare a major recital as their senior project - but my CS friends also had to do a senior project, and that sounds like a nightmare!
Of course, the exception is you don’t mind spending more than 4 years in college. Oberlin’s double-degree program typically takes 5 years. If you did want to do that, a less-demanding major sounds like it would make the most sense - so anthropology or maybe Japanese IF there are lots of classes offered at different times to reduce the chance of conflict.
For what it’s worth, I had a couple of friends who did music for a few years and then changed careers. When I was in grad school I played in an orchestra at the medical center campus made up of health sciences students, and many of them were pursuing MDs, DDSs, DNPs, and PhDs after a career in music. Our conductor was an MD student who’d played Carnegie Hall in another life. I also had a friend who had an MM and had played professionally but decided to change careers to public health; she taught lessons on the side to make extra money. So you can always concentrate on music now while planning ahead for how you’ll further your education in a different field later, if you want.
Thank you SO much Juillet! I figured that encouraging double majors sounded a little fishy. I also hadn’t thought about the fact that some majors might not get into full swing until later on. The main reason I want to double major was so that I would have a fallback plan and also because I am simply interested in other things;however, I don’t want to be at school for 5+ years working on a bachelor’s degree. Thanks for the help and information!