Incoming freshman... doesn't want to major in music after all

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>During my college auditions, and even a bit before, I was doubting that I actually wanted to major in music. I was so busy though, that I didn't act on it, and I had no time to think about it. Now that auditions are over, I realize I do not want to major in music. Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a short term belief-- I've thought about it a while and I legitimately don't want to major in it.I wish I had applied to Georgia Tech, because if I had, I would have went there rather than music school... </p>

<p>Anyways. Should I stick it out for a semester just in case? If I had an easy opportunity, I'd change majors now and never look back, but it seems so awkward to tell the school of music, since I auditioned, wrote all these essays, got a scholarship, whatever. And they maintain a really small studio, so if I left, they'd be short on my instrument for the first semester.</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

2

<p>What was it that changed your mind?</p>

3

<p>Job security. And I became increasingly aware that even if I had a job in music education, I wouldn’t like it and it isn’t what I want. I potentially might like being a music major, but I really don’t want to teach. I’d rather major in math or engineering and minor in music. </p>

4

<p>If what you say is really what you feel then take a gap year, or apply for January admission. You can major in something else and still take lessons on your instrument. If you let the teacher know now, there is still time for the school to pull from the waiting list and hopefully fill your spot.
I wish you the best of luck!</p>

5

<p>If you love music and want to do it but are trying to be practical, then leaving music school might be a mistake. Music majors can work in any field and can go to grad school in other fields, go to med or law or business school, just like any other bachelor’s degree graduate. As a group, in fact, music majors have the highest admit rate to medical school. </p>

<p>The work ethic and discipline of music majors are respected by many employers. You do not have to work in music at all, after majoring in music, but there are also jobs in the music field that you might not be aware of, that can accompany any performance that you do. You can intern during your time at school and explore areas for work, including work in non-profits dedicated to music, that can transfer to non-profits in any area. You can also get involved in technology and electronics, do outreach to schools and hospitals, or get involved in music therapy. Some music majors I know got into research on music and the brain. There are many possibilities. And take a course in entrepreneurship, a field that is increasingly emphasized in music schools.</p>

<p>Often it is the parents who come on here with the worry that music is not a practical major and/or expressing a need for a back-up. This is understandable given the cost of music school (but you have a scholarship, right?). But many of us on this forum regret that talented kids who love music, and work hard at it, also have to deal with worries about making a living- worries that are sometimes (though not always) misguided.</p>

<p>If you love math and engineering, that is a different story. It may be hard to do music and engineering, and your idea of a minor in music is possible. If you haven’t read the Peabody essay entitled “double degree dilemma” it might help you right now. <a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>You could talk to someone at the school, or a teacher, about your doubts if you want reassurance, and you could also talk to someone at a school where you could do math/engineering to explore the other possibility of transferring, about how to go about that and what the obstacles might be. Music school is hard work but rewarding, and if you are going to go, you don’t want to be healf-hearted about it, so do whatever it takes to be clear and motivated on your path. Information is power :)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>I don’t know where you got in or what your grades were like, but if you were at a SOM like Unversity of Mchigan, once there you could apply to dual degree in Engineering. Very heavy workload to do both but some of my son’s friends did that. </p>

<p>A gap year is also a good plan, especially if finances are a concern. Just make sure your present “cold feet” are a genuine reflection of how you feel, as opposed to anxiety about the future.</p>

<p>Changing degrees is no guarantee of job prospects…many/most graduates will struggle with that. Engineering may be the exception, comparatively speaking, but you also want to know in advance if you’d really love it or not, because the courses are highly sequenced as well.</p>

7

<p>If you are thinking about job security you should switch. Historically, playing music for a career has never been a good choice and it’s the sort of thing you just have to do beyond any reason or logic. A minor in music sounds like a good choice. You should never let what you do for a living change your love of music, and don’t stop practicing, though maybe not as many hours a week. As you get farther along in life you might find music as wonderful refuge, a way to get your mind off other things, and just a pleasure to enjoy. The enjoyment of music is a lifestyle, never a hobby and what you do for a job doesn’t have to change that. Music is for life. </p>