<p>I'm very interested in taking a music major (through the faculty of arts) in college. Although Ive learned violin and percussions for many years, Ive never taken any theory courses before. Will the major be very hard for me?</p>
<p>I forgot to mention....I want to do a double major</p>
<p>A Music Major is hard for "music people" let alone a double major.</p>
<p>Welcome rocen. Music major encompasses a vast number of areas... it's akin to saying you want to major in "science"; there are many fields.</p>
<p>In order to take advantage of the knowledgeable people here, an expansion of your question is needed. What are your career goals? Do you wish to perform professionally? Teach perhaps? Is music a passion or hobby? How proficient are you on either instrument? Which is your primary instrument? Do you have an unbiased, professional educators's assessment of your current skill level? What is your current grade level?</p>
<p>You might want to begin reading here <a href="http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/%7Enavmusic/careerpaths/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~navmusic/careerpaths/index.html</a>, <a href="http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/705%5B/url%5D">http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/705</a>, <a href="http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/692%5B/url%5D">http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/692</a> and <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796</a></p>
<p>This will give you some initial background and overviews.</p>
<p>The theory is mandatory, but instruction is a part of all college/conservatory programs. </p>
<p>Redefine your questions, and you'll find many people here willing to provide knowledge, experience, and direction. Good luck.</p>
<p>Theory and aural skills weed out a lot of excellent musicians.</p>
<p>Music theory and aural skills (sight singing) are required courses for music majors almost everywhere (if not everywhere). DS was required to take both for three full years. He had an excellent background in theory from years of piano lessons, AP music theory course in high school, and music theory classes every summer during summer music programs...in addition to study of his primary instrument. Music theory is a tough course. DS and most of his friends would advise...take piano lessons ASAP. A foundation in piano and the keyboard are very helpful. DS still says that he pictures the keyboard frequently when theory questions are posed. Take a theory course in high school if possible. If you are a music major, you will not get AP credit, but the background will serve you well. And theory IS part of the course of study at colleges. If you play an instrument or use printed music at all, you probably have at least a small knowledge of the basics (notation, keys, etc).</p>
<p>wa! thank you guys so much!
Sorry for the ambiguous question. I'll try to clarify my background and interests here.</p>
<p>I learned to play the piano for many years when I was small, and started violin since grade 3. I can't remember when exactly did I stop my piano lessons (maybe grade 4?), but I started to play percussion instruments (drums, marimba…etc) since grade 5 and absolutely loved them. They are now my primary instruments.</p>
<p>Although I never stopped my violin lessons, I'm not great on it, and only recently had I start to appreciate the music I made out of it (since 4~5 years ago).</p>
<p>Now I really regret quitting piano, but am able to play some music given the sheets (music like Moonlight)</p>
<p>To summarize the above, I can play:
Piano (ok)
Violin (ok) – (the last piece I played was Mozart’s Fifth Concerto – A major)
Percussions (great, I can use 4 mallets on a marimba and can play “Flight of the Bumblebee”)
* I can sight read pretty well
* I never learned any music theory
* Never did any placement test</p>
<p>Now I’m more interested in composing rather than performing. I don’t plan to go to a music school or anything professional. What I want to do is closer to a more in-depth study in music (Through the Faculty of Arts, not Music) in the college I go to along with maybe a Biology Degree.</p>
<p>I don't plan to go into a career in music. I just want to take the degree for interest.</p>
<p>Oh, I can sing too.
I was once part of a Children's Chior and went around performing in different countries in Europe and Asia.</p>
<p>two more points:
1. as a percussionist I can probably get into good (not top) conservatories or music programs
2. who knows, maybe at the end I'll want to become a composer :P</p>
<p>The double major/dual degree opens opportunities, but has many pitfalls.</p>
<p>Some institutions welcome it, others tolerate it, and some won't allow it. It is important to have your studio instructor on board with the idea as well.</p>
<p>Science disciplines coupled with music performance are very time consuming. Both have large time block small credit hour value requirements. Lab and performing organization schedules often overlap. Scheduling can be a nightmare. A must have course is often offered only one semester a year. It is not unusual for a double major to take five years and a few summers. There are few overlapping requirements. Often financial aid is not necessarily extended beyond the fourth year.</p>
<p>There are general and school specific double major threads within the forum. Do a search and get a better idea of the pros & cons. </p>
<p>It is possible, but a dedicated, focused committment is required. Strong advisors in both areas are a must. Many abandon one of the disciplines prior to completing.</p>
<p>The Mozart fifth concerto is rather demanding. Of course, we have no idea how well you played it! :) A composition major is a bit different from performance - instead of auditioning, you must submit your compositions. Many composition majors are required to study an instrument, though, and piano is usually a requirement.</p>
<p>Composition major is extremely demanding, in my opinion. Composing on demand, according to the teacher's specific guidelines for each project, is akin to having major term papers due on a subject not of your choosing (as opposed to say, creative writing on your own time.) Composition, more than other music fields, requires an in-depth knowledge of theory. Having played two instruments, you might be further along than you give yourself credit for. Having sung will be an advantage in ear training and sight singing.</p>
<p>I would also suggest that when you're looking at schools, you investigate whether you can take composition classes as a non-major. Or a minor. You might find that fulfills all of your needs without overloading you.</p>
<p>If you can fill in more gaps - what would your "other" major be? What kinds of schools are you looking at? What is your academic performance like? GPA? SATs? What year are you? Is English your second language? (No offense meant one way or another, but your syntax seems a little off, as if English is not your first language.)</p>
<p>If you have an idea of some of the schools to which you intend to apply, start searching through their web sites now for things like curricula and graduation requirements in the intended majors and class schedules (both current and for past semesters.) If you can locate two or three years worth of class schedules, you will be able to construct a four-year or a five-year plan for ways to satisfy the requirements for all of the programs of interest. It takes at least two years worth of schedules because schools often have classes that are only offered every other year. If the school does not have prior semester schedules still available online, save the ones for this semester and check back in the future to get the latest ones as they appear.</p>
<p>By doing this exercise, you will get a feel for which combinations of majors simply do not work, which are possible but force you to omit some of the classes you really want to take, and which allow you to fit in pretty much everything that you really want. You will also end up with a strong working knowledge of the classes available at each institution. If you can do this for all of the schools that eventually accept your application, you will have a very useful tool to help you choose among them.</p>
<p>thx guys :)
In fact I'm already in my 12th grade and will attend either McGill or Cornell (I can't decide!) for a science degree.
What I am thinking of doing is to apply for a double degree in music in my sophomore year. (And yes binx, English is my second language. -I came to Canada 5 years ago- How did you find that out? Can you point out my syntax mistakes for me? Thank you very much.)</p>
<p>I'm concerned that I may not be qualified for courses like "Tonal Theory I" and will need to take introductory courses that will extend my time of study to 5 or more years. This means extra money for my parents, especially in the US since I'm considered an international student.</p>
<p>If you are interested in a music major, then you need to investigate the possibilities at McGill. Cornell does not offer programs in music performance. You would be limited to joining performance groups and could also take advantage of the exchange program with Ithaca College. The exchange with IC is very limited. You would not be able to do a music major. You could in theory take some courses, but most likely those would be limited and you would not be eligible to join the performance groups at IC.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>courses that will extend my time of study to 5 or more years>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>If you are taking a double major with music and anything else, it is likely that it will take five years or so to do so anyway...unless you are entering college with a ton of AP credits. Still, in most places for a music major, you MUST participate in ensembles for four full years. Of course, for composition, this could be different. I will add, however, that a composition major would be very much expected to be knowledgable in all areas of music theory....all. So the expectation, I believe, would be that you would complete all music theory requirements at the college level. To be honest, I'm not sure I can see how you would complete this beginning in your sophomore year. Also, you need to check the college requirements for music (BA or BM) requirements with regard to ensemble participation. Some schools require this for all music majors (including composition) and others do not. The other thing you need to check...can you just "sign on" for a music major? Perhaps this is possible at Cornell, but I'm not sure it is at McGill where there is a competitive music school where auditions are required for admittance to the music program.</p>
<p>rocen - your English is very good, and your errors are subtle, which is why I wasn't sure if English was a second language or not. Please don't feel insecure about it! Here were some of my clues:</p>
<p>
[quote]
I learned to play the piano for many years when I was small, and started violin since grade 3. I can't remember when exactly did I stop my piano lessons
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Americans would be more likely to say, "I studied piano for many years when I was small, and have studied violin since grade 3. [or "started violin in grade 3"] I can't remember exactly when I stopped...."</p>
<p>
[quote]
and only recently had I start to appreciate the music I made out of it
[/quote]
</p>
<p>"and only recently did I start...."</p>
<p>
[quote]
but am able to play some music given the sheets
[/quote]
</p>
<p>"...given the sheet music" or "given the music"</p>
<p>If you don't want to make music your career, maybe consider minoring in it.</p>
<p>I think a lot of students go into music majors without theory classes. Theory I starts with the absolute basics. Like, 4th space is E in the treble clef. The first ledger line below the staff is C. Stuff like that. So you probably wouldn't have a problem just going into theory. One big thing I noticed in my AP Music Theory class last year, was the people who struggled more were the ones who couldn't read two staves at one time. I'm a pianist (and flute, but not relevant right now), and it's just natural to me and as you have some piano experience, you probably know more than you think. I think all colleges require their music majors to pass a piano proficiency test before they can graduate. By having some piano experience you may be able to test out of class piano (again, this is middle c...). </p>
<p>Also, many schools have composing degrees. Check with the school you go to and see if they have one. Some may offer it as a minor instead of a major. For example, I know northeastern (in boston) doesn't technically have a school of music so you can only minor in performance.</p>
<p>thx binx
McGill offers a BA in music through the arts faculty which doesn't require audition. However, although there are a few composition courses offered, the program seems to emphasize more on history and humanity sides of music rather than performing, which is understandable. Since I don't plan to become a musician it is perfectly ok for me. And yes, I can (am required to) join the percussions ensemble!
For some reason both schools require that I request for my second degree in the sophomore year...</p>
<p>My brother is a finance major with a minor in vocal music. So yes, it it possible.</p>