<p>I want to pursue a career in the music field, but also have a huge passion for acting. Is it to hard of a path to take in college? Should I maybe minor in drama? I have no idea what to do. I really need some advice.</p>
<p>If you are a vocalist you might try over on the Musical Theater forum.</p>
<p>Im a string player…</p>
<p>One prior thread, with a similar (and school specific angle) and not a lot of info: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/669806-major-vp-active-theatre-ut.html?highlight=theater[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/669806-major-vp-active-theatre-ut.html?highlight=theater</a> </p>
<p>The advice to head over to the music theater forum is a good one, as this question (at least as pertaining to vocalists) is posed on a more regular basis. You might want to look for posts under the user names KatMT and soozievt who I believe have posted on this in the past. You might also want to wander through the drama subforum as well.</p>
<p>Just some points to consider, what you are looking for is going to be very school specific, and quite probably not available across a wide range of options. You should familiarize yourself with the requirements of both BM and BA programs, as well as the BA and BFA options in the drama programs. Both the BM and BFA curriculum typically are full of discipline specific degree requirements, many of them ensemble/participatory/applied methodology time intensive coursework. There is usually not much room for “fat” in terms of exploratory electives beyond the non-major academic distribution requirements.</p>
<p>You’ll need to be aware of any and all audition based parameters for either course of study.</p>
<p>You might have better luck at some of the LAC’s with BA options in both disciplines that allow a broader range of non-major coursework to fulfill the degree requirements.</p>
<p>There are past threads detailing the BA/BM/BFA differences.</p>
<p>Both disciplines are time and credit intensive at the BM and BFA level, and it is often difficult from a time and scheduling standpoint to combine a BM and BA (in an academic field), let alone two distinct “performance” paths. Plenty of past threads discussing “music and …” here as well.</p>
<p>A lot will depend on what you want as your focus, and your perceived end result. If you are looking for a major in one, and a not for credit participatory experience in the other, it becomes very school specific as to what is available to majors, as a minor, or as “open” classwork available to all.</p>
<p>Since the OP is a string major, things would be seen in an entirely different light. VP and acting are compatible because virtually all of the good VP programs include acting/drama classes in the course of study. String majors have a rigorous practice schedule as well as orchestra and ensemble requirements. Keeping that in mind, I can’t see that there would be much room in a schedule to even participate in extra-curricular dramatic productions. Depending upon the type of school and the requirements for the degree, it could be possible to include a drama class or two as electives.</p>
<p>In the interest of potential future use, I’ve linked to the op’s identical question here in the theater & drama forum: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/797647-music-drama-major-good-bad-idea.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/797647-music-drama-major-good-bad-idea.html</a></p>
<p>If you were my kid, I’d advise you to put yourself on the best path for the music career you say you want … then, once you’re at a school and get a sense of the workload, look at extracurricular outlets for your acting passion. Overall I agree with MezzoMama that chances are you won’t have a lot of outside time. But there are plenty of schools that would offer you solid strings training AND would have active extracurriculars. Maybe gear your serch toward finding out where those schools are?</p>
<p>Maybe try schools like Bennington, Sarah Lawrence…you can get a BA with coursework in both music and drama, and do lessons privately perhaps…</p>
<p>Bennington’s tutition is right up there with the top conservatories, so paying for lessons might make things tight, depening on one’s family situation!</p>
<p>My D started out as a vocal performance major on scholarship at CSU in Columbus, GA. After a semester she missed theatre, and is now double majoring in voice and theatre education. It will take her at least one additional year to graduate, but she is very happy with her courses and will be continuing in both directions.</p>
<p>Her voice teacher would prefer she not do it, but D’s grades are excellent and she is progressing with her voice. Her voice teacher and other faculty have been supportive.</p>