Music major at a small LAC, should I transfer??

College Majors Music Major
1

I am a music student seeking advice.
I go to a small private LAC out of state.
There are many reasons why I chose to attend school where I did. First of all, I have a learning disability, and small schools/small class sizes are really good for students like me, and my meeting with disability services went very well when I visited. It was also among the most competitive schools I applied to.
I also had no idea what I wanted to study, and LACs are great for figuring this out. I had thought about music as a major but wasn’t completely ready to commit. In HS, and before, I really loved music, but sometimes, because of my learning issues, I had to work so so hard for those A’s, and academics took up all my time, which made it hard for me to practice a lot and get serious about music (and, honestly, have a life outside of school!)
I love music, there were times in HS when I really wanted to study it in college, and was recognized by my teachers and peers as a strong performer, but struggled with anxiety and stage fright (exacerbated by an anxiety disorder!) and didn’t do well in some auditions for youth orchestras and honor bands, which made me feel like I wasn’t “cut out” to study music in college.

When I got to college, however, I just fell in love with my music classes. I did well in them, and also love the department, the camaraderie between the music students, and, most of all, performing (large groups, chamber music, and solo) I also have an amazing private teacher with whom I have grown SO much as a performer. I also entered the school’s concerto competition my first year, and loved preparing for that-- even though I didn’t win (I won my sophomore year) this really sealed the deal on my music major and aspirations to perform professionally. I also did a summer masterclass/camp after my first year, and I really loved it.

So I declared my music major my sophomore year. At this school, all music majors receive a BA rather than a BM/BFA, and there is a strong liberal arts, rather than a performance, focus.
I love the department, even though it’s very small, love my teacher, practice a lot, and have really grown as a performer since starting college (my stage fright is SO much better!)

But, when I started telling friends/family about my career aspirations, they ask me why I haven’t transferred to a school that offers a performance degree. I understand why they ask me that, and I have had some concerns before.

My biggest concern is just the seriousness of other musicians-- there are not many other music majors. I am the only student in the orchestra with aspirations to be a professional performer. I love my peers at this school, and there are other very strong musicians, but I worry that In general I am a “big fish in a small pond” and that there aren’t a lot of musicians here who I can really look up to.

I also started going to performances at a large public university across town. I also went to studio recitals and started meeting other musicians (i.e. Masters performance students) who I could see as mentors.

I am also lucky to be in a metropolitan area, so I can get gigs and have entered competitions in the area (and won a few of them!) I also go to intensive music summer schools, masterclasses, etc.

I also do love taking humanities/language/other liberal arts classes. I have even gotten a handful of academic awards. I have the option of double majoring (possible in 4 yrs) and the only thing keeping me from declaring a second major right not is that I’m worried about not having as much time as I would like to practice!

There are a few other things I am still worried about:
1- I heard that both summer schools and masters programs will choose students from well known music schools before students from schools nobody knows about (like mine), even if my audition is comparable to music students at prestigious colleges/universities. This worries me.
2- this private LAC is expensive. I have a small scholarship and am not taking out loans, but it would make an expensive masters program in performance more difficult to afford. Sometimes I feel like I would get more “bang for my buck” if I went to a public university and had more intensive music instruction. Then I could more easily afford, for example, really good university/conservatory study for grad school.
3- balancing academics and practicing is very hard. I have managed well so far, but sometimes I am frustrated when I really want to practice, but also need to study a lot to do well. It has taken a toll on my sleep schedule & work/life balance.
4- I wonder all the time: “am I good enough??” I have had teachers tell me I am a strong player, but I don’t belong to a studio of other performance majors and sometimes wonder how I compare to other musicians my age. The “big fish/small pond” thing also may misguide me-- summer schools have been great for exposing me to other strong players and give me perspective on how I compare to the average performance major my age.

I love my school, but sometimes I wonder if I’m making the right decision by staying here.
I am itching for a more intensive musical experience, so I do really, really really want to go to grad school for music performance.
Anyone been in a similar situation??
Any advice will be SUPER appreciated!!
Thanks

2

I recommend you repost this on the Music Major forum. My personal recommendation is stay where you are - it sounds wonderful, and you’re taking advantage of outside opportunities, as well, including summer festivals. Not all grad schools are expensive for performance degrees - there is merit money available. The audition will be the determining factor, not the name of your school, although certainly good recommendations help. You can make personal connections at the summer programs. I feel you will be a better musician, not a worse one, for your liberal arts education. (My son got a double degree, so I’m biased.) Plenty of graduate students got BA’s in music instead of BM’s. As long as you’re taking theory, music history, and studying privately, you should be fine.

3

It sounds like you have blossomed where you are. I agreee with the poster above. The auditions are about you and not your school. I would stay where you are and look at getting an MFA at a public university with strong music. Continue to use your summers as opportunities to get extra training. GL

4

@citymama9 - No particular reason to choose a public university over a private one for an MM in Music Performance, or even a university rather than a conservatory. The cheapest options have nothing to do with any of that, nor the the quality of the program. What @collegestudentmusician9797 will need to do is research teachers with whom they would like to study at the grad level - and then apply to whatever institution that teacher is affiliated with.

5

I mentioned public univ for grad school since he/she feels that the undergrad degree is very expensive and does not allow much left over for grad school @SpiritManager

6

@citymama9 My son went to Yale School of Music for grad school. It’s free for all students. Many good music students get significant aid to conservatories for grad school, as well as public and private universities. It really makes no difference. And they have teaching opportunities. And performance opportunities.

7

You mentioned that you love your non-music academic studies as well, so it seems like perhaps you might be looking at a BA-BM dual degree program? However, you mentioned that you have trouble balancing practice with studying–and if you were to go for a BM, you’d have far more rigorous musical commitments, and they wouldn’t overlap as much with your academic obligations.

I was in a similar situation–choosing between conservatory and LAC/university–during my initial college search, and I also went with academics over preprofessional music. It’s a tough, nuanced, and personal decision, but if you want any input or advice along the way, feel free to PM me!

P.S. If you’re considering transferring into a conservatory program, I’d recommend taking a look at Lawrence University (which is actually a LAC, not a uni). They have a very well-regarded, but not hyper-competitive, music school, and a well-supported 5-year dual degree program.

8

I sent you a private message.

One thing to think about is that every school has its own theory and musicianship curriculum and sequence, so you might lose time. Also your gen eds might exceed conservatory requirements for a BM at this point.

I hope you can stay where you are, maybe work something out with the school. Many students do go to college rather than conservatory, take lessons, play in extracurriculars or outside of school, take some music classes- and still thrive in music and get into grad schools too. Some don’t even major in music.

It sounds like you are doing great with your instrument, but need more balance in your life, more time and less stress. Some schools allow extra time for musicians to graduate. Maybe a major/minor, double major or double degree with extra semesters would help you out.

In the meantime, as the big fish, you may end up with opportunities not available otherwise: look for these.

Good luck, tough decision!

9

Sometimes being a big-fish in a small pond can be just what is needed to grow as an artist, musician and a person.

You like music and you are growing and becoming a better musician where you are. That is great. But the real question, and one that every BM, MM and BFA student must confront is what do you eventually want to do? Most students graduating from conservatory realize that making a living just performing is not an option. Artists (in all medium) must be inventive and creative in how they approach their careers. Many choose to teach in addition to performing. I met one young woman who runs her own booking agency. Some carve out work as studio musicians. The list of possible ways to create a life with music is long, but it helps to know how you see yourself moving forward so that you can make a living as a musician. That liberal arts degree might come in handy once you think about how you plan to move forward. Not all musicians need an MM degree to move forward in their career. Again it all comes down to what sort of career you see yourself having as you move forward with your life.

10

Declare your second major since you are doing well academically also. The second major gives you perspective. The music sounds fine and you are surrounded with great people who just enjoy music - it is okay that they may not want music performance grad school. You have musical opportunities at your LAC that you would not have as a small fish in a big pond. Enjoy it now - you sound ‘balanced’ and thriving right where you are!