Music Major for Well Rounded Student

Artfulmom · March 14, 2009, 9:36am

I'm looking for advice. Perhaps talking to other music majors isn't the right place. My D who is now a junior surprised us over a year ago by saying that she wants to major in music. She has always enjoyed playing (piano 7 years, flute 5 years) participates in band and choir at school, takes piano lessons, etc. but has never been one to sit down and practice for hours at a time. She is also involved in many other (time-consuming) activities - primarily cross country and track. Given spare time, she IM's her friends. The few piano competitions she has participated in, most of the kids were in another league. She seems to have talent, but not a burning passion. She listens to popular music but doesn't seem that into classical, jazz, etc. Her band just took all kinds of top honors at the Heritage Music Festival, but she is not even top chair. We thought she could try for a BA in music at a decent school (certainly not a conservatory.) We are concerned that she could get accepted at a school that requires an audition (and don't they all?) Her grades are good - B+ average, mostly honors classes and she'll take 3 AP classes next year. Above average on PSAT, taking ACT next month. We don't want to discourage her in any way. She has not expressed interest in anything else about college life. We looked at Lawrence U. in WI and we liked it - but there is that audition to conquer. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Are there any schools that would be appropriate? Any advice would be much appreciated.

lorelei2702 · March 14, 2009, 10:46am

Piano and flute are particularly demanding auditions, and your instincts are probably right that she might not make it over that particular hurdle. The BA is heavy in music theory and history with keyboard skills required, probably another instrument studied, at least ensemble level work. Those grades will not make her competitive for one of the major LAC's but there are many LAC's who would be glad to have such a well-rounded student apply. Or your regional state school is another, likely cheaper, option. Where do you live, where does she want to go in terms of region, size of school, and how important is the financial issue? Borrowing $$ for a BA in music is probably not wise, it prepares one to do nothing which will pay back those loans. OTOH, after getting a BA in music, if she is conscientious about exploring other subjects, too, she can change course or intensify her efforts in music.

violadad · March 14, 2009, 11:30am

Artfulmom, lorelei brings up many good points, and as you haven't indicated a preference of for type of school or a direction your d wants to pursue either academically or musically. BA programs vary considerably, and while there may be an audition component, it can be as simple as ensemble placement after admission; those BA programs with an audition based admittance factor will judge these candidates to a lesser standard than for a BM based curriculum. Do bear in mind that the standards are applied within a school's audition parameters, and are not generic. The stronger programs have more accomplished pools to draw from, but having said that, there can be substantial musical talent at virtually every school.

The academic factors for admissions are also school specific, so a candidate has to fall within the parameters.

You might find some ideas, impressions, and options within these threads:

Specifically addressing your question about Lawrence in the acceptances thread, here's two links that may prove useful:

<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558178-music-school-visits.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558178-music-school-visits.html</a> Post #82

<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/458694-lawrence-university-conservatory-temple-university-i-need-advice-please.html?highlight=university%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/458694-lawrence-university-conservatory-temple-university-i-need-advice-please.html?highlight=university</a>

Artfulmom · March 15, 2009, 9:02am

Thanks for the tips. We live just outside of Chicago. At this point we're looking midwest but will consider other regions. D wants medium sized school but I think smaller LAC would also work.

Artfulmom · March 15, 2009, 9:04am

Thanks. I will check out those threads!

Bootman · April 21, 2009, 11:38pm

I’d suggest Lawrence. Enter as an undecided liberal arts student, take classes in both music and other subjects, and if she thinks she can hack it as a music major she can go for a BA in music or apply to transfer to the conservatory.

Even if she ends up majoring in a non-music subject, she can still play in the band or orchestra, take lessons, and otherwise participate in music.

binx · April 22, 2009, 8:47am

There are plenty of well-rounded folks who end up as music majors. The difference is that they decided they couldn’t live without music. I, frankly, share your concern that your D may not fit this image.

Is she aiming toward music because she doesn’t know what else to do? Because she thinks it’s easier? Because it sounds cool?

Does she know that music majors spend four years studying classical music (or jazz, if that is the emphasis) and that it’s a lot more than just four years of band? What does she envision doing with the music after college? Joining an orchestra? Becoming a pop star? Teaching privately?

Has she ever attended a summer program for music? We say it often on these boards, but that’s a good way to find out how a student can tolerate all music all the time.

What do her teachers say? Do they feel she has the potential? And the potential for what – to make it through 4 years of a middle-of-the-road music program, or to make it onto the stage of a top orchestra?

There are hundreds and thousands of students who go through undergrad as a music major, and then go on to grad school for something else. That is my D’s plan. She is not goal-oriented to become a performer, although she is majoring in performance. She is doing it because she is good at it, enjoys it, and doesn’t know what else to do. The other things she likes would also involve grad school, so we didn’t have a problem wtih her taking this route. But we knew what we were getting into, and went in with our eyes open. Although she doesn’t attend a conservatory or top University program, she still had to audition to get in.

(We also have a child who is a passionate conservatory level performance major - so we know the difference.)

I’m throwing these questions out here not to dissuade you, but to help you guide your D. If you feel confident with her decision, then by all means, throw her your full support. Help her find summer programs, good teachers, appropriate college programs. And buckle your seatbelt for the ride to follow.

BassDad · April 22, 2009, 9:18am

Have a look at Susquehanna University. They have a very supportive program and nice facilities. They do require an audition, but the suggested repertoire is a step or two down from what conservatories and other top music schools would expect. I know alumni on both flute and piano who are quite talented. They have BA, BM and Music Ed programs, as well as a music minor and they offer music scholarships to both majors and non-majors.

Singersmom07 · April 22, 2009, 9:28am

DD had a very good friend who liked music, was a very good singer, got into a good university music school. He wasn’t passionate about it but was good. He found he hated studying music. Singing and studying music are 2 different things. Theory, history, aural skills required by all for multiple semesters. Juries and multiple pieces to learn added to the stress instead of the enjoyment. He has transferred and changed majors, now sings in groups not as a major but for fun.

DD on the other hand found the step up to studying music to be a challenge and what she wanted. Music was a passion to her, not just what she liked to do. When she got into the full studies it fueled her, not defeated her.

There are many schools were music can be a component of studies without the major. They would not require auditions except to enter higher level ensembles. There are many ways to use music and go on as others have mentioned. I would encourage looking at those threads so conveniently corralled by violadad to find places where music can be part of her life but that has other opportunities, too. S1 stayed involved in music all through his university years, not as a major but took many courses and played in several ensembles.

matthewchilee · April 26, 2009, 4:16am

I’m currently a student at Northwestern and I can say that I’ve been getting a very well-rounded education. While my music classes fill up my schedule, the bulk of my learning has been coming from my non-music classes. Weinberg School of Arts and Sciences is an excellent college and just being in close contact with it has rewarding effects. There’s also an impressive variety of students here. No one student can define the school; you get a bit of everything. Having a double-Major or Double-Degree isn’t that hard to do. The administration actually facilitates this process unlike in a lot of other schools. I’d strongly recommend looking into NU.

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