Music Major Transfer with questions about career and grad school options

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hello everyone, I've been reading these forums and decided to post my current situation. I got admitted to SJSU state for jazz studies for the fall. I'm 22 right now and am having lots of doubts about the usefulness of a performance degree (I've only been playing jazz bass for around 2 years. I got in on the audition and got a scholarship) I have decided to not major in performance, due to the fact I wanted to not struggle with money and not spend the next 5 to 10 years practicing at least 8 hours a day. The reason I say that is because I want to get married to my current gf. Now...</p>

<p>I had decided to emphasize in either technology or composition. Composition because 1. I am interested in composition, 2. I could already incorporate technology stuff into my degree, 3. and I still get the applied lessons. The other option, technology, was to try and just secure a job in the music industry. But I hear jobs in recording/audio and sound engineers are fairly low pay and dead end unless you know someone. My other backup plan was a minor in business for an eventual MBA or perhaps Law school. If I got the MBA though, Im not sure what kind of jobs I could get with an MBA and a BM in comp, or BA in Music. So I was even considering just switching majors to something like engineering (but that doesnt sound fun). I've just been considering all these options since the economy is really tough right. If I had just graduated with a music degree right now, I would be pretty freaked out and worried.</p>

<p>I don't know if anyone has any advice or experience stories of doing something similar or are doing it right now(Bachelors in some concentration of music and then moved onto a different masters, or even law school). Or any advice about what you can do with a comp or technology degree. Or if a BA is even worth anything. </p>

<p>Like I said, the reasons these things come to my mind now is beacause of the poor state of the economy and the fact that I really do want to get married and make this thing work. I appreciate any advice and that these forums are a great resource for colleges.</p>

2

<p>I honestly cannot say whether the job prospects are any better in composition or music tech/business than in performance. Take a peek through the thread here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/460187-how-many-music-voice-performance-majors-find-jobs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/460187-how-many-music-voice-performance-majors-find-jobs.html&lt;/a&gt;, there are some insights and personal experiences.</p>

<p>Also, anecdotal and food for thought:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/876019-66-med-school-acceptance.html?highlight=med+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/876019-66-med-school-acceptance.html?highlight=med+school&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/937263-double-major-combinations-music.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/937263-double-major-combinations-music.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/886751-hedging-vocal-performance-academics.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/886751-hedging-vocal-performance-academics.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/809986-purpose-general-bacelor-music-degree.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/809986-purpose-general-bacelor-music-degree.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/715060-transferring.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/715060-transferring.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/586081-need-music-related-grad-school-career-suggestions.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/586081-need-music-related-grad-school-career-suggestions.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/472329-career-music.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/472329-career-music.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444124-grade-predicament.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444124-grade-predicament.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/336420-music.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/336420-music.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You’re asking a jaded bunch. Most of us are here because our dogs were in or about to embark on the race; some of ours are out, doing pro auditions, a lucky few have music jobs and additional professional training opportunities. </p>

<p>Personal decisions, fraught with anxieties and “what ifs”. Only you can answer your question, and I can relate to your concern about feeding two regularly as opposed to being a starving artist alone. </p>

<p>You choose what you think you can live with. It’s that simple. (Only it’s not simple, and therein lies the rub.)</p>

<p>The best of luck to both of you.</p>

3

<p>Was your scholarship strictly for performance or does it let you switch majors and keep the award?</p>

4

<p>This is the end game result <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/874058-success-story.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/874058-success-story.html&lt;/a&gt; to the thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/586081-need-music-related-grad-school-career-suggestions.html?highlight=law+school[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/586081-need-music-related-grad-school-career-suggestions.html?highlight=law+school&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I had meant to include it in my original post.</p>

5

<p>My scholarship was definitely for performance, I might be able to switch concentrations and still keep the award, but I doubt majors completely. I also have to be enrolled in jazz combo and big band to get it every year.</p>

<p>I definitely want to do it, but I’m still trying to figure out what I want from music. Of course I want to perform, but not make a living off of it. At least not for a while, until I got amazing chops. I want to learn it, and I feel like I wouldnt be the best player I could be unless I went to school for it. I have also just though about switching majors and doing private study (which I have met quite a few pros who never got a degree and just did that) but the more I learn, the more I want to know. Kind of a sick obsession, haha.</p>

<p>I have read a lot of stuff on here, and saw some of the options. i guess another question is what would be the worth of an MBA if I had a bachelors in music. Anyways, thanks for the advice so far.</p>

6

<p>How about adding a minor like economics, math, computer science, information science, accounting or some other “more marketable” subject? Then, if you like it well enough you may want to double major. Most good MBA programs expect people to be out working for a few years before entering grad school, so you’ll be getting some experience first anyway. Good luck to you, and congratulations on your scholarship.</p>

7

<p>well, the business minor was going to be concentrated in management of information systems(supposed to be in the top 3 careers for the next decade according the the US bureau of Labor Sats.). If I got the MBA i would concentrate in the same thing.</p>