<p>Hello everyone, currently I'm a chemical engineering major, but I have been taking music classes at an on campus music school since I started. I was never allowed to pursue band or music really in school because my parents "didn't want me to have to put in all the work", they thought that my math/science/etc classes were more important. Now that I'm in college, I can basically do whatever I want. So I was wondering, would it be possible to get a masters in music or music ed with an undergrad degree in say... an engineering field, with a minor in music? I'm already on route for my engineering degree, and I still enjoy it. However, (I don't mean to sound full of myself) all of the music teachers I have had have joked with me about how I'm doing better in both classes and lessons than a majority of the music majors, and I really enjoy all of them. Basically I'm in a rut, would it be possible to do complement an engineering masters with possibly another masters in music without having had a music bachelors?</p>
<p>You enjoy your engineering classes. You enjoy your music classes. If you are in a rut, move over and make some room for me.</p>
<p>I think the first thing you have to ask yourself is what do you want from life. My thinking is that if you have a chemical engineering job, you will make a good income. Then, when you get home, you will have an interest that you enjoy and can continue to pursue. That sounds like win-win to me. I’m not sure why you would need more schooling.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. The only thing is that I am considering teaching, and I was looking at doing possibly both engineering and music… then I would need another degree. I’m probably just going to see how things work out and then decide later.</p>
<p>You’re welcome. It is a nice dilemma to have. I do like your notion that you will see how things work out. For me, my life has always gone better when I see how things work out than when I have tried to make them work out.</p>
<p>Yes, you can get into some Master’s programs in music performance without a bachelor’s degree in music. Your playing will have to be at a high level to gain admittance. </p>
<p>You can probably work most of the theory/history prerequisites into a music minor. The financial returns on a masters in music are very small and career prospects are not nearly as good as they are with an engineering degree.</p>
<p>It is possible, but a lot depends on the instrument you play and what schools you would want to go to. If you are talking a masters in music performance, it to a large extent would be about what level you are playing at compared to those auditioning. As far as what level you are at, no one can tell from a post on here, but one word of caution, depending on what school you are currently at the teachers there may or may not know what the level of playing on the instrument(s) you are on are like out there, a school that is great academically might not have a strong school of music. One way I could suggest about seeing where you are at might be to try a summer music program/festival and see how you stack up against other players, especially if it is a relatively high level program or festival, or if you really want to pursue it.</p>