<p>I'm a new user, hello all!</p>
<p>I'll keep this short and snappy. This discussion covers multiple areas, but as a music major, I felt this is the best place.</p>
<p>-Graduating with Bachelors in music composition this fall
-Intent on graduate school for film-scoring next spring
-Intent on a green card (on an international student F-1 visa right now)</p>
<p>Predicament:
-Have talent in music / have always been good at music
-Promising music career, but have become quite disillusioned with my field (won't go into why, don't want to offend anybody)
-Always liked physics, would ideally be primarily a physicist, and musician on the side
-B+ in AP Physics in boarding school, didn't feel I had the brains
-Should I have double-majored in music & physics? Is it too late?</p>
<p>Important addendum: I've been in this country for five years, and I love it. I've made so many friends here. I've already given so much (tuition money being a lot of it, ha ha!) and I feel I can give so much more to this place. Save for marrying an American, internationals need to be EXCEPTIONAL at their field to stay here. I'm way better at music than I am at physics, but the aforementioned internal dilemma exists.</p>
<p>Thank you for your time, CC. I guess there's not much I can do at this point but aim to be exceptional in my field. Would like to hear your opinions.</p>
<p>Best regards,</p>
<p>MikeEcho</p>
<p>Is there any way you could take a physics class this fall? Do you have to graduate or could you postpone and take some math / physics to see if you could get a minor?
Also - what about engineering? It’s related and perhaps you might be able to get $$ / student visa extension for that?</p>
<p>Your predicament is interesting to me - I am an American, but initially was interested in music and ended up graduating in math / physics - in part because I didn’t think I had what it took in music! From what I’ve heard, a career in music, especially composition, is very difficult. I know there are folks here that can speak more knowledgably about that.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Are you proposing getting a second bachelor’s in physics?</p>
<p>Do you think there is any chance your disillusionment is temporary (believe, me, many of those familiar with field of composition can probably understand, though restraint online is probably a good idea!) </p>
<p>There are lots of jobs you can access with a music degree, and grad and professional schools as well. What are the immigration issues you would face if you got a day job and composed on the side? I am assuming grad school would extend your ability to stay here- is that true?</p>
<p>@compmom</p>
<p>I would love to get a second bachelor’s in physics, but that means I’d have to stay in school for a few more years. I don’t think my family could afford that. But what lcoulter32724 said about a minor sounds more feasible, I’ll look into that. After all, I am graduating early, so I have an entire extra semester to postpone my graduation.</p>
<p>With regard to jobs, I’m confident in my ability to get one while going to grad school (which allows me to stay longer, yes! Two years of paid work strictly in my field I believe).</p>
<p>I don’t know when my disillusionment surfaced, so it’s not a recent thing. Actually, it’s not only limited to composition, but music in general. It’s a terrible feeling, but I think it’s because I want a different place in the world. I wish I got this feeling a couple of years earlier so I’d have time to double-major. Eesh.</p>
<p>Is it the competitive nature of the field that bothers you, or the competition between different aesthetics, or perhaps the lifestyle, difficulty making a living-???</p>
<p>I am not sure what a minor in physics would do for you, and doing a year of physics wouldn’t accomplish much either, I would think, because the curriculum for physics is basically a 4 year sequential one, with foundational courses first. But I could be wrong.</p>
<p>If you have a bachelor’s degree, as I said before, you do not have to limit yourself to working as a composer or even in the field of music. </p>
<p>Have you considered working for a music organization of some kind, for instance, a non-profit?</p>
<p>Here is a crazy idea.</p>
<p>If you can get multiple teaching credentials in science or math or music and maybe even a language, if you are bilingual, (and the credentials aren’t even necessary at a private school), I would think that some school would snap you up. I think teaching secondary school and gigging (church band, community theater, restaurants and hotels, local wine and art and your favorite fruit or vegetable festivals, jam sessions) or giving private music lessons on the side… is a happy life.</p>
<p>Not sure how the whole work permit, secondary school teaching thing shakes out though.</p>
<p>@compmom</p>
<p>With regard to the competitive nature of the field, not at all. Being an international, I am limited to working only in my field. Of course, music composition is very loose in that respect, and I’ve received many opportunities which I’m grateful for.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what a minor in physics would do for me either. The general consensus on internet forums seems to be that people who are interested in the subject should take it, but that’s it. I am interested in physics, but I’d also like to distinguish myself as more than a musician when it comes to employers and such. I’d also like some educational foundation if I ever decide to pursue a physics job. I don’t know if that makes sense.</p>
<p>Perhaps I should head over to CC’s science forum?</p>
<p>@jazzvocals</p>
<p>Meh, I don’t think teaching is my cup of tea :)</p>
<p>@all</p>
<p>If anyone is curious as to why I’m disillusioned with the music field, and why I’d rather go into physics, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Agree a minor wouldn’t be ideal - I was just thinking if you don’t have a lot of time left it might open some doors. Could you talk to someone in the physics program at your college, and get their thoughts?
Another idea - my younger D has recently become interested in music tech - that sort of combines science / music - thoughts? And maybe only having time for 1-2 courses in that might open up more options.</p>
<p>@lcoulter32724:
“Another idea - my younger D has recently become interested in music tech - that sort of combines science / music - thoughts?”</p>
<p>If it’s under the engineering department (music tech is very much of an electrical engineering topic at the technical level), then yes. If not, then it may not be the sort of combination that you think it is. If it’s the typical type of “music technology” that I think it is, then it’s basically about learning about the equipment used in music production (mixing desks, audio effects, audio/music sequencers, microphones) and their use. There might be few electronics or programming courses as well, but “science” is not what I’d probably call it, more like just basic and practical “technical knowledge” relating to the topic of music production.</p>
<p>To the OP I would suggest doing what you feel is right. A minor will be so small that it will not offer you a very broad knowledge of the field where you’ll take the minor (which is why music/art can very well be the minor for engineering and science majors, rather than the other way around), but if it interests you and you want to take it, then by all means take it. And of course, the school or the minor doesn’t prevent you from studying and learning on your own whatever you want to study/learn.</p>
<p>Yeah I’ve decided to take the physics minor, it’s the least I can do. I won’t lose anything by doing it, plus I’m interested. I just wish I was a physics major/music minor! Thank you all for the discussion, and to lcoulter32724 for suggesting the minor. For some reason, that didn’t come across my mind.</p>
<p>To the people who PM’ed me, I’ve yet to build my post number up to 15, so I’ll get back to y’all shortly. Thanks.</p>
<p>Mike, I have one son who is a 2013 Physics graduate and one who is an undergrad Music Ed major. Physics major had paid internships and will have paid graduate school plus stipend this fall. (He plays violin on the side.)
Music ed major has had paid work at a summer camp and for the last 2 summers paid work as a tour guide and school program leader. The music ed course work helped him get both summer jobs.
Unfortunately, grad school for the music ed major will probably be paid by son.
Both son’s love what they are doing.
In the long run, the Physics major will probably earn more…</p>
<p>If you add the physics minor, start researching internships for next summer and go to your school’s physics dept and let them know that you want to do some research projects. Grad schools look for research experience as well grades and test scores.</p>
<p>Check out this master’s program at the University of Rochester. It may be perfect for you.</p>
<p>MSEE with a Concentration in Musical Acoustics and Signal Processing</p>
<p>MikeEcho, I was thinking about psychoacoustics and related sound design engineering as well… like Chemusic. My son took psychoacoustics and really enjoyed it (he loves physics too.) </p>
<p>So here’s an alternate graduate school suggestion – you might have a try at McGill’s masters in music tech, which is way more tech-ish than the average programs. The problem is they usually prefer that your undergrad degree is in music tech – but you never know. </p>
<p>The reason I mention McGill is that as a Canadian school, it <em>can</em> be cheaper than a private U.S. institution in most cases. A second aspect is that while overall, immigration to Canada is MORE difficult than in the US in general, (believe it or not) Canada gives substantial PREFERENCE to students who have achieved post-grad status so your ability to remain on after studying is usually a bit better than US. I am also told by composers that there seem to be more “mid-level” earn-a-living type opportunities for composers in Canada…though obviously with the much smaller population base, I’d take that with quite a grain of salt ;)</p>
<p>I do regularly try to warn international students on these threads about the difficulties of remaining here subsequent to study…it can be a real challenge.</p>
<p>To the people in this thread who PM’d me - sorry for the radio silence, I’ll get back to you.</p>
<p>In the meantime, I’m two weeks into my physics minor and loving it. But as a senior music comp major and international student who is concerned about 1) job security and 2) staying in the US after college, I am worrying.</p>
<p>Should I turn my physics minor into a major? Do international physics students have more sponsor/job opportunities in the US than music students post-college?</p>
<p>On the career level, there’s no doubt that a physics degree holds more economic value than a music degree. It’s the immigration level that I’m not sure about. Perhaps I should just not drain my family’s finances further and just try my darndest to secure a means of staying via music? </p>
<p>I write mainly film music, and am very good at what I do and have quite a few connections. Problem is I only have tops two years (one year of college + one optional year of employment). And I certainly don’t feel I should go to music grad school if the main reason is to stay longer. Or should I? It WOULD give me an extra three years to find someone willing to sponsor my stay…</p>
<p>This thread has gotten great replies (and thanks to lcoulter for my physics minor). I’m hoping someone around CC is knowledgeable in student immigration. Immigration lawyers are expensive…</p>
<p>Mikeecho, If you can turn the minor into a major in Physics, it will be more financially viable for grad school. Older son, a physics major, just started a grad school this fall with free tuition, and a research stipend plus health insurance. There are many international students in the program who are also receiving full funding. If you can, try to do some research this year with one of the physics profs so you can show the grad schools you are research oriented.</p>
<p>Woah, congratulations to him! I mean, I’m already a senior and just picked up my physics minor, don’t I have to stay in school a little longer before grad school takes my application seriously?</p>
<p>The best course of action would be to talk to your physics adviser. He/she could help you decide what to do at this point. You will need to take the GRE and possibly the physics subject test depending on the grad school. One option would be to pursue a masters degree in physics if that is financially possible. Then apply to a Phd program.</p>