Music & Physics

College Majors Music Major
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<p>I’ll admit: Though I did read the entirety of the OP’s posts on both pages, I only closely skimmed many of the responses. Hope I didn’t miss too much.</p>

<p>MikeEcho, your post and your interests reminded me of a certain professor I know at a liberal arts university. The university has a good music college and a good science college. This prof currently holds a much higher position within the university, but he also still teaches physics courses that focus on musical acoustics. That is his area of expertise, and I believe he’s published some papers on the subject.</p>

<p>Here’s the catalog description of this beginning physics course called Musical Acoustics:</p>

<p>“Covers both the acoustics (physical sound properties) and the psycho-acoustics (psychological, perceptual properties) of music. Topics include sound in general, sound of musical instruments (including voice), sound characteristics of rooms, electronic production (synthesis), and reproduction of sound. No prior knowledge of physics is assumed.”</p>

<p>This guy is really into the physics of sound, and specifically of music. I don’t know if there are other guys out there who study such a thing, but I would imagine there are. I THINK this guy is somewhat of an expert in his field. </p>

<p>Your post brought him and his area of expertise to mind, and it made me wonder if there are actually universities out there that might have degrees and profs dedicated to this subject. I don’t know if that interests you at all, and I don’t know what one can do with such a degree if it does exist, but if it DOES interest you, and if there’s something interesting that you could do for a living with something like this, then the concept of such a program may serve as a spring board for more ideas about your future.</p>

<p>I just thought I’d throw that out there in case it gives you any ideas …</p>

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<p>As of yesterday, I’ve agreed with my parents that I’ll stay at my university for three more years to pursue a physics major. That means in three years time, I’d have a BM in Music Composition and Physics (thinking about a minor in Comp Science too). I’d be graduating at age 24, but I think I’ve made the right decision, this being the last chance I get to do something like this and all.</p>

<p>@SimpleLife - For now, I’m not interested in researching acoustics, and would not mind I end up in a field not related to music by virtue of having a physics major in my degree.</p>

<p>This thread has been very helpful in helping me make up my mind about this, thanks once again.</p>

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<p>I’m just thinking about what is financially stable for the future, since STEM jobs are in demand, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.</p>

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<p>So you will eventually have a BM in Music/composition and a BS in physics? I am glad that you like physics, at any rate.</p>

<p>If you are happy with this, that’s great. But there are many other paths you could take.</p>

<p>Since you are a film composer, I am assuming you have some experience with music technology. Have you done any electroacoustic composition?</p>

<p>There are many grad schools that combine composition and technology, some even combine music, tech., and psychology/neuroscience, or have interdisciplinary programs, including both music and film (Cal Arts, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Bard MFA, Brown MEME, Princeton, many others). Here is a link to a lecture by a prof. at McGill (hope the link works):
McGill Podcasts » A Composer in the Lab</p>

<p>Have you looked at film programs, such as the one at USC? Or are you really done with all that? Are you still composing? Do you have a thesis composition to do this fall/</p>

<p>With a BM degree, you could apply to med school, for that matter. Music majors have the highest accept rate as a group. Or many other grad or professional programs. If you don’t want to do more school, I understand that you need a job “in your field,” but how rigidly is that defined?(Thinking of some internationals I know who majored in English but are doing “consulting.”)</p>

<p>It does seem as if you need more information on immigration issues, so that you don’t unnecessarily limit yourself, or, alternatively, don’t make unrealistic plans. </p>

<p>I googled “internationals staying US after college” and got a lot of info: <a href=“internationals staying in US after college - Google Search”>internationals staying in US after college - Google Search; This includes many threads on CC. I would be careful about physics: one site says that the company has to prove there are no US citizens who are as qualified for a job. Your musical talent may be more useful, who knows. Also, do the laws allow two bachelor’s degrees in 6 1/2 years?</p>

<p>Does your school have an office for international students?</p>

<p>There are posters on here who do know something about all this…maybe post separately about issues of staying here after graduation-?</p>