Passion or security?

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I am currently a freshman undergrad at a prestigious private university. I have always been interested in astronomy and physics. I have been interested in playing the French horn for much longer however.</p>

<p>I decided to major in physics, since my family scared the hell out of me when I said I wanted to major in music. Physics is a lot more secure when it comes to getting a job. I am aware that the job market is really bad when it comes to classical musicians. For some reason, I still dream of getting a doctoral degree in performance and teaching horn at the college level. I'm just so worried that I won't be able to find a job, and that my college debt will crush me. </p>

<p>Double majoring would be wayyy to rough in my opinion. Should I rough it out and get my undergrad degree in physics, and then apply for a graduate music school? I would love anyone's advice.</p>

2

<p>Physics more secure? Really? I would not confuse physics with engineering. Currently science is not particularly well funded. And some people in our government would love to dismantle organizations like NASA and NOA. So much depends on what branch of physics you end up studying or specializing in. If you become a string-theorist or an experimental physicists than you might as well become a musician if that is what you love because the career path leading to a university position is somewhat similar. If you want to go work on Wall-street and apply your analytical skills there and make tons of money you can…but who knows what is going to happen to those jobs in the future given what has occurred in the past. Also do you really want to work in a cubicle coding for a living? Sure having math skills and computer skills is useful and will be useful in the future. But I would be careful not to assume that having those skills will automatically lead you to a great and wonderful job that is secure and that makes you happy.</p>

<p>So now that I have given you my negative view of the future, let me tell you something positive. Have you heard of the Band “Queen”. Brian May was the guitarist for Queen. He is now a professor of Cosmology/Astronomy. He went back and got his PhD after Queen dismantled after the death of it’s brilliant lead singer. </p>

<p>Did you watch the landing of Curiosity on Mars? Turns out that one of the engineers that helped land Curiosity Adam Steltzner, attended Berklee College of Music right after HS. </p>

<p>These are just a two stories of famous people who went from music to science. I am sure there are others who have not achieved quite the fame that these two men have. </p>

<p>If right now you are passionate about Music then why not take this opportunity that you have to explore it and push yourself in it and see what happens. You can always, as the two amazing men above you did, go back to studying physics. Physics will always be there. But if you have worked hard with music and are at a certain level and then slack off, it is harder to get back on track and catch up. You are young and now is the time to push yourself and take risks and see what happens. If you don’t you will only regret it later in life.</p>

3

<p>To be the best fit for private industry employers with physics, you will have to get your Ph.D. A masters in engineering will get you in the door with the same folks.</p>

4

<p>I understand the anxieties concerning majoring in the arts, especially in the context of cost, debt and the current economic situation (which has improved some). However, I think some of this anxiety is misguided, or based on false assumptions.</p>

<p>This topic comes up so often that I am repeating myself once again: a bachelor’s degree in music is a bachelor’s like any other, and brings access to employment requiring a bachelors, like any other. A BM or BA in music also brings access to grad schools and professional schools (a now dated statistic said that 66% of music students got into medical school, more than any other group).</p>

<p>Music majors are respected as intelligent, cultured, and disciplined.</p>

<p>Another point to make is that the study of music, whether performance or academic, does not limit employment to performance or to teaching: my daughter (a classical compositions student) has already had internships and jobs with music organizations (agency for recording artists, a non-profit small orchestra, a record label). She had obtained these positions because she is a music major, but the skills learned are transferable to other non-profits or companies. Even on campus, an extracurricular has taught her grant-writing and curating skills.</p>

<p>Finally, many of us have read articles that reflect the perceived reality that “making it” in music is no longer only about getting a seat in a big orchestra: this is true in other arts as well (dancers don’t have to make it in a big ballet company for instance). The arts world has become very entrepreneurial. People make their own opportunities that may be smaller in scale, collaborative and interdisciplinary.</p>

<p>For some, this may mean a day job, and yes, a bachelor’s in music can help obtain that. Don’t forget that Ives was an insurance agent! But over time, as in any other field, you can wind yourself along a path that reaches a place where you can work at what you love.</p>

<p>For much of adult life, you will have responsibilities and less freedom to do what you want. So I always hope that students of your age can have these 4 years do follow what they love. But I also really don’t believe it is as risky as people think. Others may disagree, but we all go by what our family’s actual experience has been.</p>

5

<p>How invaluable you would be to schools if you could teach both physics and music! I would stay with the physics as long as you are still loving it and can put the time into your instrument as well. You are young - the longer you can follow both paths the longer you have to decide before making a choice.</p>

6

<p>What compmom wrote mirrors my own thoughts pretty much. I realize with a crappy economy that is only slowly recovering and general anxiety, it can appear that music is a tenuous thing to study, kind of in line with ancient sandskrit as a major or something equally esoteric. In some ways people view college (not without reason) as a jobs training program, which with certain skills (engineering, comp sci, math, public accounting) is true, but for many jobs there really isn’t training in school for what the job requires (for example, a lot of the time, at least in my day, actuaries were math/statistics majors who trained on the job, not in school), and many liberal arts majors end up doing a variety of things. </p>

<p>I can tell you professionally that music majors (generally I am talking performance or composition) are well respected, because people know the dedication it takes, the kinds of skills, to go through music training (dealing with other musicians in a chamber group alone is worth a lot <em>lol</em>). , the discipline, and also that kids majoring in music other then maybe more then a few of the kids on solo instruments and their deluded teachers, know it is a grind, know how tough it is to make a living in it, and are doing it because they have dedication to it and love it, and that kind of thing is valuable to employees (the worst kind of employee I can tell you after 25 years, is the one who sees everything in terms of salary and compensation and everything they do is driven by that, rather then having dedication to what they do and let the rewards fall where they may; kind of like the doctor to whom you are a payment from an insurance company or another payment towards a luxury car versus the one who loves being a doctor). Plus music students have the reputation on the whole for being pretty bright (which is backed up by research), so that helps, too.</p>

<p>An undergrad degree in physics isn’t going to get you much (in physics), most of the people i knew with BA’s in sciences like physics who didn’t go on ended up doing things away from physics, lots of them end up in IT (because physics these days requires significant computer skills) or other non physicals fields…so there is no guarantee there. Even tech fields, supposedly recession proof and brilliant future, may not be…</p>

<p>I don’t know much about the horn world and a lot of this depends on how good you are, how dedicated you are. You could do what a lot of people do, study physics and find music opportunities as a non major, find a good private teacher, do orchestra and chamber if available, and then see where you are when you graduate (having a non BM degree as an undergrad doesn’t necessarily stop you from going to grad school on the instrument)… Given you are already in school, staying with what you are doing and pursuing music diligently may be easier…trying to get into a BM program may be difficult at this point, especially since they generalyl don’t have that many horn players in programs (unless they are disciples of Mahler, man that guy loved horns <em>lol</em>). I think you have choices, what you do is up to you…</p>

<p>This is something we all face, students and parents, my S is going into performance, it is prob going to cost us near full ride for 4 years, as much as a decent house in many places (fortunately, he won’t come out with debt if the god smile upon us), so it is scary, but if it is his passion, and he thinks about what he wants to do, all I can do is support him. He thinks all the time about the alternatives if music doesn’t work out, about possible things to do, which is healthy, but it also isn’t paralyzing him:)</p>

7

<p>My two cents. My son just had his music performance audition at Kentucky. The percussion professor actually ENCOURAGED him to pursue a double major in something (very unusual as some of the top schools discourage it). I loved his perspective–he just said “you are young and have the time and energy to pursue all your interests–why limit yourself?”. I agree a double major is hard but when else will you get the chance to pursue your passions? What if you can’t pursue Grad in music because you did not give enough time and energy in undergrad? I say give it a try and drop it if you think you can’t handle it. If that happens consider some form of continued pursuit of music to keep yourself as sharp as possible for potential Grad school. Good luck!!</p>

8

<p>My son is in a similar situation except that he is a high school senior. He plans to double major in math and music, so part of his college search has involved finding schools where that is possible. At some Ivy and other top academic schools it is actually not possible to double major - at others it is basically not realistic, while at others it is quite possible. Since you are already at a great school and probably do not want to try to transfer, and you imply that a double major is not possible, then I would suggest a major and a minor. You should probably do some research on which would be better as the major - if you are looking for grad school, is it easier to get into a music school with only a music minor or easier to get into a graduate physics program with only a physics minor? Also, be realistic - how do your skills currently stack up with other horn players at your school? If you are not at the top tier, then you would probably not be accepted to a graduate performance program or able to get a university level teaching position. But no matter what, keep pursuing both areas at some level as long as they continue to be of interest.</p>

9

<p>Harvard does have joint concentrations (Harvard does not use the term “major”):</p>

<p>“Some students find that their interests are best accommodated by pursuing a joint concentration which combines two distinct concentrations. Unlike the systems of majors and minors or of “double majors” that exist at many other universities, a joint concentration integrates the two fields into a coherent plan of study, such that the two fields build on each other. Joint concentrations are generally honors programs, and they ordinarily culminate in an interdisciplinary senior thesis.”</p>

10

<p>Are your pursuing french horn now as a freshman, either in ensembles or private lessons? If not, you should at least pursue getting into a university ensemble if you can audition for it.</p>

<p>In the meantime, for your electives, try to pick music theory, music history, or other music-related courses. Music is not just about playing your instrument, but covers a much broader range of topics.</p>

<p>While you are taking these music-related electives, you can stay true to what you told your parents you are studying but stretch into a space for your interest. And who knows, maybe you will get your PhD in sound and acoustics?</p>

11

<p>Its all about the passion. If you love the music, and its all you can see yourself doing, even though you can do other things, then the money shouldn’t matter. We don’t play music to make money. If thats your biggest concern, then stick with the physics. But if you feel that what you contribute to a society as a musician, that what you have to say on the most significant, deepest level is important, then go with the music. I’ll say what my teacher says to our studio every year. </p>

<p>The world doesn’t need another violist. The world needs doctors, and teachers, and people who do good work. But we don’t care. We do this anyways because we can’t do anything else. So if you are going to be a violist, be a really good violist. But more importantly, be a great musician, because a musician can heal like a doctor, and educate like a teacher. </p>

<p>Substitute any instrument in for viola, and it still works. In the end, just go with your heart. You will know what the right choice is.</p>

12

<p>I’ve always told my students that if there was something else besides music that made them buzz then to go do that thing and leave music as an avocation not a vocation. It has to be the only thing that makes you go around or will never put up with all of the crap that goes with the business. I also tell them never to confuse the music business with making music as they are two different things. The music business is the entertainment business and always has been, since before Bach. For some people being a professional musician kills the love of music and that’s the worst thing ever. It’s much better to be a carpenter or an astronomer that LOVES music and loves to play music than it is to be someone hacking out music to make a living , or being a sour, crabby teacher. Music is one of life’s joys like love or painting or sailing and there should be no dishonor in NOT doing if for living but doing it out of love. I think the world does need another violist even if the violist is a doctor sometimes. I do it for living but my father did it after he got home from work and he never lost his joy for it even into his nineties. I should be so lucky. But security? No such thing anyway so why not do what you do best . Or maybe do all the things you do best.</p>