Searching for right approach to music major

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I have spent much time lurking around the music area boards and am so impressed with the wealth of knowledge so many of you readily share. So I'm hoping you will be able to help us with a direction for my son who is a HS junior. I apologize in advance because this is going to be a long post. I'd like to give you some detail about S so you can possibly narrow down your answers...</p>

<p>S has music in every bone of his body. Studies classical piano and has been working on an audition caliber repertoire for the past three years. He does very well but because he is so very busy with his other activities (see below) the pieces aren't quite as polished as I guessing they may need to be. (He plays most of them, by memory, quite beautifully but definitely has bobbles.) He as never done any competitions other than State Solo/Ensemble. One thing that I infer from this is that a performance major is not the right fit for him. Although I think he could polish his pieces to perfection, that has not proven to be a priority for him. (He practices about an hour a day.) He in addition to his classical lesson he also takes a jazz lesson for an hour a week. Again...he improvises quite well...but I don't think jazz is his thing either. </p>

<p>He plays incredibly well by ear. He just "gets" music. We have a very good praise team at our church. He plays the base guitar or piano regularly. All of the music is charts only. Key changes...no problem. The guitars throw on their capos but S just kind of figures it out in his head and keeps going. Played piano for a funeral this past weekend. It was Contemporary Christian. I guess he improvised for a couple of hours at the beginning as he didn't know he was going to have to play for so long until he got there. He has a part in the school musical (vocal) and is currently practicing every day after school. Has a garage band (pop/rock) that jams/rehearses every weekend for several hours and plays gigs around town. For that he plays keyboards. He is going to write a score for the Spring Play at his school...which is a drama. He did the same for the two fall plays. The fall plays he did on his keyboard so he didn't actually write anything down. I think he plans to write things down for the Spring play so he will have it for a composition portfolio if he decides to go that way. He was approached this morning at church by a woman that owns a dinner theater in town. She needs musicians for an upcoming Country Western show and wondered if he was interested. That would be bass guitar. The list goes on.</p>

<p>I go into this detail so you can try and get a picture of him... Kind of a "jack of all trades" musician. So what do we do with him??? At this point composition is starting to emerge as a possible track. But then I look at the applications and they talk about awards (none) and submission of scores. Are these primarily classical scores they are looking for? We've thought about Berklee but that is such an "all in" conservatory and we think we would like to get a more well rounded college education. He's thought about a double degree in Computer Science as well. Although I think he is right up there with his musical talent, I'm not sure how he would get that across in the structure of the auditions for most of the classical conservatories. And the reality is that he is living a very well rounded high school experience so he doesn't have the portfolio that I'm sure many have. (But he probably does have the experience - its just not all classical.) </p>

<p>Now I ramble with so many thoughts going through my fingers. Any insight or help any of you can offer would be appreciated. We struggle not only with possible schools (most seem totally classical or jazz...but he isn't really either one...He's just...music.) The schools that really focus on performance probably aren't the right fit, either. We're also stuck on the course of study. </p>

<p>I think I'll stop here...Thank you in advance for bearing with me through this post and any insight you might have.</p>

2

<p>Have you considered a BA degree in ‘just music?’ I’m not being facetious. He loves music and he could major in it in college, and follow all his various paths -without needing to have the resume of a performance major or composition major looking for a Bachelors of Music. A BA is perfect for the generalist - someone who loves music and would like to immerse oneself in it, but isn’t firmly dedicated to one pursuit. There are threads on here recommending schools for BA’s in music - there are many many good solid choices. In fact he might like to start looking at schools for other reasons - locale, size, student body, cost, academic compatibility - and then check out the music program. Once he narrows it down the folks on this site might have insight into a particular school’s program.</p>

3

<p>One of the questions he will be asked in many college essays is some variation on “where do you want to be in 10 years?” Once D worked that one out, it really helped her focus on what type of program she wanted to pursue, i.e. she’s interested in a mix of performance and studio teaching but NOT K-12 music education. Sounds like your S needs a program where he can keep the joy of music (in various forms) close to him, which might not be a conservatory setting but possibly a college with a strong music program.</p>

4

<p>A jack of all trades is a good descriptive given as background as you relate it.</p>

<p>Composition may be the area. Contemporary or commercial program? Faith based program, as there may be interest there it seems?</p>

<p>From memory, posters like Hunt, compmom, compclub, stringkey mom, perhaps one of team_mom’s brood, -Allmusic-, maybe SJTH have kids somewhat similar in multiple interests. Take a look by searching past posts by username. There may be some insights there.</p>

<p>Classical performance is probably not right, given his current practice habits. If he does pursue that and continues with not having both feet firmly planted there, he may have too many other musical diversions pulling at him. Even those with 150% committment find the going tough.</p>

<p>And there really is nothing wrong being a jack of all trades musically as so many are. It broadens opportunities, and can often be the most satisfying path personally and professionally.</p>

5

<p>It will be interesting to see if your son decides to power up his practice time. That might open up a lot of options for him. He reminds me of a young lady from D’s former H.S. She composed for the theater program a lot, played piano in jazz band, performed in musicals, sometimes as an actress/singer, other times as the pianist/composer/arranger. Not sure that she had any awards for composition, but she was one of the go-to musicians at the school for many projects. She ended up at Tufts/NEC for composition and some other degree. Another young lady the year before that also composed a lot of music for school projects, and ended up majoring in songwriting at Berklee. Another choice she had was full paid tuition at Bob Cole Conservatory at Long Beach State, also for composition. </p>

<p>It’s great that you’re starting now, and you might want to visit schools so that he and you can see what 's out there. Also, he might want to investigate summer programs right now–many priority deadlines are coming up very soon.</p>

6

<p>Another reason why a BA may be a good idea: it allows for flexibility. Since only 1/4 - 1/3 of your course load will be related to your major, you can pursue your double major in computer science much more easily.</p>

7

<p>I’ll pipe in on this one, because my son was the ultimate “jack-of-all-trades” musician in high school. He played in everything (jazz band, jazz combo, pit, wind ensemble, orchestra, honors chorus), had a garage band, took lessons in two instruments, completed a pre-college program with honors, was a musical director of a number of shows…and the list went on. He also did not practice either of his instruments the number of hours that many kids did, but literally played music all day long, every day.</p>

<p>He is in a double performance program now, and was the musical director of a show this fall. It almost killed him. Cut into his practice time too heavily, and he ended up getting sick at the end of it. He won’t be doing that again, although musical directing is something he loves. It just isn’t possible time-wise in his program.</p>

<p>Were he in a non-performance based program, or without a second degree, or whatnot, I think the chances for maintaining all his other interests, from singing to directing to being in a pit to playing in the wind ensemble, etc. might be possible. My son only wanted to pursue BM programs, so he had to give up a lot of other musical interests that he enjoys (even dabbling on third, fourth instruments). But the practice and performance demands are so great for a BM degree (not to mention a double) that it really does limit time to do the other kinds of musical things that many of these kids like to do. </p>

<p>So, if your son is one who really wants to keep up with all of his many interests, I would not recommend a conservatory or BM program. The BA route may be a much easier one for him to continue dabbling in a lot of different areas. The jack-of-all-trades types may be able to do that again after college, but the performance degree requires a level of focus that simply won’t allow the other interests.</p>

<p>Other people’s MMV.</p>

8

<p>I should add that my S has absolutely NO regrets about his choice to pursue this difficult path, despite having to give up other musical activities he enjoyed. I confess to missing those other parts of him, but understand that one can’t do all things at all times.</p>

<p>In your son’s (and your) pursuit of the right program, I think not wanting to have regrets is pretty key.</p>

9

<p>Hi there. I just made a really long post about my son’s program at University of Michigan School of Music here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/39267-sound-recording-music-industry-colleges.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/39267-sound-recording-music-industry-colleges.html&lt;/a&gt;
So I will not recreate all that. I will say that if your son is looking for a contemporary setting where he <em>could</em> still do a BMUS or instead a Bachelor of Musical Arts or a BFA (with a terminal MFA) he might want to take a look at U Mich’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance because there are so MANY avenues that can be pursued – and that the PAT A (BMus, meaning still instruction on an instrument) might be interesting to him because he can focus on electronic (via midi keyboard) composition, used his interest in computer science, and take theatre courses as well. Worth a peek at any rate.
Cheers,
K</p>

10

<p>My son was also an all music, all the time kind of kid though his primary focus in HS was classical violin. He’s now a 2nd year double degree student at Tufts/NEC studying composition with a heavy dose of violin on the side at NEC and Cognitive Brain Science @ Tufts. He’s also cramming in as much music at Tufts as he can. So he’s still and all music, all the time kind of kid.</p>

<p>Like Allmusic’s son, he bit off more than he could chew last semester, taking 26.5 credits at the two schools, most of it music. He also invested a huge amount of time working on a submission for a composition competition. He wound up getting sick in November, wore himself down and really struggled to complete all the work at the end of the semester. He arrived home exhausted. Nonetheless, he survived, did well in his classes, has no regrets but has definitely learned his lesson. I think it’s tough for such kids because they are so excited about all the musical opportunities that it is very hard for them to say no to anything. </p>

<p>He also was not a kid to engage in focused practice countless hours a day in HS, though he was playing an awful lot of music (pit, local orchestras, school orchestra, improv with friends, gigs, etc.) He attended summer programs before his 11th & 12th grade years. Those two summers were probably the only time he practiced the recommended number of hours for a conservatory aspirant. Nonetheless, he was admitted to conservatories in both violin and composition. While I obviously can’t comment on your son’s odds of success, I can definitely say that other students who have followed a path similar to your son’s have been admitted to high level conservatories. So I wouldn’t assume that your son doesn’t have a reasonable shot just because he’s not practicing 3-4 hours per day. </p>

<p>I’d encourage your son to visit some schools and think hard about what kind of program would interest him and make no assumptions about his prospects based on the number of hours he practices. That said, if he decides he does want to apply to conservatories, he would be wise to ramp up his practice time for the next year. On the composition front, I’d encourage him to keep writing and look for opportunities to have his music played. Keep an eye out for competitions as an award will certainly help but they are by no means the only path to success. </p>

<p>Best of luck to your son as he explores his musical path. I hope he finds lots of great options to pursue.</p>

11

<p>You son sounds a lot like mine, very musical, could probably play almost anything,etc…he still tries to be as broad as possible, but he has tracked into seriously pursuing the violin, and a lot of that fell away, as All Music wrote.</p>

<p>Without knowing your son or his ability/aptitude, it is hard to evaluate ‘real’ possibilities, about where his passion lies, but at least on the piano I would question his chances of doing a BM in classical music at a top level conservatory or college…not totally impossible, nothing is, but I have seen the level of piano at the pre college level, and it is already staggeringly high, and even for many of those kids it is hard to get into the really top programs, there is just so much competition (violin is much the same way, if not worse).There are times and places where someone who is incredibly musical, a ‘diamond in the rought’ gets into a high level program, but the odds are pretty slim.</p>

<p>On the other hand, if he isn’t planning on becoming the next Lang Lang or Emanual Ax, he might be able to go for performance at a different type of musical school/conservatory, do the BM but with the eye of doing more general music. As All music said, though, BM degrees seem to be pretty intense, so it may not be easy to do the other things he likes to do. On the other hand, he could get a BM, and then branch out, maybe do session work/arranging, the traditional route for pianists isn’t the only one (it is more well defined, but your son may end up as a hot producer/arranger/writer/performer, someone like Quincy Jones. </p>

<p>I think the BA would give him more flexibility if he wanted to do other things in college, like double majoring as others have written (with much more knowledge then I have, for sure).</p>

<p>In the end the one thing I will tell you is that no path is cut in stone, that especially these days a lot of music is coming down to individual paths, even in the classical world, this isn’t 60 years ago, musicians are finding their greatest skill might be in being able to adjust and be flexible…it sounds like your son already has that part down, which puts him light years ahead of the students and teachers I see who still pretend it is 1940 or something like that, that there is this track or that track,that isn’t necessarily the world out there:)</p>

12

<p>@Sopranomom92</p>

<p>I think my son may know your daughter’s friend from HS who is now at Tufts/NEC if she just started this year. He mentored all the incoming DD students this fall and has gotten to know them all well. I believe I had the privilege of seeing/hearing her play piano on one of my son’s compositions at the double degree concert in November. Small world!</p>

13

<p>@rlmcmillan
Yes, she started this year and she’s from socal. Small world indeed!</p>

14

<p>Very small world! In addition to knowing (and playing) with a friend of your daughter’s, DS also used to compose (a decade ago in L.A.) with a young man who now studies composition at Yale along side Hunt’s son. Too funny!</p>

15

<p>Thanks so much to all of you that have posted. I have read every post several times and have given every point much consideration. </p>

<p>Is it fair to say that the kids that make it into the top level conservatory play their repertoires flawlessly? I’m quite certain that isn’t for him but am curious about that… </p>

<p>I think he might like the approach of a BA in music. I need to go to the music major area and see if I can ferret out some schools to look at in that arena. Maybe we should look for the schools that aren’t the top performance conservatories but rather schools that have really solid/broad music programs. </p>

<p>But please keep those ideas coming. I don’t feel quite so overwhelmed as I read about the experiences of some of the rest of you.</p>

16

<p>PPM-
At the top level conservatory level, I would have to answer your question about playing repertoire flawlessly (the applicants) as yes and yes again. I am sure there are cases where someone isn’t quite flawless, but through some series of circumstances, had drawn the eye of a teacher (at a master class, summer program, etc) or had contact through their teacher with someone at the program, and it gained them admittance, but that is what I would suspect is on the rare side. One thing I am certain of, the level of playing has risen tremendously in the past 15 or 20 years, 20 years ago a piano student with potential probably could get into a high level program based on that, today the kids coming into these programs seem to be already playing at a high college level, or what was considered a high college level.Back then, the old story about a child ‘doing well’ on piano, and then ‘getting serious’ in college/conservatory, was not uncommon, today, I would doubt that from what I have seen. Especially with the incredible rise of players from Asia (or Asian Americans), many of whom ‘get serious’ quite early, are practicing long hours from a young age, the bar has been raised to incredible heights (especially so on the ‘big three’ instruments, in terms of both popularity and in terms of being solo instruments), the violin, cello and piano (and the level has been raised across the board with instruments, same thing is happening or starting to happen in the other instruments). </p>

<p>From the description I have been given, by high level teachers on both piano and violin, the teachers at the high level programs expect the basic reportoire to be run through and technically polished before admittance, so they can spend the time in college working on polishing further, not the basics of the repertoire. That level will vary between teacher to teacher, school to school, so even that depends, but seeing what I do at the pre college level, I don’t see anything that makes me think differently.</p>

17

<p>I’d suggest that you look at the specific requirements in the BA programs at the colleges that interest your son (and where he has the academic record to be admitted). Most music BA programs involve mainly theory and music history - it is an academic degree - though there is a performance component, and most are classical (or ethno) music-based. He might just go to a college and major in his academic subject and take whatever courses he likes in music; in larger schools, especially, non-majors can perform in orchestras, etc., and there are extracurricular musical activities that he could participate in.
Practicing only an hour a day on piano is unlikely to suffice for preparing for auditions - or even for preparing to make the screening tapes - for a top conservatory. There’s a lot of competition out there! He might apply to summer festivals where he could test the level of his commitment and interest.</p>

18

<p>I second Mamenyu’s suggestion of applying for an auditioned summer program. It is a good way to check both your son’s commitment and his level as compared to other students in his age cohort. There are lots and lots of programs out there of varying lengths and at various price levels. </p>

<p>DS, who adores chamber music, attended Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival in Burlington, VT the summer before his senior year. For those 4 weeks he did, in fact, do the requisite 4 hours of focused practice each day in addition to practicing with his chamber group, participating in master classes, attending concerts etc. The summer before his junior year he participated in our state’s Governor’s School in instrumental music. While he played lots of interesting 20th century music, studied some theory and improvised quite a bit, he did not have a lot of time for focused solo practice. </p>

<p>When selecting a summer program, make sure you take a good look at how the program is structured. Will there be adequate time for solo practice or is the majority of his day taken up with orchestra rehearsal? Is anyone available to coach him through his audition repertoire, etc?</p>

19

<p>Sounds like you have a great son there, mom. My two cents here is that a large university with a vibrant music program, especially a university with a conservatory, might be the right place. And if it works for your son, larger may be better. A place with 20,000 students, graduate programs, and a varied music scene might be right for him to latch onto something that really interests him.</p>

<p>I also second the BA music suggestion. A great music education with varied emphasis, including an education class or two, would also be a great set-up for graduate work in a more concentrated area of study.</p>

<p>As far as conservatory level is concerned, and this is of course without hearing your son play, the conservatory level pianists are amazing musicians with a level of technical proficiency that is probably impossible to achieve in one hour per day. Whenever I go to a competition and hear the non-winners, I an awed at how good they are. If your son is interested in that kind of education, I’m guessing there’s a lot of work to do there.</p>

20

<p>Has your son visited any conservatories or colleges yet? I would first suggest some visits, to free-standing conservatories as well as BM and BA music programs on campuses, and also non-music BA or BS programs where musical activities are available to non-majors. Perhaps, if he sort of surveys the choices in person, some clarity will emerge.</p>

<p>He also might want to think about musical opportunities in the surrounding town or city.</p>

<p>Sometimes, kids who are involved in so many musical directions, settle into one or two at some point, kind of naturally. It is too bad that the timetable for conservatory-level proficiency starts so early. It seems as if a college environment might be the best place for our son’s interests to sort of progress and consolidate- but big changes can still occur in the next year and a half. </p>

<p>Our daughter plays classical guitar and composes. She also had a variety of musical experiences during high school, which were wonderful, and also did a lot of theater. She wisely applied to two colleges as well as several conservatories. During the month of April, after acceptances came in, she struggled mightily with where to go. The purist draw of conservatories was very strong. Money was also an issue: she got some merit aid at conservatories, but the college she went to had amazing financial aid.</p>

<p>She visited classes, met with teachers, looked at courses, did a lot of thinking, and chose the college. She has absolutely loved her music courses there. She does love academic music, and really enjoys studying theory, ethnomusicology, studying scores from 20th century composers and so on. She does guitar and composition outside of school, privately which is still more affordable than the conservatory. She has also enjoyed taking literature and art courses that relate to the music she most enjoys. </p>

<p>Majoring in computer science, for a BS, is very all-absorbing and it would be hard to double major, I would think, but maybe it is doable in some schools. Our son was a computer science major and gave up theater. However, I will say, that his current boss at work is getting an MM!</p>

<p>Anyway, I would suggest layered options, allowing for lots of change that can happen in the next year and a half. He can apply to a couple of schools for each option, even: BM. double major, BA w/music major, BA or BS with non-music major.</p>

<p>He should look carefully at the schools’ music courses and organizations. Honestly, our daughter was only really happy with the music offerings at this one school, and it is lucky she got in. One of her criteria was to be left alone as much as possible for her composing. She likes the rigor, depth and breadth of offerings, but there is no required sequence for composition, and she is not required to do a lot of little composition exercises she likes to work on long pieces over long periods of time, on her own.</p>

<p>Your son may have similar quirks and preferences. It sounds like he does not like to be boxed in too much either. He sounds like a great kid and I hope he continues to have a lot of fun with his music, along with his hard work. It sounds like he has had a great high school experience and with that kind of energy, I have a feeling that whatever he chooses, will work out.</p>