<p>I'm a freshman music major at SUNY Fredonia. All my life I have been very involved with music. I never even considered pursuing a career in any other field. However, now that I am here in college studying music, I feel like this is not the path for me. I absolutely love music and love playing the clarinet and piano, but I cannot say that I love practicing 4+ hours a day. Now that I'm here and taking lessons, preparing for juries, taking practically all music classes, etc. I just don't think that I have the drive to do this for a living. I mean, right now my favorite class is my only non-music class - biology. I'd rather be studying from my biology text book, writing essays, and taking written tests, rather than practicing my instrument, doing music theory, and preparing for singing exams and juries. I feel like this might be an indication that I'm not cut out to be a music major. In addition, I have gone to several lectures in which professional musicians talked to us about what it's like to be a professional musician. They told us how they never know when their next paycheck is going to come, or for how much, and how they can have a job playing for a show one day, and then the show is cancelled the next day and they're unemployed. I do not want to have such an unpredictable job. The thing is, I haven't told my parents about this yet. I want to transfer to SUNY Oswego. They have a great broadcasting/communications program, as well as a great business program, and I want to change my major to broadcasting and mass communications and do the MBA track that would allow me to get my masters in business administration in 5 years. My parents know I want to transfer, but I haven't told them about switching my major yet. I want to transfer next semester which they aren't happy about. They're very against quitting things half way through, and so me changing my major in addition to transferring within my first year of college I feel is going to overwhelm them. I don't know how to tell my parents all of this without them flipping out. I feel like they're going to tell me to stop being lazy and that I knew I would have to practice a lot and that I can't back out now. I also feel like they're going to make me stay with music for at least the year, but I honestly don't think I can handle it. What should I do? Should I just stick with music for the year, or is it better to change majors earlier so that I can start earning credits towards my new degree? Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>You say you like your biology class but then you talk about wanting to major in communication?</p>
<p>I agree that it sounds like music isn’t for you. Does Fredonia have mass comm classes you can take in the spring semester that you could try out before you transfer?</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s any shame in changing majors. I was just talking to my d (a freshman French Horn player/ music ed major) about this over the weekend. One of the girls in her horn studio dropped her music major this week. It’s not uncommon (when I was in music school, one of my friends dropped to switch to pre med and is now a fairly prominent vocal specialist/physician). </p>
<p>I think sometimes as music majors (and their parents) we think it’s odd that so many folks switch, but I think part of it is that music is one of the few majors where you HAVE to declare as a freshman since there are so many required classes. Lots of kids think they’re going in one direction when they start school, but end up going in a different direction. We just don’t notice it as much because they are primarily taking gen eds those first few years.</p>
<p>My advice is…if your heart isn’t in it, music is a tough road to hoe!</p>
<p>Well the reason I like biology is because I don’t have to sing, practice an instrument, etc. I’d rather go to a lecture hall, take notes, and things like that. And Fredonia does have a communications program, but it’s not as good or as well known as Oswego’s. But there are a lot of reasons why I want to transfer to Oswego, apart from their communications program.</p>
<p>And thank you so much for the advice azcatz! I just feel like I’m letting my parents and all of my music teachers down. I also feel really guilty, like I’ve just wasted my parent’s money on private lessons and instruments over the past several years for nothing now.</p>
<p>It is normal to question your choice of major as a freshman that is what college is all about. You are supposed to explore different areas. Fortunately, you are at a college and not a conservatory! Don’t feel bad about wanting to change majors. My older son changed his major 3 times and still graduated on time. You should finish out the academic year at Fredonia and take as many gen ed classes as possible. Since you are looking at another SUNY school, Oswego should count all the gen eds towards their program. Communications is not a "safe " major for future employment either. One college we visited made all communications majors double major to increase their prospects for employment after graduation.</p>
<p>Do you think I should switch my major now, or wait until the end of the semester? I’m really stressed about singing exams, juries, lessons, etc. I know that I want to switch my major at least before the end of the year.</p>
<p>Do you know of any major related reasons for declaring a new major now? For example, the new major requires courses that are only open to students in that major. Otherwise, you can take your time and drop later. A music major is very stressful especially the first and second year. I remember many phone calls from my son worrying that he was absolutely failing etc… He didn’t and ended up on the President’s list. Just try to get the best grades you can without making yourself ill. Try to “triage” the courses. Put more time into the classes with the highest credit hours. Unfortunately, music schools tend to fill your schedule up with many 1/2 and 1 credit hour courses and these courses often assign more work than a 3 or 4 credit hour course. Figure out which courses are an easier “A” and work to get an “A” in those.
You will still need to go through the juries, etc this semester. Do what your studio teacher recommends and I’m sure you’ll pass with flying colors. Your studio teacher would not have accepted you if he/she thought you would not be able to perform at a college level. Most studio teachers want their own students to succeed. Good luck and remember you learn from all experiences.</p>
<p>The real question is do you hate practicing and such for real,or are you overwhelmed? It is easy to feel like you don’t want to do it cause it is such a shock,etc…you are in not even 2 months at this point,so it may be early. Nice part is being at a college you could drop the music major and take core classes and figure out what you want to do. One warning,academics can appear easier,but later one when you have a major you will find it hectic, too.</p>
<p>One note,you could still do music as a non major,take lessons,etc,so you don’t have to give it up entirely.</p>
<p>This is why a lot of people say you have to really be passionate about music to try and go into it, because there is no dawdling with it,and it only gets harder in the real world:).</p>
<p>Wish you luck,I would talk to a counselor at the school (academic,not talking therapeutic), and see what your options are.</p>
<p>I know I’m late to the game here. Im having the same dilemma as you… at the same school! I want to switch to business administration concentrated in finance although it doesn’t seem like much fun its a great field to get into because of so many opportunities. Ive been thinking out of all the music education students here theres more students then there are schools on long island alone (where I’m from). So i feel the same way as you I want a secure future not a limited one. Being here only studying music made me realize the same as you. I plan on minoring since I’m almost through a full year of it and i don’t want to give it up entirely. The choice is ours to make. Its our future not our parents, siblings, friends, or girlfriends/boyfriends. If you’ve made up your mind please fill me in I’m curious on your decision and why because I’m in the exact same boat right now…</p>
<p>If you don’t have the passion and aren’t willing to put in the work in the practice room, then by all means, do something else. You’re not going to succeed without the practice, so that’s self limiting, and you know that. This is YOUR life, not your parents, not your friends, not your teachers, so you have to do what makes you happy and what feels right inside. Wishing the best of luck to both of you!</p>
<p>Only you can know if you are simply overwhelmed, or didnt realize what going into music meant…there is nothing wrong with changing your major, in most schools you don’t have to declare until end of Sophomore year, in part because they know kids change their minds. It is why the line about if you see yourself doing something besides music, it is better to do that other thing, because it is so hard and demanding. I had one parent (not on CC), tell me how kids majoring in music performance “aren’t really in college”, how her son was so overloaded , how he had writing to do and studying and such…meanwhile, the kid of weekends went skiing, visited friends, and meanwhile most music students practice hours a day 7 days a week, not to mention rehearsals and such the fit in on ‘off time’…I also told her i would love to put her son in a music theory class and see how ‘easy’ it is and so forth <em>shaking head</em>…it is different than academic studies, but in some ways is more difficult, among which, with academic classes it is pretty linear, if you put the time in, you study, figure out what the prof wants, you get a good grade, whereas with music, you fight the good fight and don’t really know what the outcome is, since it is both subjective and full of all kinds of serendipity…If you seriously are finding you don’t want to do music, then by all means find another passion. I also suspect your parents, given the ambiguity many feel about music as a career, will not be all that upset if you change your mind…</p>
<p>One note, for the person who said they were majoring in Business Admin/Finance looking for security, the Business Admin track/MBA grad track is not what it once was, kids flooded into Business Admin and Finance, thinking it was the golden road, and as a result it doesn’t carry the weight it once did with employers, many of them are looking for people who don’t fit the mould, it is like all those kids who went to law school then figured out there is a glut of them…if you are going to major in business admin, you would be a lot better looking at financial engineering or the tech aspects of Business Admin, finance majors are literally out there in hordes…</p>
<p>Just because you major in music, it doesn’t mean that music has to be your career. My background is business and engineering. My son is a music major (sound recording). What I see from music majors are skills that businesses want. First there is the dedication to tasks (one would call this drive). Secondly, there is collaboration. I see it in his ensembles. This is not to say that you shouldn’t consider other directions. It is more to say look at the positive. Besides, you can always get a music degree and follow it up with an MBA.</p>