Should I or Should I Not? HELP

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I am currently a junior in my second semester in high school. I love music passionately and have never taken any lessons, but I have the gift of playing almost anything that I can pick up. I would love to be a music producer, and I have taught myself how to read music. I know how competitive jobs for a music major are, and I also know that life in a music career can be very low-income and hard. Should I major in it? </p>

<p>Also, I am planning to double major. If I chose music, I will double major in music and film studies/cinematography. If I don't chose music, I will major in mathematics and/or minor/double major with music technology/something else like engineering. </p>

<p>Being able to financially support myself on my own is very important to me. I love music and I will always have music in my life. I want to be surrounded by musical people and go to plenty of festivals. I understand that I can do that even if I major in something else. I like mathematics and am good at it, but I am not passionate about it. I understand that mathematics majors make a lot more money than music majors if they work hard enough. I also know that given the right opportunities, music majors can fulfill a life of their dreams. I don't want to "make it" and become famous or anything. I just want to do what I love and be financially stable. </p>

<p>I am a female. </p>

<p>PLEASE HELP. Any opinions and/or advice will be greatly appreciated. This is what I debate with myself about when I think of my future.</p>

2

<p>There is no need to decide yet what you want your major to be. Pick a college or university that will give you the chance to try out lots of different courses and areas of interest. Most schools do not require you to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year. You can take music classes, math, film, economics, audio engineering… Certainly if you know for sure you wish to be an engineer, that is a more technical track and you’d have to be sure to fulfill the requirements for the major starting freshman year.</p>

3

<p>I always plan very far ahead. I like to have an idea of what I want early on, but thank you for the advice! If accepted to GA Tech and attend, I understand that they do not offer classes in film and such, so I’d to have an idea of what my major should be. </p>

<p>Bump</p>

4

<p>If you’re unsure of the direction you wish to follow - I would not advise only applying to Tech schools, as that will limit your choices in the future. Not to say you shouldn’t apply to Georgia Tech - but be sure to apply to colleges that do offer music and film, as well - so that over a year from now you’ll have lots of choices, even if you’ve changed your mind a dozen times before then.</p>

5

<p>I’m not at all sure that “mathematics majors make a lot more money than music majors”. An undergrad degree in math is not worth much- you have to pursue a masters and probably a PhD and choose a career path that’s in demand.
There are pluses and minuses to everything…</p>

6

<p>I would look hard at what you wanted to do in music. I don’t know a great deal about music technology or production, but I seem to recall seeing something from NYU about their music technology major (I am alumni from the dark ages of the Reagan years <em>lol</em>), and it wasn’t just something you declared a major in, like with music performance I think you have to go in there already having some chops…so music production or music technology may not be something you can easily decide to do once you are in school, hence the research. </p>

<p>Majoring in music has many different facets to it. It doesn’t sound like you are heading for a performance degree, which in general you audition into. There is academic music, which usually means majoring in things like music history/musicology, ethno-musicology, theory and so forth, which you probably could transfer into. Music technology and production from what I know may not be so easy, and given the broad nature of music I don’t think you can decide what to do until you research what it means…almost all branches of music have one thing in common, they all can be difficult to make careers in, in different ways. Academic music normally means going for a PHd and teaching or curating a music program or some such; Production and technology means trying to get a foothold in an industry that is rapidly changing and the model is turning upside down; performers, well, let’s just say it isn’t easy. </p>

<p>Also, double majoring might sound like it is ideal, getting a degree in something ‘real’ like let’s say engineering or comp sci,as a back up to the music degree, but many music programs, I suspect tech and production for example, are pretty intense and it may not be possible to do that. As others have said, whatever degree you do, it is still a college degree, and you may find that degree in music tech lands you a job as a pretty well paid software designer or something:). </p>

<p>As far as math goes, most of the applied fields in math take a lot of extra degrees, whether it is actuarial science, or what a lot of math majors try to head into, financial engineering (basically quant work, which if you get into it, can be quite lucrative, but it isn’t easy). </p>

<p>The key is to look inside yourself and see what you really want to do, and find out what is required to do it. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to major in music to have it in your life, you could pursue playing an instrument in college for the love of it, and maybe play as an amateur when you get out, just one possible alternative;)</p>

7

<p>If music is your passion, if you cannot imagine doing anything else with your life, go for it. But find a college that will fit you as a person as well as fit your goals.
If music is your passion, but you could see yourself doing other things with music being something you do anyway - on the side, but part of everything you do – you should pursue the path that you see for yourself.
One thing my children have both done (as I did when I was your age) was to take the Strong-Interest inventory and the Meyer-Briggs test. These two tests are often given together and generally free of charge at a local college. Our local community college’s career center gave them for free to anyone in the area who wanted. Check with your high school guidance counselor or a local college’s career center to see if you can take them. These tests, while not a final “say” on what you should choose, do give you an idea of what careers and majors fit your strengths, your interests, and your personality.
You have plenty of time, but you are wise to begin your search now.</p>

8

<p>It sounds like you are somebody with an interest in art and mathematics. That is not an unusual combination. I personally would discourage you from over thinking a career based on jobs and financial rewards. And instead I would focus on what you are passionate about and what you enjoy. There are a huge range of jobs and majors that touch upon the things you say you are interested in. The key is to start exploring. If you have not ever taken formal music lessons, then maybe you should try them and see what it is like. If you can see about a summer internship working for a theater or production company. Watch movies about the music and film industry (there is a great movie about Phillip Glass) and tons of movies about various rock bands. Watch “making of ……” films to get a sense of what goes on in the production of films and all the various opportunities that there are if you were to go in that direction. Finally pick a college that will allow you to continue to explore. There are fields and careers that you probably are not even aware of. So don’t close any doors and don’t fell like you have to choose. You might find that you take a biology or chemistry class or a philosophy class or an art class and suddenly your vision for your future will change. You might decide, as many with your strengths do, that you love working with computers and programming. There are thousands of directions for you to pursue, but you will only find out which one is right by moving forward and taking risks and seeing what feels right and what does not.</p>

<p>Look for a college that will support this exploration. Avoid colleges that require you to declare your major early on. Look for colleges that have good mentoring and guidance from faculty. Find one where you feel you connect with the other students and that is in a location that you can tolerate (city or country or suburb)</p>

<p>Mathematics is a challenging major. Math PhD programs are harder to get into than medical school because there are a limited number of programs. College mathematics is quite different from high school mathematics and many students who think they like math decide it is not for them after one semester of analysis.</p>

9

<p>Welcome! Here is a good essay on the different ways to study music. (If you want to combine music, which is an intense major, with something else, especially another intense major, you might want to consider a double degree rather than a double major.)
[Double</a> Degrees | Peabody Conservatory](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html]Double”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html)</p>

<p>Overplanning your future can actually interfere with opportunities. People here are recommending that you remain open to some exploration, because your path so far does not provide a clear direction and your plans are based on dreams, but not necessarily, as yet, actual experience. Does that make sense?</p>

<p>It would be great if you could try some things out in the next 18 months, to help make your decisions more reality-based. For instance. you mention that you taught yourself to read music. This is a very rudimentary requirement to study music at the most basic level. Why don’t you try taking a theory class, because no matter what, the study of music will involve theory (and aural skills, music history, composition, ethnomusicology, technology). See how you like it.</p>

<p>What instrument is it that you play when you can play anything you can pick up? Do you play in a school band or orchestra at all? What musical experiences have you had, or do you mainly play around the house or with friends? What kind of music do you like to play? Try some formal lessons on that instrument. Majoring in music does not have to involve an instrument, believe it or not, at least for some BA programs, but if you want to do performance, you need to prepare more than you have. Many students on this site have spent years taking lessons, practicing and performing. That’s not to say that your talent isn’t important, but talent needs a lot of hard work to develop.</p>

<p>Your mention both production and film work. Have you done either of these? Maybe try to find some volunteer work or take a class in these areas. You can wait to do this at college, but if you are really a planner as you say, then try them out during high school to guide your choices.</p>

<p>Engineering, math and computer science are other areas you have mentioned. You can certainly choose schools that offer programs in these as well as musical opportunities, even a double major or degree, and then explore and decide once on campus. It is true that it is easier to decide on schools if you know exactly what you want to do, but it is fine to be undecided, and also many many students who think they know exactly what they want to do, end up changing their minds once at college.</p>

<p>Do you want a BM degree if you do music? It sounds like you don’t, unless it is combined with a BA in something else. I don’t think a conservatory would necessarily be the best place for you. So maybe look at universities with good music programs and good math and engineering, and/or the option of a double degree. Bard, for instance.</p>

<p>Maybe you want to check the music production courses, but you can also gain skills through interning if you don’t study production formally. Be aware that there are many intersections these days in studying music, computer science, math and engineering: look at Brown’s music major for instance: one of the three strands is music technology. Other schools with production/technology or film might be Hartt at U. of Hartford, Cal Arts, North Carolina School of the Arts, USC in CA (grad level though), U. of Michigan, UMass Lowell, Northeastern, NYU. Emerson in Boston is great for film. Many state colleges and universities will offer what you want I think.</p>

<p>Bottom line: try to gain a little more experience in whatever areas interest you. However, at the same time, apply to a range of schools that offer different ways to achieve the same of different goals so that your decisions can be made in late senior year. Include some schools with broad choices possible. Lots can happen in the next year and a half.</p>

<p>Music is very competitive, at least in conservatories and music schools. You can study music, combine it with something else, or continue to do music as an extracurricular on or off campus. Work hard at what you love while still in high school and things will become clearer. Don’t force it: let your interests develop naturally and don’t worry too much yet about income. College majors often don’t match careers anyway.</p>

10

<p>Thank for the great advice! </p>

<p>I have edited multiple films as research projects and edited/produced music. I live in South Georgia where there are hardly any opportunities to explore my passion outside of the internet. Due to the fact that I live in the South, I will have to attend a college in the southeast, according to my worried mother, haha. Initially, my dream school was NYU, but after my mother’s multiple breakdowns and heartfelt talks, I decided it would be best if I let that dream die down. I am currently really interested in Vanderbilt, due to the fact that they offer both music and sciences. </p>

<p>Again, thank you so much for the advice. It really does help! </p>

<p>Bump</p>

11

<p>There are a number of Southeastern colleges with good music programs and good academics. I’m not as familiar with them as other posters but just off the top of my head why don’t you look into The University of South Carolina? There is a poster on the Music Major forum whose son is studying music there. Also Rhodes College in Memphis. And Brevard College in North Carolina. University of Kentucky. Loyola University of New Orleans. Emory University. Middle Tennessee State. There are so many good schools out there. Lots of choices, and lots for you to explore.</p>

<p>Be sure to look at programs that offer BA’s in music, or non-auditioned programs as you will not be applying on an instrument. And if you’re interested in producing more commercial contemporary music, rather than classical, be sure to see if there are courses and paths offered in that direction.</p>

12

<p>Aside from actually applying, looking at the majors and curricula at various schools may help you focus in your last year and a half of high school, and in your activities outside of school. For instance, you might want to build a repertoire or portfolio.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt has a great conservatory, but admissions is by audition and very competitive for the Blair School of Music. [Applying</a> to Blair | Admissions Overview | Blair School of Music | Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://blair.vanderbilt.edu/admissions/apply.php]Applying”>Admissions | Blair School of Music | Vanderbilt University)</p>

<p>Belmont in Nashville, and the Frost School in Miami, are often suggested for students with an interest in contemporary music. But quite competitive for the conservatories.</p>

<p>North Carolina School of the Arts has both music (auditions) and film studies.</p>

<p>Maybe better options:
Goucher in Baltimore is a liberal arts college that is quite artsy.
Emory is a great school, has a BA in music [College</a> - Music Department of Emory University Homepage](<a href=“http://music.emory.edu/home/]College”>Department of Music).
Eckerd in Florida [Eckerd</a> College | Welcome to Music](<a href=“http://www.eckerd.edu/academics/music/]Eckerd”>http://www.eckerd.edu/academics/music/)
Tulane in New Orleans.
Davidson in North Carolina is a selective, top notch school with music.
Any state university would probably have programs that cover all of your interests.</p>

<p>We don’t know what your academics are like. Your music background is not deep, and many music programs and majors are classical, with theory, history, composition, ethnomusicology and technology. We don’t know if you play jazz, pop, classical, or what your musical interests really are. So the above are just shots in the dark.</p>

<p>The main thing to understand is that you don’t have to be quite so vocational in your thinking as yet. The goal of college has certainly changed in recent years (even decades) and it is true that many attend in order to get started on a specific career. But it is still true that many jobs simply ask for a bachelor’s to show that the applicant has discipline, perseverance, and skill in reading, writing and other areas that might be needed. Much of training for actual jobs happens on the job. With a music major, you have access to any job open to anyone with a bachelor’s. And you have access to grad, med, law or business school. Many music majors end up as MD’s, more than any other major in fact, according to a statistic I found a few years ago.</p>

<p>Your music background so far would not get you into a competitive, auditioned program, it would seem. I think your best bet is to attend a school with a good music department with classes and extracurriculars open to both majors and non-majors in music. You can also look at offerings in film production and editing, music technology (offered by many music departments now) and math. Go with an open mind and use the next year and a half to explore your interests further. Don’t plan too much and enjoy!</p>

13

<p>Thank you! </p>

<p>I am a three year All-State chorus member, an honor chorus participant, a premiere chorus group member, a one-act cast and crew member, and a 3 year musical theater student. Additionally, I am a 5 years band student, 3 years drumline, 1 year solo snare, band vp, jazz band guitarist, jazz band drummer, and pep band MVP.
Straight A for two years and in top 10% of my class, all honors with a 3.9 GPA. </p>

<p>I really appreciate the advice. It really does help me! Thanks everyone!</p>

14

<p>This was the info in your first post:
“I am currently a junior in my second semester in high school. I love music passionately and have never taken any lessons, but I have the gift of playing almost anything that I can pick up. I would love to be a music producer, and I have taught myself how to read music.”</p>

<p>It would seem that you are, um, a modest person! I think that all the activities you now describe really help fill out the picture. The added information will be helpful so people can suggest more schools, if you are still checking in :)</p>

<p>So now it might make a difference what the financial picture is (I know that can be private). It is possible that you could apply to conservatories, including some that offer music, musical theater and drama. You are very multi-faceted and there are schools that are good for that too (I mentioned Bennington and Sarah Lawrence on another thread, though math there would not be as strong in some places, you could probably combine many interests). Also, has teaching ever interested you (music ed)?</p>

15

<p>It sounds like a college that offers Music and Entertainment Business would fit be a good fit for you. Belmont has Mike Curb School of Music which offers Entertainment Industry Studies, Songwriting, Music Business, and they offer Media Studies as well. The also have musical theatre and performance. NYU Tisch Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music has a really great program combining professional business and artistic training. Berklee in Boston has a lot of great programs as well, minus the film studies which you can take through the ProArts Consortium at MassArt or other. (There are 6 member schools where they have inter-institutional programs. This program allows you to take classes that Berklee doesn’t offer at other schools while applying it to your degree.) There is definitely a way to pursue music and still make a great living! You sound really talented, smart, and motivated, and you will be successful with that great attitude. Don’t listen to people who say there is no money in music. My husband and I are both professional musicians and my son is attending Berklee in the fall for songwriting and his twin sister is going to Tisch for Musical Theatre. There is a huge entertainment industry and lots of people are successful, especially those who are smart enough to support their performance and artistic goals with production skills and business
knowledge. Good luck and go for it!!!</p>

16

<p>MusicGeek15, do you have any idea if you’d be eligible for need-based aid? If so, your options might be a wee bit broader than your mom is thinking.</p>

<p>Your profile, stats and experience might make you a decent candidate for the University of Michigan’s PAT (performing arts technology) curriculum C (Multimedia, includes film/image work) for example. It combines sound production, composition, scoring, etc. My son started out as a dual degree in film, but later consolidated because the PAT program had plenty of film production work without needing to pursue the second degree. Check it out at [UM</a> School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Department of Performing Arts Technology - Degree Programs](<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/pat/programs.htm]UM”>http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/pat/programs.htm)</p>

<p>You will want to note the portfolio requirements, which are pretty rigorous. Competition is stiff in the handful of top programs in this area. Strong math scores will not only help, but are actually required ;)</p>

<p>Clive Davis is another great program. However, your mom is likely correct in assessing that it might be fiscally not-viable…their aid is often in the form of “parent loans” which is not really aid :wink: Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt ;)</p>

<p>UMich is a little less expensive than NYU (which isn’t saying much) and now an then covers a high need student from Out of State. But if you are eligible for need-based-aid, you will do best at schools that meet full need. Vanderbilt, I believe, is one. Oberlin is another. </p>

<p>One school well known for its recording program is Indiana U’s Jacobs Recording Arts, a BS. With your stats, if they still have automatic scholarships, you may fare well there economically. It too is a competitive program reliant on portfolio. But it’s OOS tuition at about 35k is at least 10k cheaper than UMich and almost 20 cheaper than NYU. So with Merit aid, it might end up comparable to an in-state school for you.</p>

<p>I’m guessing you’re probably aware that in terms of gender, you’d be a minority in the programs I’ve referred to. The former head of (and heart and soul) of the Michigan PAT program wrote extensively about the need to attract women to the field. She’s a dean at RPI now…but the philosophy of balancing the gender ratio in the industry remains ;)</p>

<p>I realize that everyone is telling you to take your time and explore. That is certainly one approach, but in this case I am giving you very different advice. If you feel strongly passionate about this field and want to take a shot at the most competitive programs, GET PRODUCING YOUR PORTFOLIO NOW, and take whatever online courses you need to master basic tech mixing.
Best wishes in your journey.</p>

17

<p>I agree with Kmcmom13, Michigan sounds like it might be a good fit, but the portfolio requirements require planning…as do many other schools. Some music schools require the portfolio BEFORE the application deadline. Both Peabody and Carnegie Mellon ask that you submit the portfolio earlier than the application (at least for music technology). You have time, but it is wonderful that you are starting to research now and I hope you can glean a lot of information on this site (I certainly have).</p>

18

<p>I’m afraid that my earlier advice was based on the original post, which Music Geek has since expanded upon. At that point, I stopped giving advice in deference to those who know more about this area! :)</p>

<p>How about Hartt at U. Of Hartford? UMass Lowell? Northeastern? I don’t really know but just throwing out some that are on the east coast.</p>

<p>Music geek, kmcmom knows a lot about music production and technology and is a great resource.</p>

19

<p>I would love University of Michigan, but my mom doesn’t want me to go out of the Southeast. She is a worry bug and I’m the baby of two siblings. I would love to personally talk to the head of Michigan’s PAT program for more information. I am really passionate about music and production, whether in film or music. Thank you to everyone who is giving great advice!!! I need all of the information I can possibly get. </p>

<p>Bump</p>

20

<p>Hope your mom approves of some of the southern schools suggested in a few posts here! Hope you can go for it…</p>