The Road Less Traveled- Advice for a Late Comer

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I am a rising sophomore at Wake Forest University. I am a potential music major here, but have several reservations and would greatly appreciate some advice. </p>

<p>First, I have always been very passionate about music and have written my own music (mostly worship music) for several years. However, I had always treated music as the thing I did on the side, while more academic, "practical" things were what I focused on in school. My high school never really offered AP Music Theory (the one year they did it was very poorly constructed and I had a time conflict). Thus, I don't have any "formal" training. I did play piano for about 5 years and still can play decently.</p>

<p>My freshman year of college has been very interesting and after many long talks with a good friend who is a music major at Wake I decided it was feasible. I was originally a Math/Physics major, but after two semesters of upper-level courses for majors I have come to the conclusion that those courses are not what I want to spend 4 years, or more, of my life studying. </p>

<p>This past spring I took an intro Western Music course (it fulfills general ed requirements), and it by far was my favorite class. Perhaps it is weird, but I actually enjoyed my final and loved the listening part of the exams in our class. I also took a theatrical singing course that was also amazing. </p>

<p>My largest worry is that I have no real "theory" background, and will admit I am slightly terrified of the coming fall. At Wake there are two majors: music in liberal arts, with an emphasis in theory, history, or composition and performance. I am hoping to major in liberal arts with a concentration in music history moreover an emphasis in church music. </p>

<p>This coming semester I will be taking:
Music Theory I
Music History I
Class Piano
Theatrical Singing
Individual Instruction (Voice)
And an ensemble</p>

<p>I am realy looking forward to the next semester and was wondering if anyone had advice on what I can do to beging preparing for it, especially theory. My music major friend advised me to begin ear-training on the piano with intervals and notes, which I had started already. </p>

<p>I am not afraid of a challenge, and I know if I don't try this then I will regret it. If it is of any importance, I am a very dedicated student with straight A's in a rigorous high shcool curriculum and all A's my first year at Wake. I guess my reasoning is that I am going to be working extremely hard at whatever I major in at Wake, just because of the nature of the school, so I might as well be studying something I am very interested in if I am going to be spending so much time and effort on it. </p>

<p>I am sorry if this was too long, but I wanted to fully explain my situation. </p>

<p>Oh, and I have already met with the interum head of the department and the actual head of the department (who was abroad this semester), and they both seemed confident I could do it.</p>

2

<p>You seem most worried about the theory aspect. A good portion of it is mathematical and, if you can handle first year calculus and physics, you can handle most things that music theory will throw your way. The possible exception is the ear training and dictation exercises, which you are already starting to work on. Perhaps you may want to pick up a used copy of the music theory textbook and look through it on your own over the summer.</p>

<p>Class piano should not be too bad for someone who has been playing for five years. Music History involves a lot of memorization, but it is a good sign that you liked the listening assignments in your previous class. You already know you like Theatrical Singing. You probably have some leeway in selecting an ensemble in which to participate, so you should be able to find one that suits you. </p>

<p>That leaves your voice lessons. The relationship with your voice teacher will likely be what makes or breaks your experience as a music major. If you have a choice among faculty members, you may want to try to arrange a sample lesson with a few of the possible applied voice teachers, and you should ask the voice students there what they like and do not like about each of the teachers. Good luck to you.</p>

3

<p>Welcome LifeUnfolding and best wishes! It sounds like exciting times are ahead! There have been some discussions in the past with information for students preparing with on-line and home-based programs for theory placement tests. Some of the suggestions might be useful to you. You might try an "advanced search" in the music forum for "theory". I don't remember all the advice and suggestions offered by the posters here, but I do remember one of my own posts form earlier in the year that I reproduce below:</p>

<p>I have these free on-line programs bookmarked from S's pre-college days (2 years ago, I didn't check to see if they are still current, you can also google for theory websites):</p>

<p>Dolmetsch</a> Online - Music Theory Online Contents
Good</a> Ear - Online Ear Training Site
Ricci</a> Adams' Musictheory.net
[url=<a href="http://www.teoria.com/%5Dteor"&gt;http://www.teoria.com/]teor&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

4

<p>DD went into a conservatory level program with no piano, no formal theory prep and ear training only through voice lesson and school chorus. It was hard work and a slow start but she did fine in the end. She was in classes with people who had had years of all of the above so if she did not understand something she asked other students or the professor later. So with some background in music, you do have piano, and some hard work you should do fine. She does say it would have been easier if she had done any of the above some ahead of time. If it concerns you can you talk to other students who have taken it to see what it was like in your school? the resources musicianmom are good starts, too. DD is continuing private piano study this summer with an emphasis on the theory instead of performance in order to keep on top of things. You might want to consider that, too if you aren't still taking lessons.</p>

5

<p>How wonderful that you have found this calling!
D is a trained musician who started out as a Performance major in undergrad and wound up as a Music History major due to her love of the coursework. Her biggest obstacle was the ear training portion of theory.She was able to get extra help from a Theory Grad student at her school (not sure if Wake has that a/v for you) in a tutor set-up..she paid for their time and it helped tremendously.I'm sure the Dep't will have resources available to you.I'm so glad the dep't chairs were encouraging to you.D is now 3rd year PhD in Musicology and so happy with her path.</p>

6

<p>If you are worried about Music Theory, I would suggest purchasing the textbook that will be used at the campus bookstore and starting to work on it over the summer. At least, you will be somewhat familiar with the material to be covered, have a head start on some of it, and know where you might need extra help. You may even want to consider a private tutor for the first month of Music Theory to make sure you get off on the right foot. </p>

<p>Number one piece of advice: do not let yourself get behind in your Music Theory class. Since everything builds on what came before, if you get behind it will snowball. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>My husband bought my daughter the Idiot's guide to music theory. Maybe that would be a good nonthreatening beginning.</p>

8

<p>clarinetmom: Maybe I'll look for the "idiot's guide" for myself. My piano skills are pretty good, but I really don't know any theory to speak of!</p>

9

<p>You probably picked up a lot of theory just by learning to play piano and, as mentioned above, I believe your math skills will help a lot.</p>

<p>You didn't say what your primary instrument (voice or piano) or major (Ed? Comp? Performance?) will be.</p>