thinking about switching my major to music but...

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I don't know how to sing or play an instrument! I've always had an interest in music but when I was in grade school, my parents would not have been able to afford lessons for me and I was way too shy to join a choir (I'm still a bit shy now but not as shy as I was when I was a child).</p>

<p>Right now, my major is English but I don't know what my family will think if I was to change my major (one of my sisters have a degree in Nursing & my other sister has a degree in Psychology) and I don't want my mom to start thinking that music isn't a "real" career.</p>

<p>Should I switch my major or not?</p>

2

<p>I suspect that most places would not allow you to change into majoring in music without a performance major of some kind. Even if you were pursuing a music theory or music history major, you would need keyboard skills and probably another performance venue, too. You may find that even studying fundamentals of music would be very challenging with no first hand experience. Think about taking a music appreciation course, perhaps a very basic course, and learn more about music. But you are most likely too far behind to pursue a music degree. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>If you can’t play or sing an instrument, how would you major in music? To have a music degree in performance, you have to audition on that instrument, which means you have to be pretty darn good. You’re up against people who have been musicians for 18 years.</p>

<p>Why not just join a local choir or look into some theatrical productions? Maybe look into voice lessons. You need something simple to start with for sure.</p>

4

<p>If you truly have a serious interest in music, I think that there are very likely ways for you to begin studying music without having to change your college major. I would contact the music department at your school and explain your interest and see what courses are available to non-majors. Usually they include music history and music appreciation courses, which you might enjoy, but sometimes they can even include elementary music theory courses. My advice to you would be to take a few of those non-major music courses, start thinking seriously about what instrument you would like to play (or if you want to/think you have the talent for voice), and pick up some beginner music theory books to study on your own. Then if you are able, find someone to teach you private lessons. Sometimes graduate students of music departments are available to give you private lessons for a cheaper price and some even for college credit, but it depends on your school. If you really love music, go pursue the ways you can include it in your life, but you really do not have to change your major. At this point, I do not think you ought to switch your major but rather find ways to being studying music and see where that leads you in the future. Best of luck! :)</p>

5

<p>I attend a community college and they do offer basic courses. Matter of fact, I’m gonna enroll in a vocal course in the fall semester.</p>

6

<p>What is it that is drawing you to music? We usually see someone who has started to sing or play an instrument who then recognizes that this is the only thing they want to do with their life. You are attracted to it before you have started. What exactly is the attraction? We could help more if you could be more specific. Until then, the advice to take some non-majors classes and talk to the music department are excellent. That will allow you to explore music without the requirements to audition or have experience to make the change in majors. </p>

<p>If you are struggling because you are not happy in your English major and are searching for something that interests you more, perhaps a visit to the career counseling department would help you define what else may interest you in other majors.</p>

7

<p>Singersmom07, I have been starting to sing to myself more and more lately. I used to sing to myself as a child but never had the confidence like I do now to sing in front of others. I like being an English major but my love of music is stronger than my love of literature.</p>

<p>I don’t think that my college requires music majors to audition since it does not mention it on the website and they do have private vocal lessons.</p>

8

<p>I think part of the problem here is in the term “majoring in music”, I am sure violadad or one of the link masters will give you links to threads on here. In general, music majors have two different tracks (this is a generalization, it can be more complex then this):</p>

<p>-Performance, where someone is an instrumentalist or a vocalist</p>

<p>-Music history, music theory, composition (obviously, composition is as ‘active’ a pursuit as performance is, I include it here only for convenience sake, and not to end up like the inquisitor in the “Spanish Inquisition” skit.</p>

<p>In terms of a performance degree,people already are beyond the basic level of playing, they are already ‘advanced’ players. In some cases instrumentalists do take a new instrument, but either it is related to their primary one (like switching from violin to viola, for example) or taking on something like Piano. </p>

<p>Obviously, students can and do pick up instruments in college, but they generally are doing for the the fun of it (I am talking traditional study here), for their own enjoyment. Obviously, someone can pick up the guitar and become a folk or jazz musician, but if you are talking a BM track (music performance), that isn’t going to happen. </p>

<p>-Music history and music theory are more ‘academic’ pursuits, in the sense that the time is spent learning about music, the structure of it, the theory behind it, the people who did it, historical forces, etc (note that performance students learn about the theory and structure as well, but the focus is different). You could potentially switch to a degree like music history, but I suspect that isn’t what you are looking for I think. Composition, like instrumental performance, is generally tailored to those who already showed some level with it…</p>

<p>There is nothing wrong with learning an instrument, learning to sing, to enjoy music (music appreciation classes can be very stimulating and generate a love of music. If you have access to a library, see if they have the DVD’s for Robert Greenbergh’s history of music series from the learning company, his history of western music is interesting and a lot of fun.</p>

<p>In terms of instrumental or vocal performance, I think you would find it extremely tough sledding, if not impossible, to gain enough skill to be able to get into music performance as a major, let alone some day do it professionally in the more ‘classical’ fields of music. Unless you turn out to be some sort of true musical savant (which are extremely rare, and as has been shown over time, to be really great at an instrument takes thousands and thousands of hours of practice and playing to achieve the required skill set). With some instruments, like the violin, piano, cello, I can guarantee it would be impossible to achieve high level ability on them at your age, no matter how hard you worked, that is physiology and brain wiring working against you. </p>

<p>That said, it wouldn’t hurt to take instrument lessons or take up singing, and you may find that that opens up other doors for you you never thought of, and the nice part is that music is not just reserved for professionals, there is a lot of fun, amateur music out there to enjoy and explore.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for the advice all. I have decided that I am gonna keep my major as English and just take music courses and keep at it as a hobby.</p>

10

<p>Fortunately singers mature later and learning now may open up possiblities when you are older. It is a good idea to keep the English major and take the lessons, take extra music classes as electives and see where it takes you.</p>

11

<p>I think it would be great if you took some music classes at CC. Whether it is for fun and exploration, or ends up being a serious interest.</p>

<p>One of my kids majors in music, and whether or not she plays an instrument is irrelevant to her work at college (though she has played clarinet and classical guitar for years). She is enjoying academic music, which can be ethnomusicology (like anthropology, focusing on music in other cultures), theory, history, score analysis, composition and so on.</p>

<p>It is true that basic piano skills are needed, mainly in the sense that theory is right there before you on the keyboard, so to speak. Singing is a good way to get into it, too.</p>

<p>I would just caution that music can be a difficult major. Some people might think it would be fun, and not as rigorous as other majors, but it can be pretty hard core in some places. The music history at my daughter’s school is supposed to be harder than the pre-med sciences, and half dropped out midyear!</p>

<p>However, taking some beginning music classes could really be fun, and help you enjoy music in a deeper way for the rest of your life. Who knows what will come of it?!</p>

<p>p.s. I took a class called “Universe of Music” a few years back, in my 50’s, with little music background other than singing in a choir. I loved it! It was a survey of music in many cultures, starting with pre-history. Offered for non-majors and majors alike.</p>