<p>i am currently attending a large public university (ranked between the top 15 and 20 public universities) and am working towards an english major.</p>
<p>i would love to be able to attend some sort of music conservatory or university program after i graduate, granted my ability is where it needs to be.</p>
<p>i have enough room in my schedule to take all of the music theory courses the university offers (one does not need to be a music major to enroll in these courses), as well as all of the aural training, as well as a couple of courses in counterpoint, composition and historical analysis courses. would it be wise to take these courses here? thanks!</p>
<p>You can take them as background, training and as a leg up. If you’re planning on a second bachelor degree (BM), the credits (or a good portion) probably will not transfer, as most institutions teach theory to their own curriculum. It may allow you to test out of a theory course or two in a BM program, and should be adequate to start a Masters level pursuit without remedial theory. Some of the aural and historical analysis courses might be applied as transfer credits. It’s a school specific decision. If you take the courses, keep all syllabi, coursework, and the course descriptions, as these are useful in the decision review process in determining transfer credits.</p>
<p>You don’t specify what discipline you’d pursue in music after your English degree. Just a general caveat, a second Bachelor’s may be hard to fund from a federal aid standpoint, contingent upon how much you’ve used of your aggregate. If I’m not mistaken, federal aid is limited to an initial bachelor degree. Consider pursuing the music discipline at the Masters level, provided you can meet the audition and background requirements. A Performance(r) Certificate is another option you may want to look into. It’s a bachelors level non degree program, without any academic requirements in the humanities/liberal arts. Typically it’s a three year purely music centered curriculum.</p>
<p>violadad, thank you for the info.</p>
<p>as far as the discipline, it would be guitar (a jazz or contemporary program).</p>
<p>the performance certificate definitely sounds like something of interest, as i’ll have a good bit of liberal art classes taken by the time i graduate, and i don’t see much point in fulfilling those requirements again. as far as the masters, i was (perhaps naively) under the impression that this was generally pursued after the bachelors. i do not know that my abilities would be at the masters level without some training at the bachelors level.</p>
<p>i hadn’t yet considered federal funding. i have a full-tuition scholarship right now, but i am using a small federal loan to help shoulder rent and such. i’ll have to look into that.</p>
<p>if i take these courses here (at my current school, and as a non-major), i’m not particularly concerned with whether or not they transfer; it wouldn’t be a big deal to retake them. would it be advantageous in terms of admission and general usefulness to go ahead and take these courses? or would it be best to wait and take them in the music program? is the caliber of theory courses generally the same across the board?</p>
<p>A strong foundation in theory (as well as aural training, music history and sightreading skills) while extremely beneficial, is not critical as an admissions factor in a bachelor/performance certificate level program. Weak theory skills can be a stopper in a Masters level admit.<br>
Most conservatory level schools teach theory to their own specs and curriculum structure, thus the transfer of credits for theory can be denied if earned elsewhere. Some theory programs are known to be “tougher” than others. Virtually all music programs will test theory, aural skills, and piano/keyboard proficiency upon acceptance for initial course level placement. Those with the theory chops can test out of the beginning or elementary theory classes, but many will elect to take them none the less, as a refresher, or to avoid “surprises” in a higher level course due to differences in curriculum structure or sequence. </p>
<p>Your question is somewhat similar to one oft asked by hs seniors about the advantages of AP theory in conservatory admissions. For background, you may want to read through these past threads:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/145947-has-anybody-taken-ap-music-theory.html?highlight=theory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/145947-has-anybody-taken-ap-music-theory.html?highlight=theory</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/450721-ap-music-theory.html?highlight=theory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/450721-ap-music-theory.html?highlight=theory</a></p>
<p>And a couple on college/conservatory theory:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/418384-transfering-music-theory.html?highlight=theory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/418384-transfering-music-theory.html?highlight=theory</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/668490-music-theory.html?highlight=theory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/668490-music-theory.html?highlight=theory</a></p>
<p>I mention the Masters only in that there are a number of qualified candidates that have had extensive training and music backgrounds that pursue non-music bachelors degrees, and follow that up with a performance or other discipline at the Masters level. Without knowing more of your background, I did not know whether you did or did not fit that scenario.</p>
<p>thanks, again, violadad. i read through the threads you posted. i do believe i will begin taking theory when school starts up again.</p>
<p>while reading through those threads, it became clear that each institution seems to have its own approach to teaching theory, which is what i figured. and this is what caused me to first ask, because i was a bit concerned that perhaps taking theory now might cause some difficulties in learning theory at a different institution. i think i know that it wouldn’t, but i’m a bit obsessive compulsive, and needed to research and make sure that i was right.</p>