My son is fortunate enough to be finishing his year as a pop music songwriting major at USC. I know I am his mom but he is very talented in guitar and songwriting. Two of his songs are in an upcoming movie and he is really flourishing at USC.
He has joined an improv troupe (he used to be shy?), is putting out an EP with a new band that sounds fantastic, and has straight As.
When he was navigating the audition/college search process, it came down to USC Pop Music or UMiami Hornsby. USC won out. Long story short, while he loves LOVES his pop music friends, the program, and USC, what he hates and he learned about after the fact is that it is almost impossible to double major or do what is so important for many young adults: explore other courses and possible majors. In addition to music, he loves languages and traveled to Africa on a gap year and studied Wolof and Pulaar, as well as strengthened his fluent French (now with a Senegalese accent). Cultures, languages, and music are really his thing.
He just sent me a text telling me he is not sure he wants to stay a pop music major. He also loves languages (that ear thing I guess) and had to really struggle to fit a simple Mandarin I class in his very packed with requirements for the music school along wiith Gen Eds (his high school did not have Ap classes). He had to only take an online most of the week and meet one day a week Mandarin class that was frustrating for him. We are supporting his desire to go to Taiwan for four weeks in an immersion program through USC so that he can make it into Mandarin III in the Fall. We would not have had to take this step if their had been more flexibility at USC…
He is asking me for advice. I am not sure how to assist him and want to navigate him in the right direction. I hate the idea of him leaving this program (although I know it is his life). As his parent, I know how important music has always been to him and he has been a songwriter since around first grade. But, I also know that 70% of students change their majors in college.
If anyone, especially pop music parents, has any advice on how perhaps they advised their own children, it would be helpful. Upon reflection, perhaps Umiami would have been a better choice given the ease of multiple majors and exploration. USC with its high walls between schools and majors make it difficult.
Thanks for any advice or support. It is frustrating being an east coast parent trying to help my west coast son.
Hello!
My daughter originally applied to USC Pop and changed her mind at the last minute for exactly these reasons. Decided to go to Oberlin where she could do the liberal arts exploration (she’s a language nut too) instead of the narrow focus. She has loved it there but didn’t get the popular music performance opportunities she’d hoped for and it was a sacrifice. She finished her freshman year, then was cast in Cirque du Soleil for a trial in a new show - skipped fall term (this year) to work with them. Then decided to go back to Oberlin. After arriving back, she opted to reapply to USC PM. As a transfer, she is awaiting the late notification on whether she is in for fall 2015. She has worked out her plan at Oberlin in the event that she stays - and she is content either way. The biggest difference really being that, more than anything, USC provides the industry connections ready made that singer-songwriters often have difficulty making on their own. As far as writing music, learning theory, having a good resource of fellow musicians to connect with, she is happy at Oberlin. If she gets into USC, she will have NO exploration opportunities - it will all be major work. She has come to terms with this restriction, thinking she can take other college work in summers and/or after her BM degree. She already takes summer intensives in Hindi (not available at most colleges) - so, that extra summer work is part of how she has learned to balance her own needs.
Long story short. There are NO good answers for the kids who are gifted in popular music but who seek that larger world/educational view inside a university. What we do keep reminding ourselves (if she doesn’t get into USC) is that until 4 years ago, there were NO educational degrees for pop music (except at Berklee, and that is questionable as far as academic rigor). As a family, we do ask ourselves whether it is really necessary to have the BM in Pop Music. In truth, nobody is going to ask for a degree in order to publish a song or offer a contract. Its always about talent plus connections. But, if getting an agent, a music publicist, connections to producers and top performers is the most important thing - then USC is incomparable. But, if this isn’t enough for an active mind, then staying there will be a very expensive proposition for a very limited scope of experience.
I wish you both luck in making the decision. It isn’t an easy one, but it is a good lesson in how life is not about finding the “perfect” place, but rather, about how it is best to learn how to care for oneself when life gives you opportunities that aren’t perfect.
Congrats on having such a highly accomplished kiddo! I’d be inclined to advise him to switch to the major he TRULY wants to explore (you’re only in college once, unless you’re going on to graduate studies!). He already has his foot in the door vis a vis his pop music writing, so getting the actual degree will probably not benefit him over what he’s already accomplished there. In other words, his experience and skills will take him far in pop music writing (with or without degree), but this is his only chance to explore other areas in college.
Does he have a strong desire to major in something different (specific, I mean)? From your post it seems like he really wants more options to explore but you don’t say that he strongly wants to major in a language or International Studies or something. I wouldn’t reflexively drop everything right away out of a desire to explore.
What was the final decision? My son loved Thornton and its his number one choice right now. He loved that his general ed requirements would be at a school with strong academics. He’s a singer/songwriter/producer in his heart and soul. He’s a top academic student but has no passion for anything outside of music