<p>The post on music and physics has me wondering. I am asking because I used to love science, then my parents moved here. The math and science is so bad that I take my math online and I simply do not take science anymore. I have AP chem in the fall. I had doubled up on science my first year at a STEM academy, before we moved, so I was ahead on credits anyway. I will end up with 5 science credits, so I do not look deficient. The AP Chem is worth 2 credits. </p>
<p>I thought I loved physics, but I had a teacher who never did anything. He would give us lists of formulas and told us to plug them in and which problems to plug them in on. The only experiments or hands on we ever had was making a race car, similar to the ones Boy Scouts made. While physics could be involved in that, no physics principals were ever applied. And the other one was an egg drop, exactly like the one we did in kindergarten. Again, no analysis or any physics principals applied. It was just left as a crafty fun thing to do. That was it. I regret moving from the STEM academy. But, I didn't have a choice I guess. They were shutting it down and changing it in to a regular school and we moved anyway.</p>
<p>Anyway, I am just curious as to what other subjects people have liked or pursued, when for whatever reason, they couldn't do music. Or at least, for those who did music, what would have been their second choice. Thanks!</p>
<p>Computer science, theoretical physics or mathematics.</p>
<p>This is just by assessing that at least for me music goes pretty well with theoretical (rather than applied) subjects. Depends entirely on your tastes though, but e.g. music and mathematics have a known harmony. Physics and music as well, but it’s a more tangible or realistic one (sound waves). Computer science, because it has a similar sense of creativity that one may feel/perceive in music and you deal with structures and progressions (common aspects of music), plus you can write musical computer programs.</p>
<p>CS might just be the most fun (+ it’s very applicable to music-related software and creative software writing), if you have no general interest in physics or mathematics (because those majors would require a general interest in the entire field of science and its methodologies, not just particular topics).</p>
<p>for myself - mathematics and physics (as I posted elsewhere). From students I’ve seen, computer science as well, which goes along with what reactor said.</p>
<p>I don’t think there is a hard and fast rule about what ex-musicians tend to do. So much depends on what aspect of music was appealing to you. If you love the mathematical structure of music then computer programming, mathematics and physics might be something you would enjoy. But if you are more a romantic then maybe it is foreign languages or history or poetry or creative writing. Some just love the world of performing arts and go into arts management and curation. If you love the physicality of music and mastering some fine motor skill then maybe medicine or nursing or oceanography. </p>
<p>This is why a good liberal arts education can be helpful. You can explore different fields and figure out where your interests lie.</p>
<p>Hello! My son is pursuing a dual degree in Cello Performance and Math at UM, he is passionate about music, likes and is good at Math. Funny, this subject came up last night at dinner and he says he know several students who are doing dual degrees in Music and Environmental Studies at UM, don’t know what the connection is, but thought it was interesting.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that people who love music tend to love things like math, physics, and CS too (all the “geeky” and “hard” subjects :p). It’s funny how that seems to be the case. 
I actually really wanted to do physics and music in college, but I don’t have the musical background :(</p>
<p>My son majored in performance but got a minor in Political Science. He enjoyed doing something completely different from music. It used a different part of his brain and he felt it helped him focus more on his music to spend time away from it. In times when he was really struggling with his instrument, he considered applying to law school. He stuck with the music, however.</p>
<p>None of the musicians in my family are math-science people, so I guess we’re the proverbial exception that proves the rule? Alternate majors considered or completed included philosophy, writing, photography, psychology, communication, biology, history, archaeology, and audio engineering.</p>
<p>Stradmom-- Same with my extended family, the musical ones are not math-science people but interested in and/or majored in many of the subjects you listed. I was/am probably the best math student in the family, worst musician!</p>
<p>To the OP-- don’t let certain teachers or classes turn you off to a whole subject. It looks like you’ve done well studying online and finding time to take courses in alternative ways. We’ve all had that teacher that made us want to pull our hair out or wasn’t challenging, but sometimes you just have to get past that and move on. If you love Physics, stick with it. You sound like a bright student that would get into a challenging college’s Physics program. But be forewarned, you may have a boring teacher or two! Use it as a learning experience–bosses can be boring, too!</p>
<p>But to answer your question a little better, my daughter that plans to major in Music is also very good at and likes English, French, Photography and-- wait for it, yes a science-- Meteorology! I asked her why these four and she said because they were all “very expressive” in their own ways. OK! So at this point it’s definite Music while perhaps taking pictures of various weather phenomenon, writing about it, and translating it into French! Maybe adding a soundtrack. She’ll be in undergrad for ten years…!</p>
<p>Thank you Redeye41, I like your reasoning!</p>