Music Majors weigh in

[gerraguitar]

So I surf a few other forums on the internet that aren't geared toward jazz like this one is, and every now and then you come across people who ask a lot of (in my opinion) stupid questions about degrees and going through music school. Things like is it worth it, does it make me better, and so on. I'm just glad I haven't come across someone asking if it will make them famous.....anyways.

How many of you went through school or are still doing it? What's your opinion of it, was it worth it?

I'm still going through my undergrad and will be looking at grad school within the year...scary!!!...But I love going to school for music. I will never argue the fact that being a pro musician is one of scariest careers ever, but I don't care. If i wanted to be rich I would've been a doctor or something. I'd rather be living in an alley somewhere using my fender twin reverb as a table than being stuck with a Line 6 in a mansion...

Another great thing I always mention about school are the educators you will come across. Some of the greatest players teach at schools, you just gotta find them.

Looking forward to reading your experiences!

[mattymel]

these days im kind of torn on the whole paying for a degree in jazz thing. but thats a different topic.

i had a blast getting my BM and i feel i had a great experience. i played ALOT.

but if i had to pick one thing that made it all worth it, its that i was lucky to fall in with a small group of players that WANTED TO PLAY ALL THE TIME. like every day. then we got some steady gigs (paid like $20 and free beer...those were the DAYS...well not that different i guess, although nowadays i turn those down haha). but, THATS where you are learning for real. thats also why you dont necessarily need a piece of paper. but maybe the opportunity to play MORE is at the school? if not, im out.

i digress...if i had to do it all over again, i would make sure of two things. 1) that you dig the way your instructor TEACHES (not so much the way he plays, although i he should be WAY better than you are). and 2) that there is a core of musicians there that REALLY want to play and get better.

if youve got those two things i think the rest can fall into place...or not...who cares about the rest. if i had to do it all over i would probably practice more and worry about grades less, but hey...who knows, maybe someday someone will ask me for my report card.

[Drumbler]

Originally Posted by gerraguitar

But I love going to school for music. I will never argue the fact that being a pro musician is one of scariest careers ever, but I don't care. If i wanted to be rich I would've been a doctor or something. I'd rather be living in an alley somewhere using my fender twin reverb as a table than being stuck with a Line 6 in a mansion...

Statistics indicate that a music major is the ticket to a low future income. But you may be the wild card who defies the odds.

As long as you don't mind the highly likely possibility of living in an alley with your amp then why worry?

There is something to be said for following your passion. And you don't care about money anyway.

You can have a career as a music teacher in a school district and there is nothing wrong with that.

I see a lot of kids in our high school who are involved in the performing arts heading off to major in this in college. I wonder what they will do later. They are not all uber talented. Some are consumed with becoming stars on Broadway, etc.

Having money and understanding money is very important. Carrie Underwood, fantastic talent, has a business degree. Not a music degree. Smart woman. Talent she has in abundance. No degree can create talent like hers. It is a gift from God. Her education however will help her to manage her life in the business world of music.

Perhaps for your advanced degree you could get an MBA to help you on the money side of your music career. Living in an alley sounds romantic. "The starving artiste". Reality is quite different.

[marcwhy]

Your basic question is: "Is getting a college education worth it?" And the basic answer is, "Duh!" A bachelor's degree in our current and future economies is essentially the new "high school diploma," so if you don't have one, there's something wrong with you. The master's degree is becoming the new college degree, so that's "a good idea," too. If the question were: "Should I get a degree to be a better guitarist?" then my answer would be a little different.

As for majoring in music, well, that's another story. It partly depends on what you're wanting out of college -- a job, good experiences, solid foundation, etc. etc. -- so be clear on that first. I have a degree in music, and I wouldn't trade it for the world, but that feeling is based on the total experience: I made great friends, played fun music, have a solid educational background, etc. etc. From there I went to grad school and now have a PhD in psychology -- so I don't have live in an alley with my Twin Reverb! I'm also very passionate about music still, perform professionally (meaning, I play and get paid for it ... mostly), and I have fun with it, too.

Since you're still in school, I'm assuming you're young, so it may be hard to project into the future a ways ... but I'd certainly encourage you to think about "life" -- family, travels, college for your kids, new gear, a tent for your Twin in the alley, etc. -- as you're making actual career decisions.

Having a music degree does not = being poor -- it's an education, and you can do a lot with that. And have fun!

Marc

[Jake Hanlon]

As a product of two degrees I'm sort of in the small percentage of people who went to school, studied jazz music full time and came out of it and in 2 years was making good money teaching full time at a University.

My situation is not the norm, most people, and by most people I mean the vast majority of young people who get a bachelor's degree in Music end up not using Music in any way to make their income on a playing level. Most of those people do so by teaching private lessons to young children or adults in their mid-life crisis trying to recapture their youth (I played guitar when I was a teenager and always regretted stopping is a phrase I heard so much).

On that hand, there's nothing wrong with that work. I did it for years, I enjoyed it. My goal in life with my music degree at the time was to make my living with a guitar in my hands be that teaching or playing. Where I lived, playing was not an option, like most places you hustle and scrape for gigs that maybe pays you 40 bucks on a good night when you get to play music you want to play. Most gigs I ever got that paid any good money were in resturants playing solo guitar for people eating seafood and salads, which was fine it was fun enough and I got paid to practice.

The vast majority of people who go to school for music end up getting jobs outside of music completely for a number of reasons... wanting a high standard of living, a family, security, good credit, a car that isn't 10yrs old or what not. Music school can also destroy people's love of their instrument if they weren't 'ready' to study music full time anyway and were too stuborn to switch majors. I've seen it too many times that a young student will finish their recitals and just put the instrument away and not really ever return to it. A Musician's life, regardless of how you choose to make your bill payments is difficult, but truly it is a calling.

Getting a degree in music is also a choice you have to make about "do I want to have better qualifications so I can teach". That's what it is about. How good a player you come out of it has more ownus on you then anyone else. I know people who went to Berkley Manhattan, UNT, USC who can't play and I know people who went to schools I never heard of who kick ass. Musicially you get out of it what you put into it and at the end of the day everyone gets a piece of paper that says that they can go on to do a B.ed or a Masters as a 'qualification'. The Education you get out of a Music degree is just as much on the student as anyone.

Yes some schools have amazing reputations for producing great players, mostly because of the environment that is created by the students. If you go to a NYC school you're at the heart of modern playing for example, Boston schools the same thing. Competition, real life musical work and decisions all things outside of the classroom, but without those classrooms you'd probably never create the network unless you were a very elite talent.

I regret absolutely NOTHING about the choices I made and the goals I set as a growing Musician. I am extremely lucky to have the job I have, and I aim to keep it. I went to grad school specifically to get the education I needed to teach at the University/College Level, as an investment. My playing improved 10fold as a product of my desire to be a better player and the change in environment for where I went to school.

I could have improved drastically by just moving to New York or any major city and started playing with people on a daily basis, it would have had a similar result, but I wouldn't have had the qualifications to teach at a place that gave me health coverage, the ability to afford things I want to have, record music and other projects as well as get to work with some amazing musicians whom I teach with.

That being said, my only advice about Graduate school is that you may want to go to a major institution that is acredited like USC, Miami, UNT, Eastman etc etc and contemplate going all the way to a DMA. I was looking at job postings last week and most are asking for a DMA. Still many are Masters minimum but depending on your academic goals ie; if you want Tenure then a DMA is almost needed now.

[ruiner54]

Sorry not a student but a very good friend did his BM and then went on to a jazz master class at another school. While I am envious of him for doing that and wish I had I also don't regret studying to be a network admin in IT.

With that said, part of my still wants formal training in music - for one thing learning jazz for me is probably a lot harder than someone with a foundation is music theory. I pay for good lessons from that friend to come over and teach me every week and much of the time we don't even touch our guitars and play tunes because i am just as willing to pay him to share his knowledge of theory. I currently wading through books and sheets and notes from his lessons.

I feel like I am at a disadvantage sometimes, because although I do not plan on pursuing a music career, music and playing music has become the most important thing in my life. IT's literally all I do with my spare time.

So, if you have that kind of heart to play music then getting a BM is the least you could do.

I envy you students of music!

[voxwerx]

Follow your passion. You have this one life, and you shouldn't waste it following someone else's interpretation of what is right for you. I started out as a music major- but I didn't go "all in." I didn't try to go to a school that would best suit my needs, I just went to the school that was closest and cheapest. That is a BAD plan. After a few years of not being what they wanted, and them not being what I wanted, I washed out. 5 years later I went back to college with a different major and was asked to be a graduate assistant (despite my horrible grades from attempt #1). I did change my major- after washing out as a music student I turned to radio and became a disk jockey (back when we actually played vinyl).

Bottom line; go all-in. As some of the previous replies state, you will never be happier than when you immerse yourself in what you love. $$$ is a sad way to measure your life.

oh yeah- I'm old. (I play guitar more now than EVER!)

[Astronomer]

Originally Posted by gerraguitar

I'd rather be living in an alley somewhere using my fender twin reverb as a table than being stuck with a Line 6 in a mansion...

I see this thinking all of the time...this false dichotomy between being a rich artist or being a bum who plays on the street. Yes, music is tough career choice, but doesn't mean that there isn't a middle path between the two because let's face it, most people are average in whatever they do. You can still pursue music and still have the ability to take care of yourself, and ignoring this option will only worsen the disappointment if it turns out you won't be the next superstar. While I admire your love for music, don't be naive in thinking that living out on the street is amazing simply because you're doing what you love. As much as people don't want to admit it, money is just as important as passion.

[gerraguitar]

I understand what you all are saying, I think my ally twin reverb table comment was a bit misleading, just to clear it up....

What I was getting at was the fact that I spend all my money on my craft, I care more about sounding good and not cheaping myself out of good equipment. I know all about having a level head when it comes to money, this thread was not made for everybody to lecture me. I really do appreciate the input but I assure you guys that I am not some lost music student who wants it all and won't take it any other way. I know what I need to do to get the most out of my performance degree. This thread was to comment on the fact that some people out there question the purpose, I don't question it at all, I take classes on how to avoid this very topic. I have numerous directions to take after I graduate and I know that my income will be as steady as I want it to be.

But again all these comments are appreciated but in no way did I intend for everyone to start in on my views and what not.

[Drumbler]

Originally Posted by gerraguitar

What I was getting at was the fact that I spend all my money on my craft, I care more about sounding good and not cheaping myself out of good equipment.

And where do you get your money to buy good equipment so you can sound good?

Just curious.

Please share with us your plans to make a steady income with your performance degree. You can help others with your knowledge.

[mattymel]

having a BM has basically meant i get a certain number of private students that seeing those 2 letters makes them think that i know what im talking about. so...that is ONE perk.

im in the camp of not wanting to do anything but something music related. i have been lucky enough to make that happen, but its def not the easiest living to make.

then there is the University gig. keep in mind to that having a BM means absolutely nil as far as teaching at a university. you can have a BM and the if a high school dropout Kurt Rosyfinger (not that Kurt is, he actually went to Berklee, but didnt graduate) is competing, you gonna lose. the people that end up with teaching gigs at U's fall into 2 categories: super BADASSES that dont have the paper, and pretty much badasses with Doctorates and Phds.

yeah, its pretty dismal...but im still digging it. gotta love it...

[cosmic gumbo]

Some of the best janitors I ever worked with had music degrees.

[fumblefingers]

if you just want to play the guitar, and you aren't getting big time gigs, you may want to finish your BM and go for the MBA or MS.

if you want to teach privately, finish the BM and either; (1) go for the MM right away and build your list of students slowly over 2 years, or (2) build a large list of students right away and go for the MM over 4-5 years while keeping the students.

if you want to teach at college:
go for the MM right away, and perhaps the DMA/Phd at some point. you will have some time to think about this degree. The doctorate may depend on what job/career options you aspire to. College guitar instructors don't seem to have Phds typically - but - if you want to teach theory, composition, become a department chair, or become the Dean.....

[jamsebrown]

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