Just signed up as a music major, what should I expect?

[So Low Bass]

I don’t mean to sound harsh; I’m trying to give you the benefit of decades of experience as a professional, and in the field of education. So…

I assume your planning on Bakersfield CC because of your academic record. In that case, work you’re %ss off and prove yourself. Forget about music- take private lessons- and build your academic abilities and reputation. Then you can apply to transfer to a four-year school. If I have made the wrong assumption, then…

Forget about Bakersfield CC and apply to CSU at Bakersfield pronto. This means SATs/ACTs of course. Work your %ss with for a Bachelors and again, forget about music as a major. Study all you want “on the side”.

Education is not the great equalizer; it’s the great enabler. There’s a lot of money to make and fine, honest careers to be had without the benefit of a college degree. The temperature here in Buffalo today is 26 degrees with the wind gusting up to 30mph and I’d be darn happy to pay my furnace repairman his $89 per hour to fix my broken furnace… and he’s playing his 60s P in his blues band 6 blocks from here this Friday night. He might make $50 there for his four hour gig. I might go check him out, but I KNOW I have his phone number on my furnace!

Have your parents completed their FAFAS yet?

[mhandley16]

Get ready for lots of practice time. You really have to love music to do it. Everyone goes in with the intention of doing it because they love it. But some people get burnt out because they may have to practice songs they don't want to learn or work with musicians they don't want to work with. However, you have to remember that even though you are working on a piece that may not be your favorite, it will enhance your musical knowledge and ability. I was a music minor at one point and loved it. Just make sure that you have the motivation. It gets tough once you get into upper level theory but it is a truly rewarding experience.

- Mike

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

All this (great) advice is equally applicable if the kid studies something else as well as music.

It never hurts to have a backup plan. I sure wish I did at the time....

I know I'm in the minority, but I disagree with this. If you approach music with the goal of making a living, you don't have time for a dual major. When I was a music major I would practice a minimum of 4 hours a day. I played in multiple ensembles which usually meant 1 rehearsal with a group each day. Add in classes, homework, keyboard and ear training and there was not time to be an accounting/finance/business major too.

It may just be my personality, but my advice is that the only way to make a living at music is to go at it full throttle. You need to identify every possible income stream and devote yourself to it 100%.

Just for the record, I no longer make a living at music. Tendonitis in both wrists ended that dream. However, of all my friends who wanted to make a living playing, none of the ones with a backup plan made it. When the going gets tough, it's too easy to quit. YMMV.

[jmclearnon]

I would suggest ramping your practice up to several hours a day, You will notice a difference in a few days.

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by Mushroo

Good for you!

My advice is to practice lots of piano and singing. Not only are these important skills for your theory, composition, and ear training classes, but it will also increase your musical opportunities. For example you can join the chorus, which is a great low-stress way to network with other musicians.

this plus some music history no doubt! Some colleges use first year as a weed out year so you'll wanna go in with guns blazing!

You may have to take some electives as well like English or Math etc ....it can be hard to stay on top of these while doing so much of what you love but a mark is a mark!

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by lfmn16

I know I'm in the minority, but I disagree with this. If you approach music with the goal of making a living, you don't have time for a dual major. When I was a music major I would practice a minimum of 4 hours a day. I played in multiple ensembles which usually meant 1 rehearsal with a group each day. Add in classes, homework, keyboard and ear training and there was not time to be an accounting/finance/business major too.

It may just be my personality, but my advice is that the only way to make a living at music is to go at it full throttle. You need to identify every possible income stream and devote yourself to it 100%.

Just for the record, I no longer make a living at music. Tendonitis in both wrists ended that dream. However, of all my friends who wanted to make a living playing, none of the ones with a backup plan made it. When the going gets tough, it's too easy to quit. YMMV.

i agree wholeheartedly! If you make a back up plan you'll use it! if you are determined to live off music and only music it will happen if you play your cards and personality right!

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by skwee

Remember that training in marketing and business management are important to have alongside your music training.

Bingo! so important .....there was none of this school of thought at my university program .....and my lack of direction as a 24 year old graduate caused me much treading water and day jobs!

To the OP .....along with your program you need to learn how to wring money out of your local scene .....could be cover bands (mature ones, older than you who know how to get paid) - don't **** on their set list!!! , singers releasing CDs needing live bands. Studios recording song writing demos. Young bands on the cusp of something larger! Teaching on the side at music stores!

It's 2013 .....there's no excuse for a young person not to be familiar with computer recording and basic mixing!

Study and learn all you can, gather skill BUT don't be a music school SNOB!

[Snarf]

Originally Posted by sammyp

Bingo! so important .....there was none of this school of thought at my university program .....and my lack of direction as a 24 year old graduate caused me much treading water and day jobs!

To the OP .....along with your program you need to learn how to wring money out of your local scene .....could be cover bands (mature ones, older than you who know how to get paid) - don't **** on their set list!!! , singers releasing CDs needing live bands. Studios recording song writing demos. Young bands on the cusp of something larger! Teaching on the side at music stores!

It's 2013 .....there's no excuse for a young person not to be familiar with computer recording and basic mixing!

Study and learn all you can, gather skill BUT don't be a music school SNOB!

THIS. There are a lot of guys in the scene here that are so fixated on academic jazz, that they never find any gigs, they just go to jam sessions and take a musical dump on stage.

[thebbconspiracy]

Thank you guys! I know music is an extremely difficult field, and my plan was to go to CSUB but they are making cuts to the music program and right now I don't have the money nor financial to go to a school out of town. I had no problems with education at all. I do plan on minoring in business mgmt when I go to a 4 year, and I'm going out of state where there is a scene. NY and Nashville is where I'm looking to. I know that will have to bust my a** at this, and I'm willing to. As for what field in music, I'm thinking about composition since I'm also a songwriter. Thank you all for your advice.

[SteveC]

Hard but not impossible. We have a graduate from our little HS in a very rural area who is no loving in Sweden and quite successful as a composer. We commissioned him to do a piece for the grand re opening of our remodeled theatre - where he played and his sister is performing as a senior this year.

It can happen. Good luck.

[basso_profundo]

Originally Posted by thebbconspiracy

Thank you guys! I know music is an extremely difficult field, and my plan was to go to CSUB but they are making cuts to the music program and right now I don't have the money nor financial to go to a school out of town. I had no problems with education at all. I do plan on minoring in business mgmt when I go to a 4 year, and I'm going out of state where there is a scene. NY and Nashville is where I'm looking to. I know that will have to bust my a** at this, and I'm willing to. As for what field in music, I'm thinking about composition since I'm also a songwriter. Thank you all for your advice.

Wow - sounds like me 20 years ago. I went to a local CC in the bay area for two years, fulfilled the transfer core curriculum, and then transferred to the UC Santa Cruz music program. My goal was to get into composition because I liked to write songs.

The CC music coursework did not even come close to adequately preparing me for the Music BA program at the UC level. I aced the CC music program, took private composition and piano lessons from the CC instructors, and couldn't get any credit in the UC core program. This included ear training, piano sight reading piano, sight singing, and music theory. The tests on that first day completely eviscerated me - identification of ascending & descending intervals up to a 13th, major and minor chords up to a 13th in 1/2/3 inversions, sight reading piano pieces out of the Music for Millions books, sight singing Bach chorale lines, transcribing scores...

The UCSC program was built on four years at UCSC in their program. The CC program was nowhere as intense or deep.

For example, the Modus Novus book was the main interval book for the first year students:

http://www.amazon.com/Modus-Novus-La.../dp/084644156X

I ended up doing a lot in their electronic music program - electronic composition (Cahill through Varese through Subotnic through today), studio recording, sound synthesis, signal processing, etc.

Eventually I gave up the music degree idea and ended up in software engineering. I've been in that industry ever since with music as a fun hobby.