Deciding between Genres

[HowiePlaysBass]

Hey
I'm a bassist currently in my college years pursuing a non music degree I'm totally uninterested in and I've decided to switch to music to avoid being miserable doing something else for the rest of my life. (I know it seems silly but I always wanted to go for music and was talked out of it, and since then have realized I can't envision myself doing anything else.)

I've taken bass lessons with the university professor for the last two years as well as played in the orchestra and she's totally supportive of the switch. I've also taken jazz bass lessons and play around town a decent amount.

My problem is I can't decide between pursuing a degree in classical music or pursuing a degree in Jazz Studies.

Has anybody else ever had to deal with this or have any advice to offer to me?

Thanks
-Ian

[Roy Vogt]

You can continue to work on Orchestral Repertoire and Classical Technique as a Jazz Studies Major and you can study Jazz on your own with a Classical Degree. The brutal truth is that you will be looking at Grad School in order to have any job stability (most teaching gigs require at least a Masters Degree if not a Doctorate for tenure track) and getting in shape for Symphony Auditions is the equivalent of being a College Football Player and going to the NFL Combine (incredibly competitive). The good news is you can select a couple of schools that work for you (one of my students is attending Grad School at Rutgers next year and another got his Masters in Double Bass Performance at IU and then logged 5 years with Cirque du Soleil on the road-go figure!) that will balance Classical and Jazz. They each support the other to a great extent for a lot of players. You might consider taking some lessons with a strong Jazz instructor and continuing in the Classical track since that seems to be what your college can offer.
My recommendations for Grad School would be:
University of North Texas
University of Miami
Indiana University
Eastman School of Music
primarily because they balance Classical and Jazz Studies very well and have really strong Bass Departments. There are lots of others, of course!
Hope this helps!

[jmattbassplaya]

Just a differing opinion, but one Roy hinted at in a small sense - music is incredibly competitive, so I suggest getting a degree in something like business while doing music on the side. It's what I did, and I honestly feel like I'm in a much stronger position than my drummer who did jazz performance as his undergrad. I'm on par with him as far as theoretical knowledge goes just from reading threads here on Talkbass (which is a huge knowledge bank of music information, as I'm sure you know), and I'm also called upon almost as much as he is by people needing subs for our respected instruments.

Make no mistake, my drummer is an awesome player, but if the music thing doesn't pay as well as he's hoping it will then he will be SOL, whereas I'll have the skills to start a business or work a middle management job right away in the (likely) chance the music thing doesn't work out. In addition, I've been able to apply a lot of my business skills to our own band, and it has made us a much more professional and respectable group in our area. I don't think we'd be doing nearly as well as we are if it weren't partially for that fact, and I think it's something that will help us be competitive with other groups looking to do what we're hoping to do.

Of course, you have to do what your heart tells you. Mine tells me music is the only thing I'd feel passionate about enough to do and do well in life, but I'm also realistic in the sense that although I'm an above average player, and can actually keep up with even the bassists in the jazz performance undergrad, I'm still no Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten. I'd rather be safe than sorry, especially considering the costs of getting a college education - blah!

[longfinger]

Originally Posted by HowiePlaysBass

My problem is I can't decide between pursuing a degree in classical music or pursuing a degree in Jazz Studies.

Do you have aspirations of composing your own music, arranging music for performing ensembles, or improvising? If yes, then Jazz degree is the way to go. If no, you only want to perform other people's music via the medium of the notated score, then classical degree may be best.

[HowiePlaysBass]

Thanks for the input guys I'll keep all this in mind.

[mcnaire2004]

If you are really willing to be poor your whole life... go for it.

[Roy Vogt]

Not necessarily, but be ready to work hard, be adaptable, and practice to the point that you're better than anyone you know. This whole "do I do this for a living?" question feels like it deserves it's own thread, imo.

[mtto]

Originally Posted by longfinger

Do you have aspirations of composing your own music, arranging music for performing ensembles, or improvising? If yes, then Jazz degree is the way to go. If no, you only want to perform other people's music via the medium of the notated score, then classical degree may be best.

Not necessarily. I have a degree in classical composition. I took classical bass lessons, played in orchestra and jazz combo while in school. All classical music majors have to take a harmony and voice leading series, which is really a "how to write tonal music" class. Classical music isn't just playing other people's music, you can write and arrange your own.

For the OP, my guess is that you are like me in that you want to play classical AND jazz, otherwise you wouldn't be asking the question. So: play both. Unless you really, really, just want to play jazz, my suggestion is to study classical and learn jazz outside of your main academic studies. The classical harmony and voice leading carries over 100% once you see the big picture. The bass technique will mostly carry over as well.

Making money is hard everywhere. Do what you love, just be careful running up too much debt.