Music Degree

[J_Bass]

“What are you going to do with that degree?”

You are going to learn new things.
You are going to pursue a passion.
You are going to improve yourself.
You are going to be better at something you love.
You are going to have a wonderful time.


Congratulations on making a great and positive decision in your life.

 

[DeltaTango]

“What are you going to do with that degree?” Who cares? That is not always the point of learning.
I have always been a life long student of something. I love learning just to enrich myself. I take bass lessons, jazz combo classes, theory classes. I am currently learning French. I am now interested in taking world history classes. Just for my own pleasure. All the best to you OP in your studies.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

I didn’t check your profile, so I don’t know where you live, so I’m not sure what you have access to, music-wise. But here’s my two cents:
What is your actual goal? To get deeper into music, to play more, to have a piece of paper that shows you completed a course of study? This is posted in the bass guitar section, so my assumption is that you’re not pursuing a classical performance path, and since you’ve had a career prior that you’re not getting a degree to pursue a teaching position. If those assumptions are incorrect, my apologies.
My experience is only my experience, but after involvement in pursuing Music Performance degrees in both a small liberal arts university and Berklee, I can without equivocation say that the most progress I made as a player was studying privately with a great teacher, Joe Solomon. He not only was able to instruct in musical fundamentals of physical approach (technique), understanding (theory), and hearing with clarity (ear training), he was able to do that one on one, as opposed to a class room experience. That means I didn’t move on until I achieved 100% of what information I was receiving, rather than receiving some kind of pass/fail or numerically scaled grade that determined if I moved on at the end of a semester. Classroom study tends to move at the pace of the middle of the group; if you understand quickly you don’t get to move on, if you have trouble comprehending or executing you don’t get to slow down till you DO get it. You just get the B or C and move on.
But all that really is contingent on having a GREAT teacher and being in an environment with a lot of other musicians with which to play. One thing that Berklee did provide was a huge opportunity to play ALL the time, both in the ensembles that were part of the academic program and in after school sessions with other students. Not all universities have a large number of performing ensembles, a lot of the smaller ones just have the big band and that’s it. No repertory ensembles, no small groups doing the music of specific composers. Plus, like a lot of guitarists who came to Berklee right out of high school, you may not get to play in any ensembles and get stuck in remedial instrumental classes.
I did get to hang around the program at the New School, I would be part of the professional rhythm sections hired to play for students sophomore juries; and it pretty much followed the same pattern as Berklee…

 

[DirtDog]

I'd bet good money that you'd go in there and out work those young 'uns to the point that most of them would be reevaluating their life choices by the middle of first semester just because of your presence. 100 bucks cash.

One of my good friends is a soon to be retired firefighter (Station Captain). He’s been working on his pre-med degree and will make the push to get into med school this year, after retiring. From what I hear from him, the group work he’s been involved is, he’s doing the bulk of the work when working with the young’uns.

He’s pulling straight As while working full time. Mind you, firefighters have a lot of scheduled days off compared to us 9-to-5ers. But there’s definitely a general gap in work ethic as he describes it and as I compare it to my own undergrad experience.

 

[Bonafide]

Congrats on the decision! Self improvement is always a worthwhile endvevour!

 

[Womber]

Thanks for all of the input everybody. I have actually been taking lessons from two different instructors both of whom coincidentally have degrees from Berklee. They both think that it’s a great idea. The “haters” seem to think that a 63 year old won’t blend in a class of 20 year olds to which I say “those 20 year olds won’t blend with me.”

Having a math/science background the theory of music has always been intriguing so I would like to focus on that. I was surprised that all of my credits from forty years ago would count toward this degree so I just need to take the ten or so music courses to fulfill the music major requirements.

Looking so forward to this.

 

[StatesideRambler]

Hello Fellow Low Lifes

Just taking a survey. Many years ago I was a college student and newbie bass player. I was a biology major and was interested in minoring in music but decided that chemistry would be better for my career. Fast forward forty years and I am a more accomplished bass player and retired from a career in medical sales. I have always wanted to pursue that formal music education and said to myself, what the hell, contact your alma mater and inquire. So, long story short, on January 19 I start my quest for a Bachelors Degree in Music with a concentration in Music Theory. The reaction from friends and family are mostly indifferent to negative. I get comments about it being a waste of time and quite a few people asked the ridiculous question “What are you going to do with that degree?”

Not that it matters what anybody says because I’m doing this no matter what but I thought that I would ask my kindred spirits at TB what you all think about this adventure that I’m about to set off on? Way cool or crazy dumb?

In Naval parlance, Bravo Zulu! You’re a mensch to me!

I’d join you but my plate is full at the air and auto museum where I’ve been volunteering (and learning) for 14 years and I’m happy with that. In the 70s a math professor remarked to me that he didn’t understand people “who didn’t have intellectual curiosity.” I took that to heart.

Apparently people around you are uninterested in turning new corners. My family is like that. Putting school behind them was their goal and achievement. I’ve known and worked with a lot of people who’ve done what you’re doing. e.g. A corporate CFO near retirement went back for a history degree (“What’s an accountant going to do with that?”); an M.D. who much later got an engineering degree purely for getting better at his hobby of customizing competition motorcycles; an X-ray technician who’s now studying creative writing; a wastewater operator who took up meteorology quite seriously.

You go, my friend! I’ll just envy you awhile.

 

[SoCal80s]

Funny thing, this got me to thinking about how I would go about doing the same thing. I'm retired too, and the thing that sticks in my head is being the old woman in a class of young 'uns. I guess they are doing online clases still? That would lower the bar to entry for me

As expensive as college is these days, more and more people are waiting until they have steady jobs before going to school. You'd be surprised how many older students there are. If you want to dip your toes in the water first, then join one of the large ensembles for a semester and you'll see how many older people there are.

 

[brianrost]

I could care less about the degree, but I would certainly love to take the classes. Go for it.

 

[salmon256]

This response has nothing to really help with your question but, I am currently a Biology student so it's cool to see a science person here lol! But good luck with your choice, I think you should do what you want no matter what people say, every degree is tough to find jobs without internships or networking. I hope to add music as my minor anyway but already have history. Good luck!

 

[Acoop]

I have a god friend who did his formal University education in Music then taught High School for years then when he retired went back for a PHD in music and turns out the University is paying him to help under grad students. ... It's and Win Win either way. ... Always do what you enjoy.

 

[john_g]

I think its all good OP, if you have the time and money to do it, go for it. If you were an 18 year old looking to take out student loans for alot of dough to get a "great paying career in music" I would probably have a different view.

 

[Honkey tonk]

college makes more Sense later on in life than right out of high school

 

[mattj1stc]

To the OP, I think that this is a great move. It's always important to eventually chase your dreams. Not everyone has the luxury to do so when they're young, but you can get to it eventually.

FWIW, my wife went back to school to earn her PhD in her 40s. She already had a successful corporate career and her PhD didn't directly relate to a future corporate role. Instead, it allowed her to become her own boss. Because she was already successful, nobody really understood why she went back to school, but it was always her dream to earn a PhD and she did it.

 

[themickster]

Hello Fellow Low Lifes

Just taking a survey. Many years ago I was a college student and newbie bass player. I was a biology major and was interested in minoring in music but decided that chemistry would be better for my career. Fast forward forty years and I am a more accomplished bass player and retired from a career in medical sales. I have always wanted to pursue that formal music education and said to myself, what the hell, contact your alma mater and inquire. So, long story short, on January 19 I start my quest for a Bachelors Degree in Music with a concentration in Music Theory. The reaction from friends and family are mostly indifferent to negative. I get comments about it being a waste of time and quite a few people asked the ridiculous question “What are you going to do with that degree?”

Not that it matters what anybody says because I’m doing this no matter what but I thought that I would ask my kindred spirits at TB what you all think about this adventure that I’m about to set off on? Way cool or crazy dumb?

Do it!

 

[Levin Hannaford]

Sounds to me like you’re living the dream! You made a practical decision as a younger person and now have the ability to do what many (often as rationalization) intend and ‘go back for the music degree later’.

Congratulations on the commitment and go get after it!

 

[dBChad]

Being a later in life student is kind of weird. After 6 years in construction, a few years of odd jobs due to furloughs, and 6 years in demolition engineering, I'm back in school about to start my super-senior semester and graduate. It's tough finding job offers that beat what I made before I went back to school, but I like the options available to me across more industries now. If this degree is something you desire and will in any way improve you on your path to your goals (musical or otherwise), have at it! I firmly believe that education is one of the most noble pursuits one can dedicate their time to.

 

[wazzel]

I don't think it is crazy at all, it is what I plan on doing when I retire from engineering. If I can find time I will probably start pre-retirement part time at a jr college.

 

[groooooove]

Hello Fellow Low Lifes

Just taking a survey. Many years ago I was a college student and newbie bass player. I was a biology major and was interested in minoring in music but decided that chemistry would be better for my career. Fast forward forty years and I am a more accomplished bass player and retired from a career in medical sales. I have always wanted to pursue that formal music education and said to myself, what the hell, contact your alma mater and inquire. So, long story short, on January 19 I start my quest for a Bachelors Degree in Music with a concentration in Music Theory. The reaction from friends and family are mostly indifferent to negative. I get comments about it being a waste of time and quite a few people asked the ridiculous question “What are you going to do with that degree?”

Not that it matters what anybody says because I’m doing this no matter what but I thought that I would ask my kindred spirits at TB what you all think about this adventure that I’m about to set off on? Way cool or crazy dumb?

good for you.

a music degree should be pursued because you genuinely want to learn everything you can about music, particularly studying counterpoint and voice leading.

my issue with most "should i get a degree in music" threads/conversations is that the program will teach you some seriously valuable skills (and make you a well rounded, capable musician) but has no investment in you making a living playing music. In your case it does not sound like that is at all your goal, so good for you!

a lot of people don't realize what they are in for. Theory in particular is about the structure of music, and in the first few semesters about the interplay between voices. it's very interesting and will make you a better musician.

enjoy the ride!!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Hello Fellow Low Lifes

Just taking a survey. Many years ago I was a college student and newbie bass player. I was a biology major and was interested in minoring in music but decided that chemistry would be better for my career. Fast forward forty years and I am a more accomplished bass player and retired from a career in medical sales. I have always wanted to pursue that formal music education and said to myself, what the hell, contact your alma mater and inquire. So, long story short, on January 19 I start my quest for a Bachelors Degree in Music with a concentration in Music Theory. The reaction from friends and family are mostly indifferent to negative. I get comments about it being a waste of time and quite a few people asked the ridiculous question “What are you going to do with that degree?”

Not that it matters what anybody says because I’m doing this no matter what but I thought that I would ask my kindred spirits at TB what you all think about this adventure that I’m about to set off on? Way cool or crazy dumb?

Good for you! I think this is really really cool and you will become a better musician because of it. Seriously, much respect!