Music Degree

[Carl Hillman]

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?

I'd take a hard look at my reasons and expectations for completing a degree, and if I still wanted to do it (and could afford the time and money), then I'd do it and wouldn't be concerned with what others thought.

 

[Scarysharkface]

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?

If you want to do it, that's all that matters.

You will likely find answers to a zillion things you've wondered about, and it will fill-in the random scattered holes in your music theory knowledge.

It really sounds like fun, to be honest.

John

 

[JW56789]

I think it's an absolutely wonderful idea, especially as something to occupy your mind in retirement from your 'day job'.

It's brilliant in that now, you don't have to do this as a kid about getting this degree and worrying whether or not you'd be able to support myself (and maybe a young family), and now you have the hindsight of already knowing how to play, essentially now you're going to learn how to write out what you're doing, and better yet, read what someone else wrote out and play it right now.

Will Lee once remarked that after his degree and his sight-reading was sharp as a knife, on chart or written-out gigs, he didn't have to rehearse, really, he'd just read it down on the spot and it was done.

I don't care how old you are, MORE education is ALWAYS a good thing.

Congrats, especially for being willing to wade into the deep end at an age a lot of guys would shy away from. My wife went back to a community college to become a phlebotomist before her back trouble, and I admired the hell out of her at 60 in a room full of late teens and early 20's.

 

[Nuage420]

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?

This is my retirement plan. I'll knock out my 20 years of service and use my GI Bill to pursue music education stress free.

 

[DirtDog]

So, I started looking into this at my alma mater…the audition process may screen me out! Sight reading…hmmm, will need to spend time working on that. Performance portion of audition….would have to think that one through!

They do have an electric guitar program, not sure if electric (or double) bass is covered there. I could go either way.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

sounds great! going to school later in life reveals a much more focused attention to study. I hope you find it enriching and stimulating! Who cares what anyone else says, you are fortunate enough to be in a position where you can do what you please, and if educating yourself in a discipline that you enjoy, GO FOR IT!

 

[juggahnaught]

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?

Way cool.

"What are you going to do with that degree?" What are you going to do with any degree at your age and life stage? You're retired. Just tell them that it's a stupid question.

 

[BOOG]

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?

I considered going back for a BA in Music Theory and still might.
Good luck with it. Curious how your perspective on the degree and in music changes after you start into it.

 

[RichardW]

Someone said it earlier--education is never a waste of time, no matter what your age. I think what you're doing is fantastic.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

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?

I returned in 2019 to complete my undergraduate degree at the age of 47. I’m getting a BFA in jazz bass. I’ve had a career outside of music and I got the chance to complete my unfinished degree. I auditioned and got in. I’m old enough to be the father of most of my classmates. It’s all good. I love the curriculum. I may get into teaching music afterwards, maybe do something else. But the chance to get a degree in something I’m genuinely interested is not to be wasted. Good for you for doing the same. Sure, you can learn music without a degree, but the level of immersion and exposure to multiple quality teachers is second to none.

 

[fdeck]

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. ...
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. ...

Indeed, those things are an important part of choosing a college. At the university near my house, private lessons, and ensembles, are a huge part of the music performance degree program. Students choose a program based on what teacher they want to study with, and have to be admitted into that teacher's studio.

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.

Definitely don't spend college tuition money to learn the basics. There are much cheaper ways of learning those things. I don't know about Berklee, but the university near my house won't admit a remedial student at all. The incoming students are already playing at a very high level.

 

[iiipopes]

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?

I think it is great. I was in a similar situation. I followed the family business, but kept my musical chops up and got a couple of small music scholarships, even though I was not a music major, to help me through college and grad school. Since it is the holidays, and since you are proceeding with the theory degree, here is my favorite new year's resolution: N6 - V65/V - V87 - I43.

 

[groovepump]

OH My God.

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?

OH MY GOD! Same as me. Exactly. I earned a BS in Analytical Chem, hoping to teach chem, or maybe even go to dental school ( I ended up in electronics of all things . . .) I wanted to minor in Music (Bass or composition) but when I went to the school of music, the dept head asked me what my major was. I told him "chemistry", and he dropped the conversation immediately. Damned-near THREW me out of his office. He kept saying "No-way, Man. It won't work". No audition. No test. Nothing. Just chucked me out. I was a bit pissed, to say the least. I would like to have had the music degree under my belt (maybe taught music instead!) but now just work in electronics, doing the electrical equivalent of playing Mustang Sally all-day-long..... There's not much to be done with a Chem degree, as-is, unless you teach chem, or move into some medical -associated field. It's a very interesting area of study, but would probably do something different in my next life. If you wanna study Music, just do it.
You could learn a lot on your own as well, but if you want to formally study it, go for it. This life is real, not a dress rehearsal, and we should follow our passions while we can. And don't let the counselor or dept head chuck you out of his office . He's just jealous 'cuz he couldn't pass science class in high school.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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?

What are you going to do with that degree?

What most people (most famous musicians) do, is start music college, then start a band, drop out, and hit it big time.

 

[foal30]

Despite 5 kids , mortgages, working 55 hour week I attended Jazz School Part Time in my mid-30s. Absolutely brilliant idea, sharpened my brain, opened my ears and freed my spirit.

People should get educated for reasons that don’t need to be economic

 

[Sponson Thrisby]

You only go around once. If you can do the logistics, and it will make you happy, and not hurt anyone else, then go for it!

Now you've given me an idea for something to do when I retire in a few years.

 

[Julius]

I'm in my last year studying the music teacher program here in Sweden before I'm done.

 

[bassliner50]

Yeah do it.

 

[220_Hz]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

 

[Manticore]

I know quite a few people that have pursued additional degrees simply because they wanted to learn new things. I think it a fantastic way to spend reclaimed time!