Is it stupid to major in music?

Question

I am an awsome horn player and my private lesson teacher says she has contacted The University of Texas about a scholarship and i am only a soon to be sophmore whoohooo!!! i do love the longhorns**

Answer 1

takes a deeeeeep breath-
We all go through these thoughts at every stage of our careers as musicians. There are of course, only four horn positions open in any major or minor orchestra, so the competition is fierce. It is a fine education for the mind, and you as a professional musician can contribute valuable things to your community with your playing and your education. But you have to get the stars out of your eyes as soon as you can, and adapt the attitude that you are willing to be a musician in whatever form is most useful and most financially rewarding to you and your area. So keep at it, go for it, be realistic, practice your hind end off, NO practice breaks in the summer, go to the BEST conservatory you can. I suggest the Cleveland Institute of Music, my Alma mater, where your horn prof will be a member of the Cleveland Orchestra. www.cim.edu
Or Eastman, Julliard, Oberlin, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Indiana, or Curtis Institute.

Answer 2

My brother majored in music. He went to Virginia Tech and got a Masters degree. As for the career, the best he could do is teach private lessons and play night clubs. He was also working as a heating and ventilating repair to bring in extra cash. Eventually, he gave up music all together and is now a regional sales rep for Tran air conditioning.
Here are your career options with a music degree.
a) play in a band or night club.
b) teach - you can teach private lessons - you can teach at the high school level(you should probably have a Masters in Education as well) - you can teach at the University level in which case you'll need a PhD.
c) play in an orchestra - this actually isn't a fulltime gig. Usually, members of an orchestra have another regular fulltime job and play for recreation.
d). Advertising - write songs and jingles for advertising and television. You can actually make a good living doing this. I know some guys that write the opening tunes for television shows and some others that write the music scores for feature fims. It's a tough business to get in to but once you're in, you'll have the time of your life. Others just do the audio sweetening on television shows (laugh tracks) and still others do sound efx.

That's about it. It's a big decision, make it a good one.

Answer 3

I know you want people to tell you to do what you love, but that doesn't pay the bills. If you do decide to major in music, you need to have a minor in something practical. If you plan on teaching, being in a specialized music field is really hard. Our strings teacher just lost her job of 19 years because music just isn't a priority right now. You need to have something academic to fall back on.

If you don't plan to teach, you probably don't need to go to college to perform. You might want to apply to Julliard. If not, when you graduate, head for New York or L.A.

Good Luck. There are a million kids/young adults out there who dream of making it big. My son is one of them. If you have the determination and a lot of luck, who knows. Maybe we'll read about you in a few years.

Answer 4

Well, as a Texas Ex, I certainly applaude your fine choice in universities.

As for the music major part, any arts degree has more risk to it than something like pre-law, etc. However, if you truly love it more than anything else, then go for it. Consider your options for careers tied to your major and work towards those.

Just so you know, I majored in Theatre Studies and got my teaching certification, so I know what I am talking about.

Answer 5

It's not stupid but, You might want to have a back up. The begining of a music major is really difficult. You can find something to back it up but in reality it is a good to major in music and find different instrument that you're interested in. Good luck

Answer 6

I would say that every major is something cool because there's always something new to learn and discover! If you fee that music is not for you, then don't even worry about it. Simply live your life and major in something you would like to put in action! Music is something very ineteresting because without music our lives would be boring! but music stimulates our minds and lets us go crazy! I suggest you to think carefully and don't committ mistakes you'll regret later. Sit in a quiet place, meditate yourself and think what's best for you! good luck!

Answer 7

Being a music major is a wonderful thing to do (I speak from experience).......You can teach music, give lessons, play in a symphony, the possibilities are endless........There is so much we can do to give back to this kind (and sometimes not so kind) world.....Music (and having the talent for it) is a wonderful gift.....Good luck Honey and go far!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

If you want to be poor go ahead. I would either do a double major or minor in music so you have something to fall back on in case the music career doesn't work out.

Answer 9

Is it stupid? Absolutely not! But I would try to invest some time and energy in finding another avenue of financial gain as well, just in case things don't work out....

Answer 10

It is never stupid to major in something that you love. Make your minor something more practical for the business world, unless you want to be a starving musician.