Music Education Major?

Question

I would like to eventually get my major in music education, but from what I hear music programs are getting cut left and right. People have advised me to go to college for something else saying that I am not garenteed a job in music at all! I have loved music my whole life and would like to now have a career teaching it. Should I find something more "realistic" to go towards? Any information from people who know what they are talking about would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

i think u should go with ur passions, but also prepare for possible problems with it. if i were u i would double major. do one thing that u know for sure will get u a job & u don't have to go beyond college degree for...like accounting...and also do music. consider graduating in 5 years so that u can have 2 careers u can venture into. try to get a job with music, but if u can't u can prepare someone's taxes while u r looking for an opportunity. ..another option while waiting is being an accountant in the day, while in the evening u can offer private lessons or group lessons, or maybe teach a class at community colleges during the evening.

Answer 2

I am not sure where you live, but in South Carolina there are some wonderful music programs. There is also a grant for schools who want to focus on the arts called ABC Grants. These are given to schools who want to use the arts in the core curriculum. Those schools love their special area teachers and use them a great deal. Their teachers aren't going anywhere. If you are still concerned, you can do what many of my friends at Converse College did, which was to double major in music and Early Childhood or Elementary Education. That gave them that extra edge when they were applying for jobs because they were certified to teach in the music classroom as well as the regular classroom. Hang in there! You can do it - just keep your eyes open for the place you are to be.

Answer 3

Think more of It and pray of it, if music is your life, your real passion, and your true calling, then do it with your whole hearth even whatever happen (that means even if your parents disagree or even you loving partner also).

Who ever said that music don't have a future, obviously don't know anything about music. You have many opurtunity in music, som many that sometimes You would need to choose one over another (job).

The different about music to other career is that music (and other art) will give you an easy earning (i mean more money for less sweat and time), but there's no real guarenty that you'll get these job every day, while an office work will give you guarentied income and work to do every day (inless you're messing with the boss) but you will earn small compared to the energy and time you give.
But, in music, at least you can always teach for money.

I can say all this because i did it.
I'm studying in a music university in my last semester, I'm doing my thesis right now and going to held my last recital in february 2007. I'm also teach in a music school.

My first earning in my life is by music (tuning drum when i'm about 14'th) for 1hour of work i've earned 100.000 rupiah (that's about 20US$ that time, and about 10US$ now) and the client also provide me with transportation and meal.
My easuest earning was also in music, playing music for Indonesian Idol video clip, working for 2 days - 1'st day was recording in a studio for a total of 30 minutes of recording and 5 hour of waiting, 2'nd day shooting for a total of 2 hour work and 10 hours of waiting; i earn almost 1million rupiah (about 100US$ this time) not included meals and service.

If you want to know more about music career, you can contact me... [e-mail]

Answer 4

keep going for the music major, but try to minor in something else as well just in case.