Going Into College/University To Study Music PROS & CONS.

[O.G.T.V.]

Hello everyone! I'm a 19 year old guy in his sophomore year in college. I'm actually studying public relations since of a health condition/near death situation forced me to take public relations as a career and not music in 2008.

Since the start of the 2nd year, I still have on my mind the change to music. I've had been playing in several bands since my 16's and I'm actually in a band starting to succeed underground in my island, and soon to be an opening band to one of Puerto Rico's (my island) most important rock band. April 14 to be more precise*

 

I....kinda lost love to my actual college concentration (carrer), but I really like music, and do it with all my heart. Of my health problems...I need to live with them and do my best.

 

I want to ask all of you people, specially if there's some of you that did study music on college to tell me THE TRUTH behind studying music as career. I really know is NO PIECE OF CAKE, and that is really hard to live out of it, but I really need your opinions on this one. I'm really serious on this topic.

I'll apreciate any kind of help on this topic.

 

''Osvy''

[daddymack]

well, here's the thing....going to college for a music degree will get you just that: a degree in music. Do you want to teach music, like in a school setting? Because that is about all the degree will be good for. Sadly, music and art courses are usually the first to go when the budget knife gets sharpened in the public schools...so as a career choice, well, " Mr. Holland's Opus " doesn't happen all that often.

Studying music is not a bad thing, I took a number of courses in college, as electives...but the trick is to know what you expect from all that instruction.

If you are in a working band, then you do not need a 4-year degree to keep that going. Get the degree in PR, although, seriously, that is another area that gets slashed when the budgets get tight...I'm jus'sayin'...

[3shiftgtr]

Someone smarter than me once said:

If you don't HAVE to do it...a career in music is the stupidest thing a human can do with their lives. It is an egocentric decision that belies the reality of the situation.

But if you absolutely HAVE to do it...if you are certain you have no choice in the matter...if you are 100% certain that music is why you were sent to be alive on this planet...then you will be rewarded with a lifetime of purpose and amazing experiences not found in any other endeavor. And of course you will enjoy musical experiences you can't even dream of right now....

[BlueStrat]

If you want to make a living playing music, get a degree in business with a major in marketing. Like DM said, almost all music majors end up being music teachers.

[Opus Antics]

 

If you want to make a living playing music, get a degree in business with a major in marketing. Like DM said, almost all music majors end up being music teachers.

 

 

This. Majoring in music gets you nothing. You can still go into music with a business major. Do they have minors or concentrations? If so, make music that. Or just take electives.

 

The business degree will let you go in any direction. A music degree will prep you for a career as a music teacher. Because making a living at music is more business than music theory.

[B. Adams]

I have a lot of friends with degrees in music, and here's what I've seen:

 

Of the ones who are making a living in music, ALL of them are teaching, most at the high school level. Most have bands on the side, and most do fairly well with their band, but nowhere near enough to support them solely on that income.

 

The ones who aren't teaching have some sort of "regular" job, and most have a band on the side that does fairly well, but not quit-your-day-job well.

 

A degree in music will not further your career in music, unless you want to teach. You can learn just as much about music, and become just as good a musician, by dedicating yourself to it on your own, and taking lessons and playing with other musicians.

 

I do feel that there are advantages to going to school for music, but they're not what most people would think of. You'll get to meet a lot of other musicians, and be exposed to a lot of different skill levels, which will hopefully encourage you to better yourself. You'll be forced to learn to play instruments that you might not have otherwise, and you'll be forced to perform in front of people on a regular basis. You'll have opportunities to play in bands, either through the school or on the side with other musicians you've met. You'll have access to equipment (instruments, PA gear, practice space) that you might not have otherwise, and some schools will let you use some of that stuff for your side projects. You'll meet musicians and instructors that may be able to help you meet other musicians and instructors, and you'll probably be able to meet some professional musicians that are invited to the school for special events.

 

In my opinion, going to school for music is mostly about networking. It's about the people you meet and the long-term relationships that you build that can help further your career in music, not necessarily about becoming a better musician (although you will need to be a good musician to have a career in it).

 

Just be aware going into it that you're not getting a magical piece of paper that will get you a job in the music field. It's about your skill of course, but also your personality, your ability to work with others, and most importantly: the people you know and know you, that will get you a career in music. You need to make friends and professional connections in the field in order to go anywhere. It's really hard to make a living in music, especially if you don't want to teach.

 

If that seems like it's worth spending tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars on, go for it. You can have a lot of fun and meet a lot of good people in school, but it will be very hard work and in the end it might not get you the kind of job you want.

 

Just remember to have a backup plan no matter what you do.

[O.G.T.V.]

Thank you all for your replies. All of you have made really good arguments about making music my career.

 

I'm really kinda frustrated since music is really my thing, and I hardly see myself as a PR guy anymore. I'm mostly playing, thinking about playing, gassing for gear, gigging 1 to 3-4 times a month (you know the thrill). Thing is (as you all say)...I got to be real. Things are bad, harsh for music teachers and music is something I can get to learn by my own. But there are some things bothering me....

 

When I'm networking, I feel that everybody sees/speaks to me as a PR guy instead of a guitarist. In college, speaking to some musicians, everywhere is almost the same. (Except in the band or family situation) I know I can be a good public relations spokesman, but I don't feel like it! Come on! I've played in several bands, do a couple of guitar solos in original/covers songs alike. write some songs too, study music biz for doing more stuff in a band setting, and is not even about ''the fame''. Yes, there are some people n' musicians that appreciate me as a guitarist, but I feel overwhelmed by the other guitarist in my band too. He's a lot better guitarist than me! He can make hard, fast solos, improvise, create good rhythms, etc. He studied music for 3 years and dropped out of it. Now he's on college again but studying the same as me as International Public Relations* Both of us, work as a really good band combination that is little by little getting our band in the spotlight; still...I would really like to play at his level one day to feel more like equals instead of superior/inferior.

 

I would like to ask you all (before I make a decision) How far (good playing) will studying a music minor make me? If music is really my thing, (what moves me) should I really go for it?! (I know teaching may be kinda hard for me, but I'll do it, if it will make me good and happy)

[Scafeets]

As far as the PR thing goes -- you won't really be any good at it if you hate your job. In an industry where you need to manufacture enthusiasm, having none will take its toll. I would suggest applying the same skills and techniques to marketing, where you can be insulated from the press, who will sniff out your antipathy for PR and grind you up. Marketing (and sales, if you have the personality, talent and tenacity) are professions that offer opportuities and pay well. By contrast, PR is a profession that is rapidly swirling the bowl as there become fewer and fewer press outlets to ply the trade. As others have said (and I agree) - ONLY become a music major if you want to teach or become a serious (jazz or classiscal) musician. If you teach, expect to make a modest living and be the first one out when the budget cuts happen. If you become a performer, it will be less money and less security. With your ongoing health situation, having a steady job probably has more importance -- you can always express yourself as a musician without resorting to the subsistance wages (and no benefits) the path will generally bring.

Hate to be a downer; but stay in school and get a degree in something. You won't be able to reconsider five years from now and it goes by quickly.

PS: I took music theory, performance and arranging in college and never felt the need to even get a minor in it.

[richardmac]

I have two degrees in music - an AAS in Music Merchandising and a BS in Music Business. And I agree with almost everything everyone said above. I went back to school and got a third degree in elementary education because I wanted a better career. A degree in straight music isn't going to make you any money unless you want to teach. A degree in music business is stupid - you should just get a degree in business, if that's the route you want.

 

As far as wondering if you'd like teaching - give some lessons! Seriously. Find a young person who wants to learn guitar and give them a few free lessons, or even charge them a little money. I did, to see if I liked it (I didn't like it.)

 

You really need to think about money. The picture for musicians ain't so rosy these days. In the US there are schools looking at cutting music and arts because the economy is so bad. I feel bad for young folks today because the worldwide economy sucks and that makes it harder to sort of fart around for many years until you decide what you want to do.

 

Another tidbit of advice - If you can't find a career you love, then at least find a career where you can bust ass. In most lines of work, hard work is a unique thing and will get you ahead. The world is full of people going through the motions. Bust ass and you'll get noticed, in most jobs. Music isn't one of them, though. Music is full of people who bust ass. But people want computer programmers, not musicians.

 

You can always do music on the side, as others have pointed out. But it's tough to buy that new American Strat when you've got absolutely no money....

[daddymack]

No amount of schooling is going to replace practicing your butt off...theory is just that...theory...practical playing is a whole different ball game. If you take basic music and advanced harmony, you know what there is, the rest is all just icing on the cake that you may not need, or may find on tour own. Did you ask your other guitarist if those three years studying music was wha tmade him that good? Because I am thinking...not. There are plenty of self-teaching methods available, particularly for guitar, that you really do not have to spend years taking a lot of classes you won't get much out of....I'm jus'sayin'...

[Faust1587]

I have a degree in music from a state school and mostly what is true has been said. However, no one has said by going to music and getting a degree-you actually have that- a degree

 

A degree means something to employeres and it proves you are disciplined and educated. Some jobs posting will require a degree of some kind. It isnt always the case, but lets be realistic...even if you got a degree in philosophy, psychology, religious studies, art... etc .what are you gonna do with that? Almost ANY degree doesn't really get you anything or should means you're gonna stick to that path of whatever you pick. My mom got a sociology degree and she worked as a secretary.

 

So why not just do what you like? My goal when I was your age was just to get a degree- I tried English, History, Psychology, I really couldn't find anything that I wanted to finish. I picked music to get a degree, and most importantly DO WHAT I LIKE and get better at it. No one has talked about doing what you like... which in my view is the key to life.

 

Look at this way, you can get a masters in something completely different, AFTER you get a music degree. You'll be a step ahead of somebody who just worked at McDonalds their whole life. Or you can get a double major with your music degree, maybe in something alittle bit safer like (yawns) computer science.

[richardmac]

The big problem is that even though we've made progress, we don't prepare kids for thinking about a vocation/career well enough in K-12. And we have guidance counselors, career counselors, vocational classes, tests that we have kids take to determine their interests, all kinds of stuff. It's not like we're not trying. But for some reason it's very, very difficult. So we end up with college kids who have no clue what they want to do, or worse, they want to make a living in something with a crappy job market (like music or art, where teaching is the big opportunity.)

 

I think our culture is part of the problem. On one hand we're all "You can be whatever you want to be!" On the other hand, businesses are saying "Here are the available jobs."

 

I'm being a smart ass, but really, kids need to look at the jobs and careers that are out there and choose one.

 

But having said that... of all the people I know, I'd say the majority now have a job that is NOT directly related to their college degree. But what Faust said is true - the degree got them their initial opportunities.

 

Here's my own personal example:

 

BS in Music Business - Graduated, sold home audio equipment, hated it, got a job working for the Camelot chain, was going to manage a store, hated it. Went back to college - because I'd already had a BS degree, I got an elementary ed degree in a year and a half. Moved to FL, taught for 5 years, got really good at computers, became a school tech specialist, kicked butt at that, became the coach for all school tech specialists.

 

So I got two BS degrees and I'm not doing either one. But my el ed degree put me in a position to learn what I do now. The interesting thing about my story is that when I first went to college, the job I have right now didn't exist yet! The entire field didn't exist yet, really. Crazy.

 

So bottom line, I agree... get a degree.

[richardmac]

This is almost spooky! I just went and read one of my fave bloggers (Seth Godin) and his blog today is about this exact same topic!

Here's the link.

[O.G.T.V.]

Again people. Thank you for your topic replies!

Scafeet has said something that is very true

 

 

I have a degree in music from a state school and mostly what is true has been said. However, no one has said by going to music and getting a degree-you actually have that- a degree A degree means something to employeres and it proves you are disciplined and educated. Some jobs posting will require a degree of some kind. It isnt always the case, but lets be realistic...even if you got a degree in philosophy, psychology, religious studies, art... etc .what are you gonna do with that? Almost ANY degree doesn't really get you anything or should means you're gonna stick to that path of whatever you pick. My mom got a sociology degree and she worked as a secretary. So why not just do what you like? My goal when I was your age was just to get a degree- I tried English, History, Psychology, I really couldn't find anything that I wanted to finish. I picked music to get a degree, and most importantly DO WHAT I LIKE and get better at it. No one has talked about doing what you like... which in my view is the key to life. Look at this way, you can get a masters in something completely different, AFTER you get a music degree. You'll be a step ahead of somebody who just worked at McDonalds their whole life. Or you can get a double major with your music degree, maybe in something alittle bit safer like (yawns) computer science.

 

 

True that. One should do what, one likes/love to do. I learned that in an ethics class last semester. Sadly my college doesn't offer a double major. Only a major and minor concentration. I'm leaning to what you're saying ''DO WHAT I LIKE and get better at it'' I kinda feel sad, wrong, misplaced everytime the proffesors say: ''YOU'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON THIS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE'' and to make it even worst...my dad wants me to work at his company for the rest of my life. I've had grown seeing how much of his hopes & dreams have faded away. He used to be a pilot and a diver. Now he can't do any of that because of his everyday job, and he's always talking about being a pilot again and the things he could never do cuz of his job. I don't wanna be that way, but still....I need to get real on this!!! The economy ain't gonna get any better, anytime soon (20 years or more)

[BlueStrat]

Almost ANY degree doesn't really get you anything

 

I've heard this a lot but I disagree. MANY degrees won't get you jack, but many will- a law degree, a business management degree, a degree in molecular science, education degree, and so on. But there are a lots of "soft science" and social degrees (psychology, sociology, philosophy, etc) and liberal arts degrees ( art, music, writing, etc) that can be as useless as tits on a tennis ball. It has less to do with the degree and more to do with the aspirations and the determination of the person holding it, but some degrees lend themselves to employment in their respective fields much sooner than others. My own son is currently going to med school. It is unlikely he will be a filing clerk when he gets out of med school (though in light of current events, who knows?! )

[MartinC]

I don't see how an education in music won't make you a better musician. That in itself makes it worthwhile. But it's also not a bad idea to get a degree in a field that would qualify you for a solid career in case the music thing doesn't pan out. The best musician I know has a degree in music. His skills are far beyond most all of the guys I've ever played with. I'd bet his education had a lot to do with that.

[BlueStrat]

I don't see how an education in music won't make you a better musician. That in itself makes it worthwhile. But it's also not a bad idea to get a degree in a field that would qualify you for a solid career in case the music thing doesn't pan out. The best musician I know has a degree in music. His skills are far beyond most all of the guys I've ever played with. I'd bet his education had a lot to do with that.

 

 

Could be. But I know a couple of guys with music degrees that are really weak players. They're high school and middle school band teachers now.

 

Having said that, two of my sax players are the best around here and were music school grads-one is a Berklee grad and the other is now the band director and tenured prof at Gonzaga University.

 

But the best piano player around here (IMO) is completely self taught. Go figure.

[johns7022]

I think what get's missed here...is when you go to college your primarily getting an education.....and getting practical career advice from a musician is like asking my Pomeranian where I should go to the bathroom..

 

The sad, simple fact of the matter, music instruction, outside of University is generly sub par in just about every educuational/teaching litmus you can guage your typical guitar instructor with...and I have no doubt in college at say Julliard the level of musicianship is pretty advanced....

 

At a school, they draw it out, they get academic with it...your learning the math but not how to build the bridge..(entertain)

 

Personaly I knew I had to find a better way to learn music without going through the long drawn out, expensive process that colleges run you through...but I had to figure out a way to learn without burning through another school bus full of local 'guitar instructors'. Problem solved....

 

My advice, if you want to learn music so you can be in a band, be a rock star...yeah, you can go to college...then start a band, and probably be pretty tight, solid player, or you can be disciplined and learn other ways...college is really about holding you to a class, a schedule, grades ect...many things you can learn without going to college...but do you have the discipline to do it on your own?

 

A career in music is a career in showbusiness...any Universities offering a bachelors degree in show business?

 

I think when you go to college with the primary goal of using that degee as a career starter then you are buying some knowledge and a piece of paper that shows your certified in THIS...if you don't need that piece of paper...then your just learning...now the question? Can you do on your own what college would cost you years and $50k? Medical, law, engineering...no...

 

Having said all this...I have a liberal arts degree, simply in lieu of other options at the time, I went to school, tried to better myself...and yes it opened doors by those that value a degree...and yes a degree will garner you some more earning potential if you market your education to those that value it...

 

Looking back...if I had gotten a music degree, instead of a degree in Poli sci, I would probably have learned music much sooner, better, deeper knowledge of theory, and in the end, had the same liberal arts degree, but with something that I could use, vs a more worldly viewpoint...

 

Bluestrat has it right...that there are guys that have the theory, but can't really play...maybe playing well is more about feel then the math.....on the other hand...none of us are walking into Julliard and blowing the 13 year old prodigies off the stage.....school has it's place....

 

If you want to play well, get in line, everyone does, but few put in the time, effort or hell to figure this out... and all said and done...if you get your degree and practice guitar...two things will happen, you probably won't have to hang drywall for living, and have more money and time to practice music...

 

It's worth it. Go to college...just be smart about how you do it.

[daddymack]

Here's something else to think about...do you want to be a musician, or a guitarist? Not mutually exclusive, but not necessarily the same thing, as many musicians are not familiar with the guitar. I ask because we have discussed this in depth elsewhere on the forums, and the thing is many people want to just be bad@$$ guitar players, but do not want to learn theory. Is that wrong? No, just a limited specific goal, and to accomplish that, as an end unto itself, is achievable without going to college at all. But to be a musician is to learn to speak and read a new language made of notes, not words, a beautiful language that you can use to speak to other musicians, but which can be translated and expressed in words.

I have worked with bands where the guitarists and bass player did everything based on tabs and playback, and to me, although it worked for them, but it also seemed like they couldn't communicate effectively, couldn't improvise or vamp, because it wasn't how they learned and rehearsed it....not unlike the way you have to learn music in school, where it is all on the sheet, play it as written. To me, this has too many drawbacks, because if you comprehend the theory of music, you can go off the page...and find your way back.

Then again to many, I am an apostate, as I believe a performed piece of music should never come out exactly the same way twice...because it need to be alive, and it needs to be interpreted in the moment.

[richardmac]

At the root of this is a deeper question. You can now take online classes at several colleges for free. MIT is one of them. You can take a full load of MIT classes without paying a dime. You get the knowledge. But you don't get the piece of paper. Does it matter? Mostly yes, but in some cases it might not.

 

Similarly you can educate yourself, as johns pointed out, and I think we all do that to some extent. The opportunities to educate yourself are insanely huge now compared to when I was 18. Good Lord. I had three sources of information back in the day - Keyboard Magazine, Guitar Player Magazine, and a little later Home and Studio Recording. That was it. Now, if I want to learn how to play just about any song on guitar, there's a youtube video to show me how it's done. Don't understand parametric eq? There are literally hundreds of different pages out there that describe it as simply or as complex as you can handle it. It's all out there for free, if you have the time and interest.

 

The more I think about it, the more I like one of two ideas - either minor in music (if possible) or get a degree that will get you a job and study music on your own. I would also recommend a really good guitar teacher. I had one, in college, and he took me through the first Berklee book and then into classical. It was really awesome for me. I went from only knowing power chords to learning jazz and classical guitar.

 

The education should never stop. If you're done learning, you're done growing. After you've been playing guitar for 20 years (or even 5, for that matter) there can be a tendency to just keep playing the same licks and chords over and over again. I just learned how to play "Never going back again" by Fleetwood Mac by watching a youtube video. That's a COOL guitar part! I'm not a finger picker so it's a tad difficult for me, but very cool.

 

Finally, my motto is that it should be FUN. If music ain't fun for you, you're doing it wrong. I'm 44 and I still play every day and love it. And 20 years from now when I'm 64 and I can't play quite as fast, I'll STILL love it! I want to be like Les Paul, who still did gigs until he died. I'll be playing the open mic at the retirement home. LOL

[O.G.T.V.]

Thank you once again to everyone of you that have commented here! After reading and thinking about everything written here, I have decided to finish the degree. It could be ''safer''. After I finish my concentration classes then I'll transfer to another campus where I can take some classes to learn and/or make a minor concentration on music. I need it*

 

About an argument here. Is really hard to say between guitarist and musician...what I would like to be. The guitar is the best instrument I play and connect with. But I also believe is not about playing ultra-mega fast licks n' solos. I believe is more about the feeling some musical notes can transfer to people's soul. That meaning. If I could get the chops, it could be great too! But I would really like n' love to play good for me and to use the skills wisely live. I just have to find the balance between job/music, the time and help to develop at this.

 

Thank you everyone for the help!

[Matximus]

Music teachers go to music school. Rock stars don't. It's simple: Decide which one you want to be and go for it.

 

And if you're getting all bent out of shape about this decision because you're worried about having something to fall back on... go to music school. Because rock stars are willing to wager all their chips on a single number. That's pretty much why they're rock stars.

[Space Pickle]

I think some of you guys are just saying not to go to music school just because you didn't do it yourselves. One of the prevailing attitudes in this thread is that the music degree won't actually get you anywhere which is kind of a stupid thing to say because on the face of it no degree will get you anywhere on it's own.

 

The 2 best things music school can offer are jamming opportunities and networking opportunities.

 

Jamming: Either in class or after class, you get to play all the time. Like, as much as you want and as we all know one of the most important factors in becoming a good player is playing a lot. When you're at music school you can just walk down the hall and play. You'll never find as many chances to play in the real world.

 

Networking: If you go to a good school (i.e. one that attracts lots of good students) you're going to be able to make friends with students AND teachers. This is really important because if you're a good student and a good player (or if you're able to become a good player over the course of your studies) then you'll get on the radar of your teachers, many of whom are going to be excellent players.

 

 

either minor in music (if possible) or get a degree that will get you a job and study music on your own. I would also recommend a really good guitar teacher.

 

 

I think the first part is really bad advice. What you should do is go all in: if you go halfway you'll either want to do music and wish you had have majored in it or you'll quit and wish you had have minored in something more useful. Also Richard you say to get a good teacher. Good advice! But what's a really easy way to find a good teacher? Going to music school. Not trying to pick on you Richardmac but this is the only one I have time for now.

 

I also don't get the hate for teachers. Did you guys have bad experiences in high school music? If you do music you're going to need some kind of a day job...all the pros I know (in Toronto) teach in some capacity, either privately, at college or in public school.

[richardmac]

 

I think some of you guys are just saying not to go to music school just because you didn't do it yourselves. One of the prevailing attitudes in this thread is that the music degree won't actually get you anywhere which is kind of a stupid thing to say because on the face of it no degree will get you anywhere on it's own. I think the first part is really bad advice. What you should do is go all in: if you go halfway you'll either want to do music and wish you had have majored in it or you'll quit and wish you had have minored in something more useful. Also Richard you say to get a good teacher. Good advice! But what's a really easy way to find a good teacher? Going to music school. Not trying to pick on you Richardmac but this is the only one I have time for now. I also don't get the hate for teachers. Did you guys have bad experiences in high school music? If you do music you're going to need some kind of a day job...all the pros I know (in Toronto) teach in some capacity, either privately, at college or in public school.

 

 

I snipped a little out. I don't feel picked on - if we all agreed, these threads would be short and not worth reading. I understand what you're saying, but first, I DID go to school for music. Actually music business which was like a dual major - I had to do juries and theory and choral conducting and the whole bit, plus take business classes. So I speak from experience.

 

Regarding the hatred for teachers, I can only speak for me. I don't hate teachers. I wouldn't ever want to teach music for a living. I did give lessons at one point and I didn't like it - it wasn't for me.

 

But as to the main point - getting a degree that will get you a job as opposed to a music degree - I'll stand by what I said, with two exceptions - if you want to be a music teacher, get a music degree. And two, if you are a world class player, get a degree. I know a guy who went to Eastman in Rochester who ended up playing in Jay Leno's band. He was a world class player - at 19 he could play about any piece of any kind of music ever written. If you've got that kind of ability, and you act like a professional and have a good personality and are outgoing, go get the degree.

 

But if you don't have that kind of talent and you don't want to teach, going "all in" is gambling with some bad odds. That's not good advice. Following your heart and your dreams might work in Hollywood but real life laughs at it. If you're not going to teach, how are you going to make a living? Going to sell a million CD's? Go on a nationwide tour? Play the lottery - the odds are the same. In case no one happened to notice, people aren't buying music like they used to and the club scene that was so big in the 70's and early 80's is almost gone. What you "could" do is get into the business side - that was my plan. I wanted to one day own my own music store. But I ended up hating retail. And now I'm REALLY glad I didn't because the big chains have all but killed the mom and pop stores.

[Scafeets]

 

I think some of you guys are just saying not to go to music school just because you didn't do it yourselves. One of the prevailing attitudes in this thread is that the music degree won't actually get you anywhere which is kind of a stupid thing to say because on the face of it no degree will get you anywhere on it's own. ....I also don't get the hate for teachers. Did you guys have bad experiences in high school music? If you do music you're going to need some kind of a day job...all the pros I know (in Toronto) teach in some capacity, either privately, at college or in public school.

 

 

I agree with you that a formal music education can be very beneficial. And I, too, don't know why all the hostility for muisic teachers. I think the reason for my advice (get a degree in something marketable) stems from this particular poster's ambivalence. He's already leaning toward the "backup plan" approach to education, and it is most likely the best way to go - for him.

 

I can name a lot of successful rock musicians with music degrees:

 

 

Jordan Rudess (Dream Theatre), Nina Simone - Julliard

 

Steve Gadd, Gary Burke (Dylan, Joe Jackson, others) - Eastman School

 

Bernie Worrell , Alan Pasqua (Dylan,Santana, others), Roger Rosenberg (Steely Dan) - N.E. Conservatory.

 

Stu Hamm, Jimmy Herring, Brad Whitford, Bruce Hornsby - BerkeleeHowever, the list of successful musicians who dropped out of those schools is much longer. (John Mayer, Steve Vai,etc.)

 

The difference between a good musical education and any other degree is that no one really cares if you have a piece of paper in music. By contrast, you can't drop out of school when you think you learned enough and competitively land a good day job without proper documentation.