College, Music Major?

[theBruiser500]

I don't understand what the deal is with being a music major in college. It seems like a lot of the instruction you need to learn to play an instrument would need to be 1 on 1 type stuff that isn't fitted well for classrooms, cirriculums or college. How does being a music major work?

[smokingrobot]

music major doesnt necessarily imply an instrument or performance.

there are a lot of music majors who could be solely devoted to musicology, which is a study of music itself and not merely from a theoretical point of view.

there are ear training classes, compositional classes, theory classes etc etc.

as for a performance major, it allows you to study your instrument a LOT and make [censored] loads of cash playing around the world w/ kurt masar and stuff.

[smokingrobot]

i looked into going to music school instead of the place i ended up goin...

although im probably going to end up taking post undergrad studies... like individual classes but not for credit.

so at Uarts, they have a program in digital music in regard to film, video games, etc.

[augie00]

Music is much more broad than the performance of an instrument.

[Brainwalter]

My roommate is a music major. In addition to music theory classes and music history/appreciation classes that are well-suited for classrooms, he also has to take 1-on-1 lessons every semester for a significant percentage of his class hours.

[vulturesrow]

Its very important to learn the intricacies of being a high school band teacher.

[2+2 wannabe]

[ QUOTE ]
Its very important to learn the intricacies of being a high school band teacher.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol

[turnipmonster]

hey bruiser,
majoring in music is about a lot more than playing an instrument. there are different types of degrees you can get, performance, composition, etc. I went to school for jazz performance, and had to take ear training, music theory, arranging, counterpoint (composition), private lessons, several different ensembles, etc. there are lots of things that can be taught in a classroom just like any other subject.

[Al P]

So who makes better musicians in the end; previous students or those who just pick up a guitar and start playing?

[turnipmonster]

it really depends. if you want to be an actual working musician that can perform in lots of different situations (i.e. club dates, musicals, sideman gigs) then there's really no contest, the way to do that is go to school for it. for jazz and classical music there really aren't too many famous people these days that didn't go to music school.

that said, a lot of them didn't need to go to music school at all. brad mehldau, who's definitely the greatest jazz pianist of his generation, went to school where I went and apparently totally didn't need to be there as he was already incredible at 19.

for singer songwriter and rock type stuff I think it's the opposite, most good bands don't meet in music school, they just write songs and play a lot. being able to make a living as a singer songwriter is a combination of winning the lottery and being the hardest working person ever though, it's not like you can bank on a career. most people who are in rock bands and are trying to "make it" also work random day jobs for years and years and years before they get signed.

for people who know that music is what they want to do with their lives and they won't ever do anything else, music school is almost definitely the way to go.