Piano Forum

Topic: Ugh, university  (Read 1289 times)

Offline nanabush

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2081
Ugh, university
on: May 11, 2007, 12:28:52 AM
lol I just posted in another topic about graduating high school;  I'm taking economics next year in university, but I'm like extremely pissed that I chose not to take music.  I got accepted and all, but I chose the safer route.  Does anyone ever double up a music degree w/ something else?  Like right now I'm doing double major in math/economics... there's no option when I choose my program to take music along with it... like I really wish I hadn't rejected the music program.
... K so I mean can you do like a double major in economics/music?  Or is that unheard of :P
Interested in discussing:

-Prokofiev Toccata
-Scriabin Sonata 2

Offline pianistimo

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 12142
Re: Ugh, university
Reply #1 on: May 11, 2007, 12:41:31 AM
you can do it vicariously - if they won't 'allow' you to - by taking music courses as electives - or even from another college.  noone is stopping you from doing anything.  even just taking piano lessons.  most of what i learned even for pedagogy was from piano lessons.  there are many books to learn theory/counterpoint/ orchestration.  step-by-step books.  basically - as i see it - you are headed in the right direction for maintaining a position of economic stability to support your music habit.  why go into debt?  learn about economics and use it to your advantage.

there was a show on tv today about 'women's finances.'  i think it was the name of the show.  they were talking about smart choices women can make to make their money go farther.  choosing a degree such as this can increase your knowledge and therefore help you make better choices - and have extra money to support music practice time.  unless - you are set upon becoming a music teacher in a school.  that way you'd have benefits.  although - some of the benefits today for school teachers are going down. 

ps for many musicians - music comes extremely easy.  you are doing something hard.

Offline jakev2.0

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 809
Re: Ugh, university
Reply #2 on: May 11, 2007, 02:32:00 AM
Like right now I'm doing double major in math/economics...

YOWZA...kiss your piano goodbye!

Offline Bob

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16365
Re: Ugh, university
Reply #3 on: May 11, 2007, 03:07:55 AM
You could always get a second degree after you get the first one.

After I saw a group of high schoolers who wanted to "triple major" I started thinking more about why a "major" is called "major" -- It's major work.  It's a full-time amount of work.  Triple majors though... quite amusing.  I suppose there are geniuses but... it makes me wonder what type of quality it would be to have a triple major in 4 years.

If I were you, I would decide on my career choice and then see how music fits into that. 

If you're unsure, you might be able to plan classes that  meet many requirement areas -- like a gen ed that covers an area of math, economics, or music.  Then you can postpone for-sure decisions.

You could always stretch it out possibly -- Do some of both.  I guess that would be the double major idea though.  It would just take longer -- if they will let you do that. 

On the math/economic side, music will probably look like gold.  On the music side, they might wonder what's up with the math/economics thing.  If you double majored or  did one degree after the other, someone might be wondering where your loyalities lie.  And, you might find people consider you less dedicated -- the math/economic people think you're a music person, the music people think your a math/economic person.  They might take you less seriously.

The trouble of course will be when to have time and energy to practice.  If you're a music major, it's part of the day.  If you're something else -- math/ec, or working full-time -- then music has to fit in on top of the rest.  Quite challenging.

I have heard of a double major in math and music.  Music and chemistry, music and engineering, music and business too.  Music and economics is new to me, but who's to say you can't?


Favorite new teacher quote -- "You found the only possible wrong answer."

Offline rach n bach

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 691
Re: Ugh, university
Reply #4 on: May 11, 2007, 04:10:55 AM
Why not triple major?  Math-econ-music?  ;D

OK... maybe not a great idea... :P 

But really, why not double?  Take those music courses your first couple years and log them as general education.  You can apply the credits to your major later if you want to.  If not?  Well, you just got your gen ed the fun way!  That's what I'm gonna do anyhow...
I'm an optimist... but I don't think it's helping...

Offline jakev2.0

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 809
Re: Ugh, university
Reply #5 on: May 11, 2007, 04:42:07 PM
A double major in Math-Economics (at my university anyway) means taking a full four year course load of courses consisting nearly entirely of Math, Economics, Statistics, Econometrics etc. with virtually NO extra-departmental electives. In short, Math/Econ double major is one of the most academically taxing programs one can take. If you decide to go through with it, why not make millions as a financial analyst, and do the piano for fun?  ;D

Offline lazlo

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 106
Re: Ugh, university
Reply #6 on: May 11, 2007, 07:47:16 PM
I go to oberlin college, and there's a whole program designed for double majoring in music in the conservatory, and the college of arts and sciences.

Offline jas

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 638
Re: Ugh, university
Reply #7 on: May 13, 2007, 11:36:42 AM
Why not triple major?  Math-econ-music?  ;D

OK... maybe not a great idea... :P
Yeah, it is. Just chuck a bit of zoology, law and geology in there too and you'll be the most comprehensively and bizarrely educated person in the world. You know it's the way forward. ;)

I did a music degree and loved all 4 years of it, but now that I'm finished I'm wondering what the hell you do with one! I may do a masters in something else just so I have something a little more practical under my belt, because I don't see myself as taking on a profession in anything musical, much as I'd like to. Having said that, I'd never go back and change my decision to do music, it was fascinating and rewarding and great fun.
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
New Piano Piece by Chopin Discovered – Free Piano Score

A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music. Read more
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert