Asking a guide for further study.

[andrewloh]

Hi,
I am currently a 30-something chap, teaching piano in singapore as to make ends meet.

I just get my LTCL, in performance.

I long to further my study in music in a higher level, namely probably a degree or something like that. What's in my mind is something like: music composition, history, or pedagogy. I am definitely too old for performance, as one was suppose to start at an earlier age. No particular reason, maybe an experience in tertiary level to broaden my knowledge in music, especially my theory; and to get away from my teaching for some while, not that I don't like teaching.

Any suggestions, please? Thanks.


Andrew

[quantum]

What makes you think you are too old for performance?  I've seen 50's something people studying performance in uni, age never stopped them. 

Are you pursuing a degree in hopes of career advancement, or continuing your education, or both? 

If you are in it mainly for the thirst of knowledge, pick the program that interests you the most.  If you are interested in multiple sub disciplines, I suggest you look for a school that enables such multi disciplinary approach.  There are institutions that draw thick lines between the disciplines, and discourage students from going two routes at the same time. 

If you are thinking about career advancement, choose your discipline(s) carefully.  Think about what you want to be doing in the future.  For example, if you love teaching performance, then go the performance or pedagogy route.  If you love history, but do not have a passion for teaching it, think very carefully about taking that route.  Do you want to be hired by an institution and given a music history teaching job, because that was your specialty? 

Do you want to teach in the public school system?  Here in Canada, you are required a BEd degree in addition to your degree of concentration in order to do so.