Double Majoring

[brillante]

Although it's still early for me to decide, I am planning on double majoring in piano performance and a STEM (Sci, Tech, Engineer, Math) related field. Can you guys think of any universities that offer excellent music programs and are placed well academically? And would it be difficult if you were a 4.0 student. Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

     brillante

[Bob]

Heck yes, difficult.  It's a "major."  Major work just for the one field.  There are a few posts about this.

Consider high school level stuff dribble. 

Also consider you're expected to do more than whatever the requirements are for each field.  That's the minimum... What everyone has to do.  It's 'at least' that much... and then what did you do beyond that?

Both sides are going to think you're not really serious about their side though.  More of a bastardization than a hybrid.  That means you'll get less options on both sides because each side will want to put their effort into the students who are really serious about that field.  It's not me on that.  It's just what I've seen.

Search around on here.  There are several posts.  Music and x-field.  Piano performance, although that's going to be hard to find on here.  A bachelors in piano performance means squat -- You're buying a piece of a paper/title.

GPA means nothing.  Of course you have good grades.  If you don't, you're out. 

Also keep in mind how you'll actually earn income after the degree, how you'll pay for the schooling (loans?), that an educational institution is still a business and you're the paying customer, etc.  ie They'll take you, someone will, just to make money off you.  if you take out student loans to pay for that, you'll have to pay those back.  Piano performance at a bachelors level might not pay much for high tuition/high loan payments in the future.  STEM would of course... But when are you going to practice?

[brillante]

Yea I guess now that I take a look at the details, it may be challenging in certain aspects.

What would then be the difference between having piano as a minor rather than a major?
I'm guessing it would be an easier task but would it have the same training as a major would?

[Bob]

It might get you into music classes, like theory and ear training.

The places I've seen put their effort into these groups for priority...
Doctorale/grad students, then undergrads by senior/jr to freshman.
Performance over music education over a plain bachelor in music or music minor.

Some cutoff lines....
Choice in teacher.
Getting into certain classes, at all or just being able to register for them.


For a minor, it's on paper.  Less requirements, less expectations.  From what I hear and was told, music looks good for other areas though.  So maybe tacking music on a STEM major would look good.  And who's really going to hear you play?  A future STEM employer wouldn't really care but would see music on the resume.  At least that's what I was told in college.  I saw one non-music department who noticed my music background.  The rest of that came from music people, so I'd take it with a grain of salt.  ie  "Take our classes.  Everyone thinks people who take music classes are hard workers." 

[brogers70]

Yale has a music school and strong science departments. A double major in non-overlapping subjects is a lot of work, but there are people who do it.

[verqueue]

I had doing a double major (Piano Performance and Computer Science) and I don't think it's a good idea.  I finished MA as a total wreck. I'm repeating my last year to get MS, because I had to go to work.

What's the point in it? It only deleyed the decision I should make five years ago. So ask yourself who do you want to be? A pianist or an enginieer?
There is no middle option in both so different subjects. I love being a programmer - I have time to practice piano and sometimes I give some recitals, but it's not my obligation. I can play whatever I want, because I don't have to make money for living from playing piano. I don't have to teach children, etc.
If I were you I would choose STEM and private piano lessons. Becoming a professional concert pianist requires full commitment and it'll be not possible if you study the second major also. What's the point in studying piano performance at the university level without perspective of becoming concert pianist?

[brillante]

If I were you I would choose STEM and private piano lessons.

Now that you say so...I am leaning to more of a single major and minor, or just a major.

I've already understood that being a concert pianist and make a living requires deep committment and hard work (prodigies in many cases).

But would I still like to be able to work with a professor and focus on pieces.

So is it probable that a professor would take me in for private lessons or would the minor take care of it?

[Bob]

You could probably hire a professor.  They might be looking for money on the side.

For the minor, you'd be low in the pecking order, but you'd have access to actual music classes.  Then again... You could probably hire those same TA's yourself too I suppose.

Paying yourself gives you more control.  And makes the teacher you hire more of a 'yes-person.'  They're more likely to agree with you and not want to annoy you since you're paying them and could stop pretty much whenever you want.  Even a semester commitment is only a few months.

Tough decision.  If I had to decide, I'd probably say f-it and try to do both anyway.  Or try to get as high into music as possible.  But that's me.  And it's sacrificing other things, doing that.

[verqueue]

In doing music major or minor there is other problem - there are classes from other music subjects, which also are taking time (in my uni they were piece of junk, complete waste of the time). Most of these classes I spent with computer science books...
I went at my first year with conviction that maybe I would resign from one of majors if I didn't like it. But that was me, and I'm so stubborn and endeavoring to self-destruction.

Maybe music minor is a good idea to maintain some other abilities from other classes. I don't know how it looks like in your country, what is a level in other music subjects, etc. Take this into account, because you'll be short of time even if you choose private lessons. You need to be very systematic, no matter what you choose.