What can you do with a music degree

[blackonwhite]

What can you do with a Bachelors in music and a masters in music.

[j_menz]

1) Use what you learnt in acquiring them to launch a more or less successful career in music;

2) Frame them and hang them on the wall in your home or studio.

3) Wrap chips.

[Bob]

Dang... I was going to say you could hang it on the wall too. 

Bachelors... Teach.  There's always teaching.  Independent piano or music ed, if you did the ed side too.  Bachelors in performance?  Not much.  If you're that good, you might have the career going already and the degree wouldn't matter.  if you're not good, the degree won't help at all.

Masters?  Teach.  Independent or public/private schools again.  The masters might also get you into community colleges depending on what they require.  Performance-wise?  You get more -- More indepth, more contacts and networking, etc.  The people I've run into getting performing degrees were getting the bachelors of course, but going for the masters.  The masters was the goal.  A doctorate if they wanted to teach at the college level, but the doctorate could also mean they were starting to focus on college teaching and less on performance by then.  Same thing though if it's performance.... It's just a degree.  The built up performance skill and networking gets the job, not the degree.  I've heard it many times that no one has ever asked about a degree for performance work. 

[Bob]

Stuff that does count in terms of performing?

(not sucking of course)

These are some things I've heard that can determine whether someone gets a job.  Just a few things off the top of my head.

"That guy's a jerk.  Don't hire him again."   Easy to work with?  Gets along with everyone else?

Shows up on time?

Doesn't have BO?

Basically -- Can play their part, is easy to work with, is friendly/polite, has some ideas but isn't pushy about them, etc.  And... Was recommended by so and so as a third choice for a replacement... and then second choice... and then first choice.

[dcstudio]

Shows up on time?

Doesn't have BO?

Basically -- Can play their part, is easy to work with, is friendly/polite, has some ideas but isn't pushy about them, etc.  And... Was recommended by so and so as a third choice for a replacement... and then second choice... and then first choice.

not sucking is way down the list but otherwise that is it in a nutshell.   Contrary to popular belief a performance degree does not on it's own create a decent performer.  It helps to get you an audition, but in no way gets the gig.  I dropped out--no degree--but tons of schooling...more importantly--I have an immense amount of performance experience (all done without a degree)...and no performance anxiety...additionally I am easy going and I don't complain or argue or act like I know everything and try to belittle everyone...and that's why I land the gigs I do over those with their Master's degrees--- whether or not I can play usually isn't even mentioned...lol. 

what can you do with a degree?  teach in public school---or use it to line the birdcage.  That doesn't mean you shouldn't go --The best part about music school is being around all those other musicians... it's a world of people just like you--all of you with the same goal...   it's great.     that alone is worth it.

[chopinlover01]

The best part about music school is being around all those other musicians... it's a world of people just like you--all of you with the same goal...   it's great.     that alone is worth it.

Worth going 50 grand in debt?
(That probably comes off sarcastic. I'm actually wondering about this for real, about whether it's worth it to go to music school)

[mjames]

America, land of the free! One of the few places in the world where going to school can put you in debt.

[visitor]

It is best suited to set you up to pursue more advanced study in music.
Ie best use of the music bach is to go for masters. Best use of masters is to get the perforomance certificate or dma.  Etc etc

[chopinlover01]

America, land of the free! One of the few places in the world where going to school can put you in debt.

Let's hope Bernie Sanders wins the 2016 election- one of the first things on his list of to-do's is tuition free public college.

[dcstudio]

Worth going 50 grand in debt?
(That probably comes off sarcastic. I'm actually wondering about this for real, about whether it's worth it to go to music school)

I had a lot of Pell Grants....  no way is it worth going 50k in debt!!!  oh guys...think before you sign those Stafford Loans...


it was a long time ago for me...  and I still have some of those hanging over my head
.

the information is vital...to you being able to perform.  you can really only go so far if you don't understand what it is you are doing...  some people can go farther than others...lol. 

you learn far more actually going out and playing than you do at school...no surprise there..   it was great but not 50k worth of great!!

[Bob]

50k.... Sounds... inexpensive....

[dcstudio]

50k.... Sounds... inexpensive....

it was 50k in my day...  gotta be 5 x that now.

not like getting a nursing degree and going 250k in debt knowing you have an earning potential that will  allow you to pay it off either.

that's a tough call....  really. 

[Bob]

I'd say about three times that.

The big catch... Potential, job maket, yadda yadda yadda... (watch out for what the "salesperson" for a college says.  They are literally selling you something, paid upfront.)... That doesn't mean you graduate with any competence or that you'll even get or be able to find a job that can start paying off debt.


Potential... Yes, everyone has potential.  And yes, a lot of 'everyone' will work hard.  And yes, a lot will make progress. 

Job market good?  Lots of retirement in the field?  Sure.. People leave, but that doesn't mean those job roles are refilled.


What you could ask a music school... How many of their graduates are getting jobs in their desired field within one year of graduation? 

100% get "a job?"  Ok, but that could mean McDonalds.  "100% of our graduates get s a job straight out of college... at McDonalds."
-- Ditto on the music education side... "100% of our graduates get a job straight out of college... because those are the crappy teaching jobs no one else wants and people would rather 'not teach' than take. "

100% of performance majors are working in music jobs right after they graduate?   ...Doing weekend gigs, pulling in a whooping $12,000/year doing that.

... get a symphony job after graduation.... in the middle of nowhere.


One interesting thing I've noticed is a lot of places aren't collecting data on how their graduates are doing.  They study the heck out of potential students and how to recruit them.  $$$   Do their graduates get a job?  In their field?  Are they happy with their career?  Did the school prepare them for it?  Are they still in their first job a year or two after graduation?  Still in the field a year after graduation?  Five years later?  Ten?  They don't collect that information because it doesn't bring in income for them, or it's not something they can market.  Even if they did, they can always say, "Well, no everyone replied to our request for information, so the data we did collect isn't really representative..."   Who does find your and contact the heck out of you after graduation?  The alumni group, begging for money.

That's a little bit more realistic.

Keep in mind the college, the music school, and the teacher are all selling the class.  Just getting you to sign up and pay for the class.  If you don't learn anything, it's not that big of a concern.  They probably have more people lined up after you to mill through the system.  Even a one-on-one music teacher still wants to have demand for their classes.   Demand = job security, higher pay, etc. 

[dcstudio]

they want your tuition...  that's all that matters... it's a business.  I remember sweating getting into the music school...LOL LOL LOL   they took me with open arms...   it's getting out that's a pregnant dog.

[piano6888]

I think all the posters have good feedback about a music degree, and I would like to add that nowadays, performance related jobs are hard to come by due to the few existing positions in performing and more people wanting with the qualifications (increased supply of graduates and decrease in demand in public), especially in the world of classical music.  Now becoming a teacher, your odds are better, but that is also very competitive, and depends on the area you are in (some areas don't have many students) as well as the time of the year/current trends.  
Also, I think having connections in the industry, academia, established musicians and experience (internships and gigs) are equally, if not more useful than just having a music degree.

I think for those that aren't able to make music out of their career, they would still be able to utilize the knowledge and skills as a music major to further their hobby or enrich their musical experiences.  As far as making ends meet, yes, they would take up a day job or a job that is not-music related while still pursing the passion.  Of course, I do hope that the people that are in the music field do end up with a music related job that they enjoy, that is always the goal.

Finally, with a music degree (bachelors), some people go on to get their masters and then a DMA, then end up at a university, college, or conservatory and teach.  (It's very uncommon for someone with just a bachelor's in music to get a career in music- not impossible but very very difficult to do.  Having an advanced degree, certification(s), and then a DMA would be very helpful to be competitive in this field)

Sorry to be gloomy, but this is pretty much what I have experienced myself and I was at a conservatory for a few years before I went to college and majored in comp. sci, and now a graduate student in software engineering.  Meanwhile, I play the piano mostly as a hobby and I still have pretty high standards for myself (consider it a serious hobby).

[dcstudio]

   I was at a conservatory for a few years before I went to college and majored in comp. sci,

wow--I started out college as a comp sci major before I went to music school.