Deciding Whether to Major in Music

As a high school student, you are expected to make many decisions. Many of them are HUGE and stressful. Deciding on a college major, choosing a school to attend, deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life… It can all be very, very overwhelming!

If you are reading this book, you must be interested in music. You have probably been very involved in music in school, at home, and it has become a significant part of your life. As you think about the question of whether majoring in music is the right choice for you, consider a few questions. Do you LOVE music? Are you PASSIONATE about music? Are you willing to dedicate yourself to your musical development through hours of practice? Are you interested in studying music in depth including theory, history, composition, and improvisation—not just performing? (Majoring in music is very different from participating in band, orchestra, or choir in high school.) Are you willing to make sacrifices to be the best musician you can be?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, you are on the right track. There are two more questions to consider… Do you want to dedicate your life to music, or do you want music to be part of your life? Can you see yourself doing anything else with your life?

Types of Music Degrees

Each college/university/conservatory will have a unique music program and will have slightly different options. What the university labels the degree does not always matter but knowing a little about the philosophy, purpose, and requirements may help you understand the options better. The degrees offered are usually the Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Music Education (BME). The following descriptions are general and may not apply to all situations.

Bachelor of Music (BM): This is a music-focused and intensive degree. When offered at a college/university, the curriculum usually closely resembles that of a conservatory program with the intent of preparing professional musicians. The majority of the coursework will be focused on music with general education requirements included.

Bachelor of Arts (BA): This is a liberal arts degree with a music emphasis. It will contain fewer music requirements and allow more opportunity for other interests and courses. This degree offers the most flexibility and many times, this is a good option for those wishing to pursue a double major and graduate on time.

Bachelor of Science (BS): This is a degree with a music emphasis but also often leans to other areas such as technology, business, or education.

Bachelor of Music Education (BME): This degree is designed to prepare individuals to teach music. Most programs will lead to state teaching licensure. The curriculum will include music courses as well as education and general education courses.

Dual Music Emphasis: A very common option for students wanting to major in music but unsure of their future plans is to pursue a dual emphasis in Music Performance and Music Education. This is an excellent option for anyone who wants to perform or teach music in any way in their career. The music performance degree will help you to develop your performance skills and musical knowledge to their fullest with all of the opportunities to perform. Music education prepares your pedagogical skills as well so you will know how to teach music to others in any venue and any age group, whether it be K–12 schools, college/university/conservatory, a private lesson studio, master classes as a professional performer, pre-concert talks as a conductor, or any other setting. The education degree will also prepare you to be a licensed teacher in the state you are studying.

Music Education is NOT a Fallback Degree

There is a common misconception that music education is for less talented musicians or is a fallback degree for performers that ‘don’t make it.’ Nothing could be more false. Music education is an important and valuable degree providing musical development, knowledge, and a skill set that is transferable across all music careers. The world needs great music teachers. Music is an important part of a well-rounded education, not to mention a rich culture. Zoltan Kodály once said:

It is much more important who is the music teacher in Kisvarda (a small city in Hungary) than who is the director of the opera house in Budapest… for a poor director fails once, but a poor teacher keeps failing for thirty years, killing the love of music in 30 generations of children.” (Kodály, 1974, p.124)

Music education majors today teach in an exciting and increasingly varied career. Options include teaching general music mostly in elementary schools, as well as band, orchestra, and choir in the middle and high schools Many college/university/conservatory ensemble directors also hold an initial degree in music education. Others with music education degrees teach guitar, mariachi, steel pan, world drumming, music technology, songwriting and composition, as well as modern band and popular music. It is also good to keep in mind that a degree in music education does not mean that teaching in K–12 schools is your only option. Getting a music education degree will prepare you to professionally and effectively share your passion, knowledge, and skills with others.

This is an exciting time to be a music educator. Music is more available to students now than ever before. All students have some interaction with music on a daily basis. Being a music educator allows you to meet them where they are, provide them with opportunities, and take them to what they may become.

What if I am not sure?

For many students, and families, majoring in music is a scary venture with uncertain career prospects. There are many stories of the ‘poor, struggling musician’ and articles listing music as a ‘worst’ choice in college majors. The reality is that no college degree guarantees job or career success. If you are passionate about music but majoring in music feels too risky, there are options to choose a double major or minor in music. What does this look like?

If you are considering majoring in music in any way, it is best to begin there. It is much easier to transfer out of a music major, transition to a music minor, or add a second major than it is to transfer into a music major. As will be discussed in more detail later, the music degree curriculum is very sequential and transferring into the program can lead to additional time to complete a degree. So, if you think music is a serious option for you, start your studies there and begin the sequenced coursework to stay on schedule.

If you find that majoring in music is not for you after you begin the major, adding another major and changing to a music minor is often an easy option. After a year of school as a music major, many times the minor requirements will already be complete, some courses may count toward another degree and you will have time to complete another major and graduate on time.

Another option is simply adding a second major. This option is becoming more and more common for students who have multiple interests and want to broaden their options. How do you make this decision? Ask yourself the question: Can you see yourself giving up either option? If the answer is no, then this might be the right choice for you. What can I choose as a second major? Anything! Some common options are math, sciences, psychology, business, technology, journalism, and languages.

What can I do with a degree in music?

There are many career options for those that major in music and earn a degree. Some music majors go on to become professional performers and perform in large ensembles such as orchestras and bands. Some perform on stage in operas. Some perform as soloists, in chamber ensembles, as accompanists, or in churches. Many music majors become teachers and work with young children, in K–12 schools, or in colleges.

Some other options that are not always as obvious are becoming a music therapist to work with those needing mental, physical, or emotional help through music. You could become an agent or arts journalist, a recording or sound engineer, an acoustician, a composer, songwriter, or arranger, a music publisher, a music librarian or historian, or work behind the scenes as a talent scout, running music events, or managing a music venue. The options go on and on. See below for a list of some options: