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I'm trying to decide which major to pursue in college.
I've been thinking of doing a double major of music education and performance. I definatly want to do performance because I want to teach at a college but i'm a little nervous that I won't be able to get a job when i'm out of college without a music education degree. I know that if I double major, the performance part of it may suffer. Any advice?

Amy,

The competition to teach at universities today is extremely competitive. You will have to have at a minimum a MM but most likely a DMA. When I was in school many many years ago, we had a position come up for a secondary piano teacher (teach voice, trumpet, flute etc majors). Over 100 people applied with more than a few having DMA's from Eastman or Julliard. I'm not trying to discourage you. What I am saying is that a performance degree undergraduate is not enough to get a university teaching job (of course if you win a competition like the Van Cliburn all bets are off - you don't need any degree!). Therefore, I would get the education degree as a fall back position. Then, work very hard on your playing and go on to get your MM. Quite frankly, at most universities (not the conservatories), your course load won't prohibit you from practicing as if you were getting a performance degree. Just a thought.

FWIW, most college music education programs are geared towards training grade school through high school music teachers. If that career path isn't on your list, I'd bypass the Mus. Ed. degree. If, however, you are interested in exploring that path, you'd best be prepared for a much more diverse course of study compared to a performance track.

You should also inquire pointedly at the school(s) that you plan to attend if double undergrad majors are allowed. Many music perfomance tracks are considered "comprehensive," meaning that due to the intense course work, no minors or double majors are allowed.

Back in 1987, I double-majored in piano performance and computer science (yes, I know they don't go together). As a computer science major, I auditioned into the music major lessons from the piano professors and took a whole bunch of other music courses as distribution credits towards the science degree. Once I convinced the music department to double-credit those classes as credit towards a B.Mus. degree, the rest was easy. I was practicing plenty anyways, and I never had any trouble with the number of courses I had to take. Of course, if they had not been willing to credit the computer science classes as distribution classes for purposes of the music degree, and credit the music classes as distribution classes for purposes of the computer science degree, it would have been a different story.

So, now I have a B.Mus. degree that I have used for absolutely nothing concrete... but I must say, it has opened the door to many things just by virtue of being on my resume. Apparently it really impresses people, and I have been able to get interviews and jobs because of it.

Hope this helps.

I remember when I was an undergrad ... a few of the music majors I knew minored in Computer Science. Seemed like a natural thing to do, since the work they were doing in their music major involved a lot of work with computers and programming anyway.

Hi Mike,

May I ask what kind of piano a model 'K' is like? Grand or vert? I'm curious.

Mike: you did a computer science degree, a music degree, and now you're a lawyer? wow...

It is a 52" vertical. Steinway began making it in 1903 (it was called the "Vertegrand") and ceased making it in 1929. They begain making it again, with some modifications but basically the same scale design, in 1982. Frankly, I think the new ones are wildly overpriced (about $23K) compared to the quality of new (or used) grand you could get for the same money. But I really like mine. Here is a picture of the modern Model K (I hope this works):

Yes, I did. I practice law full time (I'm a family law attorney), but I also write and sell computer software for Missouri attorneys, and try to practice as much as possible too. Relating that to the subject of this thread, you should not base your decision on whether to double-major TOO closely on your immediate plans right out of college. As you can see from my experience, plans change. If you really want the double-major, you should do it regardless.

[ October 19, 2001: Message edited by: MikeC65 ]

Thanks for the replys. I would like to get my masters right after I finish my undergrad and definatly try to work towards my PhD.

Amy:

I'd be more worried about getting a job with a performance degree than with a music ed degree. But a couple of thoughts. Since you love piano, maybe you should consider a degree in piano pedagogy (hope I spelled that right). Unlike music ed, this degree is for teaching piano, a career you can pursue through schools, colleges or as an entrepreneur. A double major is a great idea. Even if you go with piano performance, you could double with anything. I, oddball that I am, doubled in English and Math, all the while taking piano, singing in a choir and taking dance classes. I ended up with a law degree and I practice law and still play the piano. The point being, no matter what you do, you can still pursue music. And there's a lot to be said for having an employable skill when your education is complete. Don't be scared away from being a music educator. It's a great career with lots of employment opportunity, even though many options will be outside of the university environment.

Woo-hoo, there's another one of us! What kind of law do you practice? I'm a family law attorney. And I still practice and perform.

Mike:

I practice estate planning, probate and tax (very geeky, what can I say). But, geeky as it is, you can make a living practicing law and still find time to love music. Unfortunately, music is still a very hard way to make a living. My piano isn't nearly as interesting as yours - a plain ol ebony Kawaii grand. Oh well.

My advice:

I was a music Education major. It was so much work that i could hardly keep up with it, I can't imagine a double major with music ed and something else! Music ed. is like a double major in itself. Unless you are absolutly willing to sacrifice all your time and basically all your social life ( which i did for a year and half), then i would say go for it, girl! But if you are not sure, then i would say be very carefu, b/c you can burn out easily..i did, and i had to drop the education concentration. Now i am general music, with a concentration on piano pedagogy, and its MUCH better.