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Have any of you considered pursuing a performing degree? I'm 71, wanted to major in music in college but needed to make a living so got a degree in engineering instead. Now that I'm retired, it seems like an interesting idea. There's a very good program at UMBC, not too far from my home (my teacher is on the faculty - obviously I'll also ask her). I play at the intermediate level.

I'm a youngster (62 y/o), Bart. Also a former engineer and an MD.

But I'm curious as to what advantage a performing degree might confer to the recipient.

I only play at the beginner level (started Feb 08) and I thoroughly enjoy the little bit of "performing" requested by friends and family so far. And I look forward to my first recital next spring.

I thoroughly enjoy playing, period. But I don't quite see how having a performing degree, or any other music-related degree, would enhance my enjoyment or my motivation to be as good as I can be on the piano, unless it's the formal training that might go along with such a degree. But I get a lot of that from my instructor and I do a lot of independent reading and learning as a supplement to that.

Just curious and don't wish to throw any water on your idea.

I just made this decision this year, in fact. Although I enjoyed both fields but decided with engineering since it made more sense living-wise.

Clearly I don't have the "life experience" to answer this question well...but I just thought that was interesting.

Discussing this with your teacher would be your best bet. She could tell you what it entails, as well as prepare you for making that step if you make that decision.

I know a woman who is about 53 in her final year of a 4-year music (recorder) degree. I chat with her a little sometimes. She finds it good but feels a little isolated from the 'kids' sometimes. There's a lot of unscheduled group work and group rehearsal time that she misses. She's doing well though and plans to teach when she's finished.

While I'm pretty much self-motivated, it just seems that the commitment to getting a degree would add another layer to the motivation. Plus there's the opportunity for ensemble playing, etc. Certainly the next step is a discussion with my teacher, but I am intersted in other's experiences and thoughts.

If you want to do ensemble playing, and you are at a skill level that would enable you to handle the repertoire, if you're close to a college I bet you could do accompanying. If not the college students, then the prep students (I'm assuming a college with a music program also has a community music program).

I was a music ed major the first time around, although life intervened and I was not able to complete the degree. I've toyed alot with "what ifs"...and I keep telling myself that what frustrated me the most as a college music student, was all the other class requirements, and not being able to "just practice and play in ensembles."

My advice would be to set your goals for your playing appropriately high, maybe take a theory class or music history class here or there, and just practice like a music major.

Do a B Mus. you'll find it far most interesting.

Go for it!!!
I have considered "studying" music. They have some online certificate programs at Berklee college of music- http://www.berkleemusic.com/. I also get a staff discount on some courses at Harvard and they have a music theory course.

I would strongly object to this, because
an audition is required and admission is
competitive, and so if you got in, you'd
be taking the place of some young person who
might have prepared all his life for
the opportunity to major in piano, while
you're just doing it on a lark. I would
suggest you enjoy your retirement and
let the younger generation of players
have their turn.

I have been thinking about it, both for pure enjoyment and as preparation for a post-retirement career in music. When I retire in 20 - 25 years, I would love to devote more time to music and perhaps make a little bit of money from it, maybe as an accompanist, teacher, or both. To be credible in this field, I have the feeling that I would need a degree in music.

This is my dream anyway. But the harsh reality... Do I or will I have the time and money to devote to it before retirement? For now anyway, I think I might start taking classes at the community college next year. If I do decide in the future to pursue a bachelor's, hopefully I can count some or all of these classes towards that. I need to sit down with a counselor at the college and ask about this.

Soleil_nuage
I believe if it is your dream it will happen.

Gyro - yes, that has entered my mind. But would only apply if the applications exceeded the capacity. A consideration, certainly.

Honestly, I wouldn't follow Gyro's advice.

I considered pursuing a performance degree as a young adult right out of high school and I regret that I didn't follow through. I was already in the program and everything. Now I have two very young children and we'll probably be having 1-2 more in the next few years, so all I can do right now is practice, which I usually do after they go to bed at night. I know someone who has three young children who just got a music degree (though not in piano performance) so I know it can be done, but I'm way too ADD to be able to accomplish that right now and also keep my house clean, my children and husband fed and clothed, and be able to get good grades. Perhaps when they're grown I can go back to getting that music degree.

The theory was very difficult for me, but I really didn't learn enough about it while a teen, so now I'm going back and trying to fill in the holes. I found musictheory.net from this forum, and it is quite helpful and I'm learning a lot. In the music program, took two theory classes (4 credits between the two), piano lessons that amounted to 4 semester credit hours, an additional music class (1 credit) plus I was expected to practice 2-4 hours every day and also perform in recitals about once a month or so IIRC (it's been a while) and accompany one other music major in his recitals. Eventually I was expected to also learn a second instrument. I was also still expected to complete all the same required classes as everyone else (most freshmen don't declare a major until they are a junior) which meant I would have had to take summer classes just to keep up with everyone else, or else graduate late. It was overwhelming to me at the time, so I dropped out of the program.

As a college student, I have to say that you should not make that a consideration. I always see a lot of students (not necessarily music, of course) who simply don't deserve to be here - they do nothing but party and screw around - yet they are here. So, I think that if you are serious about finding a music degree (and can pass the audition), then you should go for it. I think it would be a spot well deserved.

Good luck in your endeavors!

-Matt

Thanks for that Matt. My wife made a similar comment. She said that if, with my ability (not that bad, but you get the point) I took a place from someone, I was probably doing them a favor because they shouldn't be in a music program! It's not like I'm thinking about applying to Juillard, in which case Gyro would have a valid point. (But then again, it would be a non-issue because I could never pass the admissions test!)

There are two things that grate in Gyro's post. The first is that for an adult such an endeavour is necessarily frivolous, "for a lark". Secondly there is the idea of letting the young person "have a turn", as though the older person ever had a turn. It means that someone who may have dreamed of something for a lifetime and for certain circumstances did not have the opportunity, will ** never ** have a turn. That means, never in his entire life, to the day he dies, because of the idea that it is wrong to follow this quest ever.

There will not be hordes of adult students following this path. Anyone who does manage to get in will have worked exceedingly hard, and must be committed to continue working that hard or even harder. The only thing that I would object to, were I to take this route, is if concessions were made because of my age. I expect that the requirements at audition and/or testing time be as stringent as for anyone else. Otherwise it is indeed unfair.

Are piano auditions also behind a curtain?

I'm right in the middle of doing what you are asking about. My first degree was engineering also. I am currently working through a Piano major degree. I think you do need to look at the reasons you would pursue this. I specifically wanted formal classical training. I wanted the theory, historical literature, the exposure to group playing, etc. I was not completely sure if I would get that type of experience when I began, and it has turned out exactly like I hoped it would. I am usually the oldest student in any of my classes. I do sometimes feel like I am going through the experience in some isolation, but I also have been warmly welcomed as I got into the less general/more focused classes. It is hard work and I do not have the luxury of taking full time classes, which will cause it to take a long time. It is a journey though after all!

To sum, I am right in the middle of it and would never consider not being here.

Kevin, did you play as a child or did you start off later in adult (post 20's) life?

I'm just curious, I've heard that pianists who don't learn early as children never develop the technique/skills they need to play at a conservatory level. But who really knows?