Majoring in music is sometimes seen by others as a little wimpy. This attitude is a throwback from high school, when taking choir was an “easy A”. Maybe it is also fueled by the hidden resentments of those who wish they could follow their artistic yearnings, but who decide to do something more “practical” instead.
The great irony of music is that it is as much a science as it is an art. Many musicians are right brained, creative people, but in order to survive and thrive in music, you also have to have a very well developed left brain to process the very mathematical technicalities of music.
Beyond all this, you may have noticed that music majors are ultra-busy, sometimes taking twice as many classes as those from other majors. Why is this? College music programs must prepare the music education major to teach a wide variety of things, in addition to developing expertise in an instrument of choice. Often, the music education major can choose between being prepared to teach in elementary or secondary schools, either general music and choir or band. In rural areas of the country, music teachers must wear all hats, often teaching at more than one school. College music programs in those areas must prepare students for all four areas in only a four year degree.
How do they accomplish this? By assigning many classes the value of only one credit, when everyone knows they are more than one credit worth of work. If College music programs were to give you credit for the number of hours you are actually required to invest in a class, then it would be an eight year degree instead of a four year one. It is a labor of love for many live music radio majors.
The difficulty of keeping up as a music major is the reason that most music majors have a lifetime of experience in music already before they go to college. Some colleges will take anyone who wants to attempt it, and do their best to help you out. But most colleges will not allow you into the music program in the first place, unless you can demonstrate a certain level of knowledge and skill on your instrument and in music theory. A music major is anything but wimpy.
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