Why Major in Music?
Lawrence University which is a liberal arts college that also has a music conservatory. It offers both a specialized Bachelor of Music degree, as well as the Bachelor of Arts degree. The BM degree is more narrowly focused on music, and it generally the choice of students who want to major in performance in voice or on an instrument, or perhaps they want to pursue a career in music education. The BA degree is the liberal arts version of a music degree: you can major in music within the liberal arts. For the BA, you would take about 25% of your courses over four years in the music department. For the BM degree, it would be more like two-thirds or even three-quarters of your courses in the music department.
The Reasons Why Major in Music
Whether or not one aspires to be a professional, performing musician, there are many answers to the question of why major in music. Even in this day and age of high technology and the importance of science and mathematics, or even business, music remains a viable option that can give any student the sorts of skills and habits that employers value.
Music Majors Make Independent, Diligent Employees
Music majors are used to working independently to achieve a goal. They meet with their supervisors once a week. They review past work. Then they get new assignments to continue to improve and amplify what they are already doing. The supervisor gives assignments and expects the person to return the next week with those assignments completed. During that week, the employees work on their own and they puzzle out the problems, and ultimately through practice and exploration, they find the solution to that problem or puzzle. They practice whatever they need to practice in order to make sure that it’s right. A week later, they return to their supervisor and say, “Got it done; give me my next problem.” That’s exactly what musicians do. When they are going to their private lesson for an hour each week and they’re getting information, they are getting an assignment and they complete it. They are developing the independence to take direction, do the work, and continue to improve over time.
Why Major in Music? Collaboration!
The workplace today requires people who can collaborate. Employers want team members who can listen, appreciate the contributions of others, seek out the voices that may complement their own, and work together toward a common goal. Musicians do this sort of thing on a daily basis. In every ensemble that they are ever in, they are working with one another to achieve a common aim: to perform a piece with a clear vision that may be jointly defined. Importantly, they are listening to one another. They respect the roles that each plays in the accomplishment of the goal. They are attuned to what other people are saying and communicating so that they can take that information and do something with it.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Music develops the sort of habits that any employer values. However, no employee is going to be perfect every single time. Some things take practice to get right. Musicians are used to practice. They are also used to making mistakes and then fixing them. Musicians know that in order to improve, in order to build technique, and in order to get it right when it counts, it’s important to practice over and over until things become routine and the ultimate performance is stellar.
Importance of Communication
Finally, he talked about the importance of communication. And then he talked about while he was in Microsoft, that he was working with some of the biggest brains in the world. But sometimes despite those big ideas that these smart people had, these people at Microsoft weren’t communicating. It’s one thing to have ideas, but if you can’t be a good communicator–especially to others who may have different perspectives or roles within the organization, then those ideas really aren’t worth all that much. Employers want good communicators. What do musicians do on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis? They communicate. They do so through the music itself, and they have to do so with words–so that they can agree upon and work toward a common goal. Further, a musician is used to performing in front of large groups. They are accustomed to the jitters that can be channeled in a positive way to make the performance better. Performance is something that musicians are able to do very, very well. They’re not afraid to put themselves out there and show people what they can do.
Employers Value Young People with a Music Degree
The fact is that most employers are not looking for people with specific majors or degrees. They are looking for team member who can get the job done. People who can learn quickly. People who can work independently to achieve a particular goal. People who are not averse to practicing over and over until things are done right. People who know how to collaborate with one another. People who can communicate clearly with others as they map out and accomplish a common goal. People who can share ideas with others and who can perform when the time comes.
So why major in music? Because it develops the skills and habits that employers of the 21st century value–and pay for.
To hear Brian Pertl deliver his own TedX talk about majoring in music and pursuing the liberal arts, have a look at this video.
Mark Montgomery
College Admissions Expert and Arts Advocate
