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Josiah
Student
Sabetha, Kansas
10
Questions
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Would it be necessary to double major, or are there other options?
My current career plan is this: my primary income comes from private piano/voice lessons. Then I also want to be a freelance opera singer, and freelance repetiteur, while also doing solo recitals. I probably want to do two operas a year at most (and I most likely wouldn't do two every year), and then when I don't have an opera gig, try to get a gig as a repetiteur. Obviously, those gigs are by auditions, opera especially, so if I didn't have either or didn't choose to have either at that time, then I would like to tour as a soloist for piano/voice or both. In any given year, one could have more emphasis than the other (one year i have one opera and one repetituer, the next I have one repetiteur and tour recitals). I hope that makes sense.
Now, with all of that information, is it necessary to double major or dual emphasis in piano performance and voice performance? I would like to have equal emphasis in both, since I basically just want to do both almost equally. Is there another option? Could I cater my college schedule to just include emphasis in both? How could I do that? Can I have dual emphasis? Please explain! Thank you!
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2 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
2522
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Josiah !
Planning the academic route for Music is both exciting and heartwarming, but not as complicated as you may think. Absolutely do not double major - just one Major will do and that's Music. Performance paths through academia are special, exciting and you cannot design or worry about the path. The college program will tell you what you'll need to take and that includes required General Education courses in addition to your Music Courses.
Perhaps some of the worry or micro-planning can be eased if you become more familiar with how performance programs at colleges are structured. It's all good. The exciting part that will take up all of your time is that not only do you attend and participate in classes, but you will be working on projects. Projects that may have you being available for performances both on campus and off campus. You may have to do practicums, too. This is very time consuming - take it from an old Theatre Major grad. In the middle of all this, you may be approached to do some work locally. You need to be available. You need to focus on the time requirements, not how you want your career to be. That will come later on. No way should a Music major double major - it's not necessary. Plus, you'll get tired fast, your grades may be challenged and you wouldn't be available for that performance offer you just have to take.
You didn't mention the college so I cannot tell you the courses you will be taking. Read the Music Program at the school's website to get an idea of how busy you'll be as a Music Major. Most Music Departments offer singing, usually the course is called Voice. You take those voice classes as part of your Major and any that they offer. I wouldn't even recommend minoring in anything else. Having that degree that says you have a Bachelors or Masters in Music is going to qualify you for the basic things you want to do.
Unfortunately, we performers cannot plan our careers to the minute detail before it even begins. It's good to know exactly what you want, but keep in mind that it will be companies telling you what you'd do. You audition and wait to hear back. Oh, you'll get lots of call backs and work, sure, but you can't expect to get picked for everything you audition for. You can, but you can't expect that. Stay in the present and let your academic path show you knowledge and opportunity. Audition for the shows you want to do and don't audition for projects you're not interested in. In college, you will be assigned projects, however, and that's part of the experience. Learning everything.
Once you graduate - that is the time, not now - that you will already know how your career is going to go. There's a lot of networking involved and you will just have to see how your life is after graduation. That is the time to make plans. For me, I relocated to Los Angeles where the work was. You will need to be patient with this and be very open minded as you make the most of the here and now. You'll fit in offering lessons to students based on how your schedule is at that time.
Colleges and careers are not necessarily designed by the person, rather you have to see what is offered at a college, take things a step at a time and see how your life is at the time of graduation. And by the way, you can't pick and choose when you'd be an Opera Singer. You audition and either get the role or not. I would suggest that you visit the college music department of the college you plan to attend and ask them to explain the career to you. As a singer and musician who plays and teaches, you will be ready to do it all, but you certainly can't predict how it will go. The important thing is that you are ready for the career and taking one major in Music is the best route.
I do hope you continue to ask questions but mention your age or grade and what college you intend to enroll in and I can give you some better details than I was able to do now.
I hope this helps and I wish you well !
Planning the academic route for Music is both exciting and heartwarming, but not as complicated as you may think. Absolutely do not double major - just one Major will do and that's Music. Performance paths through academia are special, exciting and you cannot design or worry about the path. The college program will tell you what you'll need to take and that includes required General Education courses in addition to your Music Courses.
Perhaps some of the worry or micro-planning can be eased if you become more familiar with how performance programs at colleges are structured. It's all good. The exciting part that will take up all of your time is that not only do you attend and participate in classes, but you will be working on projects. Projects that may have you being available for performances both on campus and off campus. You may have to do practicums, too. This is very time consuming - take it from an old Theatre Major grad. In the middle of all this, you may be approached to do some work locally. You need to be available. You need to focus on the time requirements, not how you want your career to be. That will come later on. No way should a Music major double major - it's not necessary. Plus, you'll get tired fast, your grades may be challenged and you wouldn't be available for that performance offer you just have to take.
You didn't mention the college so I cannot tell you the courses you will be taking. Read the Music Program at the school's website to get an idea of how busy you'll be as a Music Major. Most Music Departments offer singing, usually the course is called Voice. You take those voice classes as part of your Major and any that they offer. I wouldn't even recommend minoring in anything else. Having that degree that says you have a Bachelors or Masters in Music is going to qualify you for the basic things you want to do.
Unfortunately, we performers cannot plan our careers to the minute detail before it even begins. It's good to know exactly what you want, but keep in mind that it will be companies telling you what you'd do. You audition and wait to hear back. Oh, you'll get lots of call backs and work, sure, but you can't expect to get picked for everything you audition for. You can, but you can't expect that. Stay in the present and let your academic path show you knowledge and opportunity. Audition for the shows you want to do and don't audition for projects you're not interested in. In college, you will be assigned projects, however, and that's part of the experience. Learning everything.
Once you graduate - that is the time, not now - that you will already know how your career is going to go. There's a lot of networking involved and you will just have to see how your life is after graduation. That is the time to make plans. For me, I relocated to Los Angeles where the work was. You will need to be patient with this and be very open minded as you make the most of the here and now. You'll fit in offering lessons to students based on how your schedule is at that time.
Colleges and careers are not necessarily designed by the person, rather you have to see what is offered at a college, take things a step at a time and see how your life is at the time of graduation. And by the way, you can't pick and choose when you'd be an Opera Singer. You audition and either get the role or not. I would suggest that you visit the college music department of the college you plan to attend and ask them to explain the career to you. As a singer and musician who plays and teaches, you will be ready to do it all, but you certainly can't predict how it will go. The important thing is that you are ready for the career and taking one major in Music is the best route.
I do hope you continue to ask questions but mention your age or grade and what college you intend to enroll in and I can give you some better details than I was able to do now.
I hope this helps and I wish you well !
I am planning on either the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, or Wichita State University.
Josiah
And I understand what you are saying about just majoring in general music, but don't you have to choose a concentration within the degree? So my problem is that I want two concentrations within the degree, not one.
Josiah
What you may be thinking are "concentrations' are really courses. UOK is very theory and business oriented. The KSU program may be what you're looking for, it offers courses in Brass and Percussion, Organ and Church Music, Piano, Strings, Voice, and Woodwinds, meaning they have subdivision courses in those subjects. Music is the career, your talents are the subjects. You can look into WSU's offerings.
Michelle M.
I'll give you an example using theatre. A student wants to be a lighting and sound person for theatre. This student is going to have to take courses in everything - costuming, set construction, acting, etc. in addition to his light and sound courses. His degree will state Theatre, but he'll leave knowing how to do sound and lighting. There are always required major courses but also you'll get to choose Music courses that aren't required.
Michelle M.
Brewer Shettles
Indie Audio Engineer - Musician
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Brewer’s Answer
I once heard you can't dance at two weddings, but you have two amazing goals: piano performance and voice performance. Everyone's voice is unique, and some people get noticed faster. Playing piano can lead to creating film soundtracks, which is a great career. Knowing piano opens up many music opportunities, like joining a band, giving voice lessons, or writing songs. A strong piano foundation can really help shape your future. You can always take vocal classes too. Consider majoring in piano and minoring in voice. Remember, getting a tour often happens when a music agent sees your talent and books gigs for you. Best of luck! Keep it simple, create a hit song, and let your skills and voice lead you to success!