The world of music is filled with people who have both a huge amount of talent, and a huge amount of luck. Music has defined our culture for thousands of years, and continues to do so. This should mean, in theory, that there are opportunities aplenty for someone who wants to get involved in music. In reality, however, this isn’t true. As said, it requires both talent and luck, but there is something you can do to help increase your chances somewhat, and that is by completing a bachelor’s degree from a music college. So what can you expect if you intend to pursue this degree?
What Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Music?
When you enroll in music college, you will start to be introduced to music itself. This includes the various forms of music, usually with a focus on classical styles, as well as some of music’s different eras. It is very rare for you to be exposed to modern music, including rap, rock, blues, or jazz, during your first year at college. Rather, you will start to build a foundation on the history of music, and leave the details till later.
The curriculum of a bachelor’s degree in music isn’t only related to music. You are likely to also have to take classes in science, math, history, English, and more. Different schools set their curriculum in different ways, so do look into what your school will require. Usually, these types of classes only comprise of a minority of the curriculum, but they are required classes and not electives.
After your first year at music college, it will be time for you to choose a specialization. This is where many people feel things start to get really interesting, because they can design their program according to their personal needs and goals. Many people want to get into music performance, but this does mean you must already be able to play an instrument. You will not learn how to play an instrument at music college, but you will learn how to perfect your skills and how to use them to create music. The school will be aware of your skills, as you will have had an audition as part of your enrollment.
For those not interested in music performance, there is music composition. This means taking composition courses, starting at the basics and moving on to more advanced levels. You will learn to read and write music, and you will be asked to write your own music. In fact, graduation will be dependent on completing a full concerto or sonata yourself.
Many people who complete a bachelor’s degree in music become music teachers themselves. This is particularly true if they major in either performance or composition. You also have the opportunity to major in areas such as music business or audio engineering, however. In this case, it is more likely that you will find employment in the performance side of the music industry itself.
