In terms of actual work?
I am looking for work right now.
I have a BA in Music with a Minor in Psychology and would love to hear what creative things folks are doing with their BA's in Music.
My mind is wide open and I really need help, so please, any ideas you got would be great. :-[
Don't ask me - I have a very good one and it's got me nowhere! :(
Quote from: lukeottevanger on April 16, 2007, 12:48:37 PM
Don't ask me - I have a very good one and it's got me nowhere! :(
Really, not even for non-music jobs? :-\
What can a BA in Music get you?
An unemployment check!
Charles Ives faced this question over 100 years ago: that's why for him the answer was to become an insurance salesman.
Call GEICO!
Quote from: George on April 16, 2007, 12:49:53 PM
Really, not even for non-music jobs? :-\
Particularly for non-music jobs.
Quote from: George on April 16, 2007, 12:49:53 PM
Really, not even for non-music jobs? :-\
Well, it's not the whole story, and I'm to blame, really! Or at least, my life decisions - get married, go to live in the middle of nowhere, start a family, spend lots of time with the children - didn't really help, as you can imagine. I've just been a piano teacher since then, and this year, somehow, have ended up being Head of Music at a prep school (sounds a lot more important and better paid than it is!). I think, really, I was 'supposed' to stay in academia, but I took a wrong turn or two after graduation, which I ought to regret, but which I don't, because that would be to regret my children. And I don't do that.
Sorry not to be more encouraging. But then, don't worry, I'm a 'special case' and not in a positive way!
Quote from: Don on April 16, 2007, 12:57:30 PM
Particularly for non-music jobs.
Well there are many jobs that require a Bachelor's degree. Like my current job: Case Manager.
I'm thinking that maybe Manager of the Music/Classical department at a record store or a Barnes and Noble. I have years of management experience. :-\
Quote from: George on April 16, 2007, 01:00:06 PM
Well there are many jobs that require a Bachelor's degree. Like my current job: Case Manager.
I'm thinking that maybe Manager of the Music/Classical department at a record store or a Barnes and Noble. I have years of management experience. :-\
You may have been born too late, George...retail seems to be dying outside the internet.
I just read
Mozart in the Jungle. Depressing if you've got a music degree.
Sarge
Quote from: George on April 16, 2007, 01:00:06 PM
Well there are many jobs that require a Bachelor's degree. Like my current job: Case Manager.
I'm thinking that maybe Manager of the Music/Classical department at a record store or a Barnes and Noble. I have years of management experience. :-\
The management experience would be the key - the music degree is nothing.
The honor of being courageous enough to major in music even though you knew that you are never going to find a job after graduation.
Quote from: lukeottevanger on April 16, 2007, 12:59:36 PM
Well, it's not the whole story, and I'm to blame, really! Or at least, my life decisions - get married, go to live in the middle of nowhere, start a family, spend lots of time with the children - didn't really help, as you can imagine. I've just been a piano teacher since then, and this year, somehow, have ended up being Head of Music at a prep school (sounds a lot more important and better paid than it is!). I think, really, I was 'supposed' to stay in academia, but I took a wrong turn or two after graduation, which I ought to regret, but which I don't, because that would be to regret my children. And I don't do that.
Sorry not to be more encouraging. But then, don't worry, I'm a 'special case' and not in a positive way!
Luke, sounds to me you've made all the right choices actually. 8)
Incidentally, my piano and theory teacher from music school studied composition with Włodzimierz Kotoński and conducting with Henryk Czyż - two of the best teachers imaginable. She also studied in England, at the Royal Academy of Music with Paul Patterson for some time (don't know the details). Unfortunately, she never recognizes me when I meet her at concerts etc. :-\
Anyway, for quite a few years now her main field of work has been... kindergarten. She teaches music to kindergarten kids, she has started some sort of kindergarten "band". In composing, she now concentrates on writing songs for kindergarten children (including songs in English designed as teaching aids). Personally, I think that's great. :D
Don't know if that would be George's idea of a dream job, though... ;)
Here's a picture of her I found on the net (back at school she didn't have that mist around her yet... apparently it appeared later ;)):
(http://www.polmic.pl/foto/MezerAgatade.jpg)
BTW, Ives was quite rich, wasn't he?
Quote from: George on April 16, 2007, 12:44:11 PM
In terms of actual work?
I am looking for work right now.
I have a BA in Music with a Minor in Psychology and would love to hear what creative things folks are doing with their BA's in Music.
My mind is wide open and I really need help, so please, any ideas you got would be great. :-[
Some music-major friends of mine in college (I wasn't a music major) hedged their bets by gettnig either double degrees or by also getting some sort of music teaching certificate. The latter makes you hireable by high school music programs. A friend of mine stayed five years in college to get a dual degree, music and computer science. He's a programmer now.
Quote from: lukeottevanger on April 16, 2007, 12:59:36 PM
Well, it's not the whole story, and I'm to blame, really! Or at least, my life decisions - get married, go to live in the middle of nowhere, start a family, spend lots of time with the children - didn't really help, as you can imagine. I've just been a piano teacher since then, and this year, somehow, have ended up being Head of Music at a prep school (sounds a lot more important and better paid than it is!). I think, really, I was 'supposed' to stay in academia, but I took a wrong turn or two after graduation, which I ought to regret, but which I don't, because that would be to regret my children. And I don't do that.
Sorry not to be more encouraging. But then, don't worry, I'm a 'special case' and not in a positive way!
No, thanks for sharing your story. I appreciate it. :)
Quote from: Egebedieff on April 16, 2007, 02:07:45 PM
I took the Ives path.
After I got my M Mus Theory (thesis on Ives), I found myself managing a record shop where I had to llisten to music, mostly stuff I didn't want to hear, too loud, for 10-12 hours a day.
I was working hard, not making much money, and beginning to hate music.
I decided I would rather work hard, make more money, and hate electricty instead of music, so I got an electrcial engineering degree.
-Egebedieff
Funny, I have an Associates in EE. I had straight A's but didn't pursue it further because my heart wasn't in it. :-\
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on April 16, 2007, 01:10:42 PM
You may have been born too late, George...retail seems to be dying outside the internet.
I just read Mozart in the Jungle. Depressing if you've got a music degree.
Sarge
I'll be sure to avoid that book, then. There's been more than enough depression around here lately. :-[
Quote from: MrOsa on April 16, 2007, 02:40:09 PM
Luke, sounds to me you've made all the right choices actually. 8)
Incidentally, my piano and theory teacher from music school studied composition with W?odzimierz Koto?ski and conducting with Henryk Czy? - two of the best teachers imaginable. She also studied in England, at the Royal Academy of Music with Paul Patterson for some time (don't know the details). Unfortunately, she never recognizes me when I meet her at concerts etc. :-\
Anyway, for quite a few years now her main field of work has been... kindergarten. She teaches music to kindergarten kids, she has started some sort of kindergarten "band". In composing, she now concentrates on writing songs for kindergarten children (including songs in English designed as teaching aids). Personally, I think that's great. :D
Don't know if that would be George's idea of a dream job, though... ;)
Let's just say one of reasons I am leaving my job is my lack of patience. ;)
Thats funny because when I finish school I will have a BA in Music and a Minor in Psychology. But what I am doing is going back to graduate school for Music Cognition. Hopefully this developing field will yield jobs for me in the future.
Quote from: btpaul674 on April 16, 2007, 03:11:08 PM
Thats funny because when I finish school I will have a BA in Music and a Minor in Psychology. But what I am doing is going back to graduate school for Music Cognition. Hopefully this developing field will yield jobs for me in the future.
Haven't heard of Music Cognition. What is that?
What about something like musical therapy?
Although something like that might be trying on one's patience ...
Hmmm, 'tis a tough one.
Quote from: Novitiate on April 16, 2007, 04:02:43 PM
What about something like musical therapy?
Although something like that might be trying on one's patience ...
Hmmm, 'tis a tough one.
I should be more clear. I actually can be a very patient guy, its just that the type of work I was doing made it very hard for me to be patient.
I actually applied for a Masters Program in Music Therapy about 3-4 years ago. They wouldn't accept me because you need to be proficient in voice, piano and guitar. I was barely proficient in voice. :-\
What the hell do you want to do?
How about teaching George. There are many programs that will allow you to get you license/masters in about a year, or a bit more....and you do not necessarily have to get your degree with a music emphasis. Just a thought.
Quote from: Bill on April 16, 2007, 05:47:37 PM
How about teaching George. There are many programs that will allow you to get you license/masters in about a year, or a bit more....and you do not necessarily have to get your degree with a music emphasis. Just a thought.
I've considered teaching, but I'd really only want to teach in college. To do that I'd need to go back to school and I don't wish to do that.
I guess I'm not so much looking for a career as I am just looking for a job.
Quote from: George on April 16, 2007, 03:19:08 PM
Haven't heard of Music Cognition. What is that?
Its a highly interdisciplinary study of music, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, acoustics and psychoacoustics to help understand how music affects the brain. its studies have yielded many beneficial results such as music in the contexts of society and culture as well as many marketing studies.
Quote from: btpaul674 on April 16, 2007, 05:55:38 PM
Its a highly interdisciplinary study of music, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, acoustics and psychoacoustics to help understand how music affects the brain. its studies have yielded many beneficial results such as music in the contexts of society and culture as well as many marketing studies.
Or, you could consider just opening up a sonata repair.... :-\
8)
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 16, 2007, 06:15:02 PM
Or, you could consider just opening up a sonata repair.... :-\
8)
Too easy.
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 16, 2007, 06:15:02 PM
Or, you could consider just opening up a sonata repair.... :-\
8)
Are you suggesting he fix Hyundais for a living?
>:D
Quote from: btpaul674 on April 16, 2007, 05:55:38 PM
Its a highly interdisciplinary study of music, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, acoustics and psychoacoustics to help understand how music affects the brain. its studies have yielded many beneficial results such as music in the contexts of society and culture as well as many marketing studies.
This is a field I've thought about going into. In a few weeks I will graduate with a BA in English (with a music minor), and am likely interested in pursuing music on the graduate level at some point in the future (though not right away).
My cousin is a professor of music theory/cognition, and I've spoken with him a little bit about the field -- enough to spark my interest. His father is a psychology professor, and they have done some collaborative research (.pdf file: http://tinyurl.com/2ug7lw). I don't have much of a psychology background, but they tell me there is room in the field both for those with a stronger psychology background and those with a stronger music background (me).
In the meanwhile, though, I'll be in the same place as George -- just (finding and) holding a job to pay the rent for a while.
Quote from: George on April 16, 2007, 05:54:19 PM
I've considered teaching, but I'd really only want to teach in college. To do that I'd need to go back to school and I don't wish to do that.
I guess I'm not so much looking for a career as I am just looking for a job.
if you really want a job that badly, stop being so picky. Try to get a job as a music teacher in a elementary school, start low, and work your way up to teaching in college eventually.
Quote from: MahlerTitan on April 16, 2007, 10:51:25 PM
if you really want a job that badly, stop being so picky. Try to get a job as a music teacher in a elementary school, start low, and work your way up to teaching in college eventually.
That's not 'low'! - they are very different skills, that's all.
Quote from: George on April 16, 2007, 04:11:12 PM
I should be more clear. I actually can be a very patient guy, its just that the type of work I was doing made it very hard for me to be patient.
I actually applied for a Masters Program in Music Therapy about 3-4 years ago. They wouldn't accept me because you need to be proficient in voice, piano and guitar. I was barely proficient in voice. :-\
Gee, they don't ask for much, do they :-\?
How about some sort of administrative role in a musical organisation?
Quote from: lukeottevanger on April 17, 2007, 02:21:38 AM
That's not 'low'! - they are very different skills, that's all.
Well said, not to mention that they are skills that I don't have. :-\
Quote from: Novitiate on April 17, 2007, 02:58:19 AM
Gee, they don't ask for much, do they :-\?
How about some sort of administrative role in a musical organisation?
That sounds interesting. I got the classifieds from the Sunday New York Times, but found nothing so far.
Not much room in orchestras?
So glad I didn't major in music. There were even a couple of people here that encouraged me to at one point (almost 10 years ago). Glad I didn't listen. That's a rich man's game.
Quote from: Cato on April 16, 2007, 12:52:40 PM
What can a BA in Music get you?
An unemployment check!
Charles Ives faced this question over 100 years ago: that's why for him the answer was to become an insurance salesman.
Call GEICO!
Amazing: when I just now saw the topic, I thought: "The answer is: an unemployment check!"
When I went to page 1, I saw that I had responded precisely that 8 years ago! Talk about consistency! 0:) Or a lamentable inability to avoid cheap jokes! $:)
Other possible answers:
1. A girlfriend who plays the gee-tar
2. A spot in the subway
3. Fame and fortune
4. Personal fulfillment
5. Joy
http://www.youtube.com/v/CK6ksA0QyE4
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on April 16, 2007, 01:10:42 PM
I just read Mozart in the Jungle. Depressing if you've got a music degree.
Even more depressing if you don't.
Quote from: Brian on December 02, 2015, 06:04:38 PM
http://www.youtube.com/v/CK6ksA0QyE4
"Whose life sucks more? Brian's or mine?"
Quote from: epicous on December 02, 2015, 01:05:34 PM
Not much room in orchestras?
Last I heard, for every position in a major orchestra, including down in the violin sections, there are at least 150 applicants! :o
Quote from: jochanaan on December 02, 2015, 07:38:14 PM
Last I heard, for every position in a major orchestra, including down in the violin sections, there are at least 150 applicants! :o
I was one of 95 clarinetists who registered to audition for one orchestra; and the morning of the audition, there was a line of 30 more, who had not registered, but just showed up.
Thread Duty: I don't know—I have a B.Mus. 8)
Quote from: karlhenning on December 03, 2015, 02:00:55 AM
Thread Duty: I don't know—I have a B.Mus. 8)
Ditto. Sometimes having that is being over-qualified for some places, meaning that too much knowledge is not exactly wanted nor needed.
Quote from: jochanaan on December 02, 2015, 07:38:14 PM
Last I heard, for every position in a major orchestra, including down in the violin sections, there are at least 150 applicants! :o
Enchanting. Let´s produce more dilettantes.
Quote from: epicous on December 03, 2015, 08:57:39 AM
Enchanting. Let´s produce more dilettantes.
Actually, I think we are producing a greater population of better-skilled performers than at any period in history.
Quote from: karlhenning on December 03, 2015, 09:56:56 AM
Actually, I think we are producing a greater population of better-skilled performers than at any period in history.
This seems to be the case, based on the evidence available.
So does that mean there's more risktakers or more people who can afford to take the risk?
Quote from: Greg on December 03, 2015, 11:23:30 AM
So does that mean there's more risktakers or more people who can afford to take the risk?
Probably not.
Quote from: North Star on December 03, 2015, 11:24:43 AM
Probably not.
Probably not to which one? Maybe that was worded poorly.
So does that mean
a) there's more risktakers or
b)
more people who can afford to take the risk? more people for whom getting a BA in music is not a risk because they are rich and it doesn't matter if they can't get a job with it?
Probably neither would have been a clearer answer, I suppose. ;)
But yeah, probably young people's concerns of the financial effect of them majoring in music or sth like that have decreased.
Appeared on my FB feed today