What can a BA in Music get you?

[George]

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. 

[lukeottevanger]

Don't ask me - I have a very good one and it's got me nowhere!

[George]

Don't ask me - I have a very good one and it's got me nowhere!

Really, not even for non-music jobs? 

[Cato]

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!

[Don]

Really, not even for non-music jobs? 

Particularly for non-music jobs. 

[lukeottevanger]

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!

[George]

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.   

[Sergeant Rock]

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

[Don]

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.

[mahlertitan]

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.

[Maciek]

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.

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.

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 ):


BTW, Ives was quite rich, wasn't he?

[MishaK]

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.

[George]

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. 

[George]

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. 

[George]

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. 

[George]

Luke, sounds to me you've made all the right choices actually.

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.

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. 

[btpaul674]

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.

[George]

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?

[Novi]

What about something like musical therapy?

Although something like that might be trying on one's patience ...

Hmmm, 'tis a tough one.

[George]

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.