whheex

currently i'm a freshman on a premed track and majoring in either neuroscience or psychology. but i've been thinking about what i would really love to do and realized that i actually would rather be a musician than a doctor. as much as psychology has interested me in high school, i haven't been performing very well with the sciences..

my music background is taking piano class when i 6 for half a year, and then stopping because the teacher could not handle my laziness to practice. when i was 10 i took violin lessons for two years. then i moved to a different country.

i took band all throughout high school, playing the tenor sax. i only played in the concert band because i always had schedule conflicts for wind ensemble. i played in a regular jazz band there too and never had the confidence to audition for my school's jazz ensemble. i played in marching band and my senior year i did pit band for a musical (which i only had mediocre skills for).

i also took a basic music theory class my junior year of high school. now, i'm realizing that maybe if i had realized how much i've been growing around music and how much love playing and making music, i would've focused on music much more in high school, rather than organizing my schedule around other science classes.

i know if i decide to major/minor in music it's going to be very hard. which ever i decide, to remain with the same major or changing it, it will be difficult. there's no easy way to life. i just want to know from music majors and those with experience with music, what their opinions are of my situation.

whheex

i've also been singing for my church worship band, but i don't know how to read notes, as in reading a note and having perfect pitch and all. i'm also meh meh at site reading...
i took the AP music theory exam my junior year and received a 1. i had informed my music director that although i was in the normal music theory class, i wanted to take the AP exam. my schedule just couldn't fit the AP class. but he forgot and i wasn't prepared for the exam.

thumper1

I don't want to be a downer here...but...

You have a LOT of catching up to do to become a music major. Most majors have taken private lessons on at least one instrument for many years and can play at an advanced level. From what you posted, you love music, but you have never really pursued it with any sort of commitment or drive. It has never been a priority in your life (lots of conflicts that prevented you from doing whatever...music it seems was a secondary thing....that is not usually the case for music majors).

What is it that you love about music? Focus on that and think of ways to nurture that love. Are there other ways that you could satisfy this love...sing in a church choir or play your saxophone in a community band or ensemble for non-majors? You would also take private lessons with someone and see how you like doing so, and how you progress. Then you might be in a better position to make a decision about music as a more primary part of your life.

You CAN have music in your life, but I think you need to figure out exactly how you are going to do this.

pageturner

Research 'Music Therapy' and see if that fits with your interests.

Hunt

Take some music courses as electives next year, and see how you do. Ask yourself if you really want to switch to music, or if you're really just having second thoughts about premed. There are many other options.

02RGuy72

Chime on what Hunt said.

If you really have a passion for music then you should go for it. It makes no sense to continue to study in a major that you don't like or you're not doing well in.

I'm a 37 year old non-traditional student majoring in commercial music. After three failed attempts at college after high school (one of them as a pharmacy major) I decided to follow my heart and enrolled myself in music school at age 35. Best decision I ever made and I regret not following my dreams before.

Yes, you will have some catching up to do. Start working on your music reading skills now. You will probably have to take a theory placement test so the more you can study up this summer, the better off you'll be. It will be hard, but not impossible. You'll probably have to practice harder than most but you can catch up if you put your mind to it.

Don't be like me and waste your younger years doing something you don't want to do.

Best of luck to you!