I’m currently an undergraduate in college, finishing up my senior year in a degree I thought I really enjoyed, but turns out I don’t like it as much as I thought (so goes life, I’m sure). I’m wanting to make a career change and get a degree in music, and I’ve been considering a career in music education. I’m currently working with a private instructor to be admitted into my school’s BA program, with the hopes of obtaining just a general BA in Music as I finish up my current degree program and then obtaining a master’s degree specifically in music education.
The concern I have is that I haven’t practiced my instrument (voice) in the nearly four years I’ve been out of high school and in college. A few factors prevented me from continuing in my college’s choir, but it was mostly my own lack of self-awareness about what I really wanted to do (music is originally what I intended to study, but I started to lack confidence in my abilities when I received a rejection from my dream school). As I stated, I’m taking private lessons with a teacher and I’m enrolled at a local community college taking music courses there (namely music theory, ear training/sight reading/aural skills, and piano).
In essence, I’m wondering what a good plan of action would be. Does it make sense to obtain a BA in Music while I finish my current degree then go to graduate school for music education, or does it make more sense to complete a two-year degree in music through my local community college, transfer to a 4-year university with plans to study music education (so a second Bachelor’s in my case), and then go to graduate school?
In either case, I think graduate school is something I would really like to do, especially for music education, but I know many graduate programs (for voice, especially) can be quite competitive to gain admission into. I feel that my time away from my instrument will do more harm than good as I near my audition.
I would appreciate any insight into this, from any current music students, advisors or parents of music students.
What is your degree in that you’re about to receive? You only have one life that you have to live so do what will satisfy you. Rationally, you’d be better off getting a regular teacher education and study music on the side. My child’s private instrument lessons teacher is a special education teacher by day and music instructor by night plus used to do local choirs and orchestras. Music teacher jobs that pay the bills are few and far between. You can for the rest of your life study music and audition for choirs or orchestras. You don’t need a music education degree for that. Don’t take on debt that will haunt you forever.