Music Major/Fraternity Member?

College Majors Music Majors
1

<p>I have a question which has been eating away at me for a long time.</p>

<p>I’m a senior in High School and a soon-to-be music major. Specifically, I’m going to be majoring in jazz studies. I love music; I love playing it, teaching it, listening to it, just as any music major does. I have 100% confidence that being a musician is what I desire as a career. </p>

<p>That being said, I am also a very social person. I love talking to people, meeting people, having fun at parties, and so on. I feel the same sort of connection with people that I do with music. It has always been a desire of mine to join a fraternity. I know that this comes with the stereotypes of being a “sellout just to have friends” or a “heavy partier/drinker,” but to be honest, I do not party excessively. I’ve never had a sip of alcohol or contact with any sort of drug associated with any of that frat stuff. I simply like being around people. I go to an all-boys school in Little Rock, Arkansas, and doing so has given me some great connections with other young men. I would love to continue this in college. To me, being in a fraternity would be a great way to meet other people from disciplines outside those with which I’m associated. </p>

<p>However, I do understand that being a music major expends a lot of time, and perhaps does not leave so much time to be social because of being in the practice room or at a gig. Greek life consumes the time of many who are involved in it. Still, I would not party as much as other Greeks, I would NEVER get caught up in all that alcohol and drug usage, and I would definitely put music first. </p>

<p>My question is this: Is being a non-music-frat Greek feasible as a music major? Despite the stigma that fraternities get, is this a possible venture while still having the time to develop as a musician? </p>

<p>Please answer honestly, but in an un-biased manner (if you view fraternities in a negative light).</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>I think it’s totally feasible to be Greek and to finish the requirements of a jazz studies degree. It’s totally conceivable that you might even do a good job in the degree. However, it doesn’t seem like a great idea.</p>

<p>As a serious jazz student, the expectations are a little different from a classical music student. Not only will you be responsible for your own playing and your academic classes, but also a good deal of writing and transcribing as well, which is time consuming. If all goes well, you may gig many nights a week. Even where I went to school, which was hardly a cultural hub, the good jazz musicians had gigs a few times every week, many working close to every night. At any rate, you’ll have a ton of stuff to do, apart from shedding, which you’ll need to spend more time doing than the people around you if you’re serious about performing.</p>

<p>Being Greek doesn’t categorically prevent you from doing these things and doing them well. However, it will pull you in a different direction. Your house is like your family on campus, and, like a real family, they’re going to give you a little grief if you’re never at the house. Pledging is a time-intensive process, and then you’re expected to be at activities. If you’re doing a music degree right, you won’t just have the free evenings that would allow you to take advantage of being in a fraternity. </p>

<p>Most jazz studies departments are a pretty social bunch. Unless you’re at UNT or Berklee, it’s a fairly small group of people who you’ll get to know pretty well. You’re in rehearsals for jazz ensembles together. You’ll play on other students’ recitals. You’ll take the same jazz history, arranging, and composition classes. You’ll hang out after gigs. After seeing these people this much, you’ll have made some connections, and they’ll be in your field. And there’s a difference between seeing your friends while getting drunk at a frat party, and seeing your friends, playing a paid gig and then hanging out and listening to music. Hell, even the big names are up for a drink when they’re on tour; when Stefon Harris came to my school last year, he and his band ended up at a house party with our school’s music students. </p>

<p>I guess what I’m trying to say is that though you are passing up an opportunity to make connections outside your field, I don’t think you’d miss out on any kind of social life by staying out of the Greek system and doing a jazz studies degree. You’ll still make close friends either way, it’s just that there’s much less of a chance that you’ll make connections that will help you as a musician through a non-music fraternity. And it’ll be easier within that social network to get your stuff done. Your brothers will be pressuring you to go to whatever party is that night (which will definitely be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, probably more), but your friends in the school won’t think twice about you ducking out for a midnight practice session. And, when the time is right, there will be a party to go to, I assure you.</p>

<p>This article sums it up pretty well, I think (particularly towards the end of the article):</p>

<p>[Casa</a> Valdez Studios: A letter to a student at a Jazz Conservatory](<a href=“http://davidvaldez.blogspot.com/2009/11/letter-to-student-at-jazz-conservatory.html]Casa”>Casa Valdez Studios: A letter to a student at a Jazz Conservatory)</p>

3

<p>You may want to investigate whether there is a Phi Mu Alpha chapter (national men’s music fraternity) at any of the schools you’re considering. [Phi</a> Mu Alpha Sinfonia - National Website](<a href=“http://www.sinfonia.org/]Phi”>http://www.sinfonia.org/) There’s a history, a list of noted alumni, and a chapter listing.</p>

4

<p>My son, a music major, is a member of a “regular” fraternity. No problems. I think rush was a little tricky but he worked it out. Actually the music majors in the fraternity are a benefit at times, for example the Spring Sing competition.</p>

5

<p>My daughter is in a sorority and is also involved in dance at her uni. Very hard to juggle both but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She has two completely different sets of friends and does find it hard to juggle the timing of events surrounding both but it is definitely possible - just not much down time.
PS: As a parent, I am very impressed with the majority of frat guys she has introduced me to - so as long as you choose wisely, you will be respected for the work and positive accomplishments the fraternity guys put out. Just brace yourself for NO personal time during rush both as a freshman and during the following years.</p>