Klarinet Archive - Posting 000474.txt from 1998/04

From: "Kevin J. Bowman" <kbowman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Music Minors
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 10:06:44 -0400

I'm emerging from lurk mode to offer a few comments on this thread.

I find it interesting that others are seeking to do what I dreamed of doing
when I first entered college. I began my university life as a computer
engineering major at a university that only allowed a "minor" in a
nearly related field (like mathematics, physics, or information systems).
However, I did register for indivudial instrumental study and auditioned
for (and subsequently played in) the orchestra (doubling 2nd and Bass
one year and doubling 1st and E flat another) and the wind ensemble.
Although I never officially belonged to the school of music, I was able to
"test into" an advanced Tonal Counterpoint class. Many of these credits
did count for electives and also improved my GPA. Unfortunately,
circumstances forced me to transfer to an engineering university that had
to music program and my involvement in music became quite sporatic.

Now that I have a degree in electrical engineering, I sometimes wish I had
just done the fun thing and had gotton a degree in music. Anyway, now
that I'm firmly planted in my engineering career, I have begun studying and
teaching (beginning and intermediate clarinet and sax) again and I find that
it is a great escape from the day-to-day activities of my "real" job. There are
a couple of interesting things I have discovered: 1) a surprisingly large
percentage of engineers are also fine musicians, and 2) the analytical skills
I use for engineering are closely related to the analytical skills I use in
teaching students.

IMO, if you are seeking a music minor, you have to ask yourself what it is
you wish to accomplish. If you simply want to stay involved in music, you
can do that without a minor. If you want to learn more about music, you
can still take advantage of the music department without a minor or read
and research at your leisure.

Kevin Bowman
Software Engineer
Integral Vision, A Division of Medar, Inc.
E-Mail: kbowman@-----.com
-- and --
Clarinet and Saxophone Instructor
Rochester Conservatory of Music, Rochester, MI.
Web: www.mich.com/~kjbowman