 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CNB4Now
Date: 2003-06-03 00:13
I will be a freshmen at College next year. And I'm having a hard time deciding my major/minor. I know I should do what I want to do but I can't help but ask people about it. I was thinking about majoring in Music... maybe as a teacher. And other band directors/adult musicans have given me bad feelings about becaming a band teaher. I love Music, and I want to teach other people, but when I've been told that it's not a good job because some kids just won't care as much as I do and so on, I don't know what to time. I'm debating between Business Administration or being a music major. People tell me that being a business major there will be more jobs available then in music, and blah blah blah. What do you think? Is there any teachers out there that want to comment?
C. N. B.
Post Edited (2003-06-03 01:43)
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-06-03 06:29
It depends how much you love it. Personally, I would not want to be a band director for much the reason that your friend describes. I have enjoyed being a private teacher, however, and feel like I am doing some good.
If you really want to major in music, maybe you should try it for a year. If you progress well and enjoy yourself, perhaps it IS for you. Even if not, plenty of musicians find employment in fields outside of music.
I don't know what the outlook is for business majors. I worked with more of them in temp jobs than I did other musicians.
One thing's for sure. Major in something that you can do whole-heartedly, because college is a demanding experience and you want to make the most of it--whatever your field of study.
Allen Cole
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-06-03 11:03
"If you do what you love for money, better keep some for yourself"
James Taylor
Look around you.
How many of the younger students at your school would you care to instruct, for the rest of your life?
If you're lucky, you teach in a district that funds the music program, and has a healthy competition amongst players to get into the band/orchestra.
There is a reasonable living to be made teaching secondary school, but many instructors find it necessary to offer private lessons, after a full day of dealing with the same kids, to make ends meet.
In short, it can be a grind.
Better to have something else in your 'kit bag' for employment, just in case it becomes trying. Ask our webMaster, he's been through same...
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Author: CNB4Now
Date: 2003-06-03 15:56
That's why I was thinking about maybe majoring in Business, and minoring in music. But my college counselor said it wouldn't be a good idea to do both because they are both real demanding majors/minors. So I guess I have a delemma huh!
C. N. B.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2003-06-03 19:17
Do you like business? Are you just doing business because people said there are lots of jobs in business?
Sorry, I just have a personal bias against going into business, deciding to shuffle around other people's papers for the rest of your life just because the money's good. Try to find a field that you actually *like* and can see yourself doing for the next FIFTY YEARS. If you actually do like business, or if money is the top priority for you, have at it and good luck. If not, explore! College is where you find out what you really like to do. You only live once, make the best of it.
imho Business is far less demanding in college than music. As a music and computer science major (7 year plan, woohoo!) I know what demanding is, and I'd wager that music is just about the most time and energy consuming major, up there with the hard sciences. In contrast, I know business majors who have a bachelor's in just over 3 years.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: george
Date: 2003-06-03 19:48
Alex is right. In college study what interests and excites you. There's plenty of time later to worry later about making a living.
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Author: bassclarinetchicka88
Date: 2003-06-03 23:00
just my opinion - but i agree with alex and music sounds like a *MUCH* better option than business to me. teaching is one of the best fields because you really get to inspire people and be a part of what they become. some kids really don't care, thats true, and you cant always MAKE them, but you can inspire them. so if you have the patience to become a teacher, i think that's great.
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Author: CNB4Now
Date: 2003-06-04 00:58
Synonymoous Botch said "...Look around you.
How many of the younger students at your school would you care to instruct, for the rest of your life?"
That is one of the reason I posted this question. At my school, which I am so glad to be graduating because it isn't a good district. We have a great band program, and wehave a Superintendent that cares and actually just invested a whole lot of money into redoing our band room, and getting a crap load of instruments. But he is new, he just got the job in my district. And I sort of feel he is too late. Yeah he bought a lot of stuff, but already I see a lot of people not caring. When I look around in my class, I see too many people that don't care. For the last 2 years I have been section leader, and there was only 28 clarinets in marching band this year, and not all of them cared, and that is upsetting to me. I am afraid that I will become a teacher and can't get into a good district where the students actually care.
I mean I do have a year or two the think about that. You guys are right about going to college and 'exploring my options.' Which I plan on doing, and I do like business for those of you that asked. Business and music are the only 2 things that I've thought about.
C. N. B.
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Author: krawfish3x
Date: 2003-06-04 01:16
i know what you're feeling. I want to go into music and teach it too but do what you want to do and do what makes you happy. What's better in life than being happy?
if you get a group of kids that don't care the only thing you can do for them is inspire them. Don't let it bother you. Kids will be kids.
There's a place out there for everyone just consider your options and strive to do what you feel is best.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-06-04 01:19
I know of three serious players, in my neighborhood, that took a hard look at the opportunity available for decent pay at making music.
Each one of them is certainly good enough to play at a professional level, some at multiple instruments.
They are managing to blend a music study with equally demanding courses in Computer science ( a surprisingly good fit for a composer ), mechanical engineering and public administration.
Here's one more thing to look over;
Of the solid (that is, dependable income stream) positions that are out there, how many are likely to become vacant?
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Author: Webby
Date: 2003-06-04 03:21
CNB,
I doubt you'll want to hear this, but it's not a matter of finding a good district where the students care---it's your job to show them why they should care & make what you're sharing with them relevant to them so that they want to be there. So that's really what you're really dealing with. If you're not into that, or you expect them to come excited, then you'll be disappointed.
As far as both business & music being rigorous, I concur that music is much more so. Business is rigorous in a different way. It's plenty of traditional college work. Being a music major is a lifestyle. Your social circle & free time revolves around music. My freshman year this came as a jolt because I wasn't going into it wholeheartedly. After a great deal of personal growth I realized it was what I wanted & when I came back to the major after a year as a Spanish major, I loved it & wish I had more classes & money to stay here longer!
One thing I'd suggest you do as soon as you get to campus or even at orientation is figure out what office administers career assessments at your school. This will help you pinpoint interests, skills, and personality traits & there should be someone at that office to help you interpret your results. I don't mean the sitcom-variety that tells you you're destined for a career in [fill-in-the-blank]. Go for the Myers-Briggs & the Campbell Interest & Skill Survey. It should be fairly inexpensive if your campus subsidizes the cost (or at least doesn't charge beyond their cost to purchase the tests---it's $12 here).
Good luck!
Webby
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Author: lyn
Date: 2003-06-04 15:13
Why don't you look for a college with a Music Business degree? They are all over the place now. Or Music Administration. And take lessons, no matter what your major.
I usually do not push my students into music ed. (Even tho two are going into it next year, LOL....they do not listen!) This is why.....Think about the personnel in, say, an elementary school. You have @6 teachers for each grade. Then you have all the "extra" teachers - how many of those are Instrumental music? Maybe one? And is that person full time at the school? Probably not. Probably one instrumental teacher between 2-3 schools is the reality. One or two in the middle school(s) that may share in the elementaries, and one high school band director. (I'm not counting string teachers.)
There are NOT a lot of jobs out there (unless you want to work in Alaska or the inner city). The ones who are hired hang onto their jobs like grim death. I cannot tell you how many of my friends from college are NOT teaching. They could not get jobs. Or they decided they wanted more financially. Teachers are very limited as to what they make for a salary. People will only stand for their taxes being raised so much.
Think of the percentages of people who go into music schools every year. Where I went, there were 500+ music majors. Take that times 1000s, because that is how many music schools there are. Then ask yourself, is there going to be a job for every one who graduates? Probably not.
If you think the Kids don't care.....let's talk about how the adminstrators and other teachers "look down" on many music teachers (you would not believe how they treat the high school band director here). They don't think you DO anything because you just have 1-2 classes (aka rehearsals) a day! Or you teach a few kids at a time for lessons. Not every school district is like that. But I would venture to say half are. Music is not top priority financially, either. Budgets are non-existent, band boosters end up raising all the money, so there is really never enough.
Sorry to paint such a horrible picture!!! But you see, look at me, it is the middle of the morning, I am home on the computer. My job was eliminated in a mass budget cut, with 60 other teachers after I had been teaching there, with tenure, for 10 years. (Don't ever think tenure guarantees you your job!)
So I opened my own studio. I have 30 good students, a state-recognized clarinet choir, and no pension. Plus no guaranteed income - If a student bags a lesson, I am out the money. (We are in a rural area where there is no way I could take tuition up front.)
You are smart to have asked yourself this question before you go to school. Personally, I don't know if I'd do it the same way if I had it to do over again. I'd think long and hard about it.
Lynn
www.chesco.com/~thomas/cambiare.htm
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-06-04 15:46
lyn wrote:
> I have 30 good students, a
> state-recognized clarinet choir, and no pension.
I'd say at least 80% of the people I work with have no pension. Don't feel lonely ...
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2003-06-04 16:36
I think music business is your best bet. You get to combine the two things you like! What could be better. I have many friends who really enjoy music business because they get to combine the business with the music. I'm currently a performance major freaking out about my future and looking to as many options as possible. Over the summers, I've been working as a temp in a business, and let me tell you...it's BORING. Music is much more fun, and if I could work in a business like I am now, but working on something music related, i think i'd be in heaven. I know there's more to it than that, but I'd definately recommend music business if your school has that as a major.
good luck!
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-04 21:02
Nothing at all wrong with teaching. I've done it myself. And if you find a school where all students really care, please let me know where it is, as I'd like to see that just once before I die. (No need to hurry, I hope....) One of the skills of a good teacher is to cause students to care. It's a real art, and some never get the hang of it.
Masking yourself more valuable to your school or district can help to ensure your continued employment in the event of major cutbacks in funding. (Yes, music teachers always seem to be among the first to go.) There are ways to do this. Having no idea where you are located, I do not know what your state's regulations might be. So let's take California (where I am) as an example:
If you are a credentialed teacher in any discipline, there are supplemental credentials that may be added to your qualifications without breaking your neck. A supplementary credential authorizes you to teach introductory materials (ninth-grade stuff) in that subject area to any students. Each requires ten or twenty semester credits from a Regionally-Accredited school in the discipline involved. For example, if you are credentialed in Music, you may add a Supplementary Science credential simply by getting minimum grades of C ia a few science courses (some are specific, others elective). If you have a Music credential along with a supplementary in Science (or Math), I suspect schools would love you dearly.
Details for California can be seen at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentialinfo/leaflets/cl603.html
Regards,
John
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