 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bluemoose
Date: 2009-03-12 04:57
This may be off-topic, and if so I apologize and will not be offended if the thread is deleted I just didn't know where else to ask about it.
I'm a music education student who decided on her major late in the game, and as such I'll be spending an extra semester in school before graduating- December '10 instead of May '10. This is due to prerequisite requirements, certain courses only offered in spring/fall, etc. I've now found myself in a position where I (*gasp*) have a lot of extra time on my hands, credit-wise this upcoming year. As such, I'm going to try to pursue a minor.
My question is, what kind of minor would be beneficial to my future career as a music teacher? My options are Psychology, possibly Computer Science or IT, or Arabic. Arabic would by far be the easiest to complete, but perhaps the most tangentially related to music/education. Comp Sci would be the most difficult to complete, but people have assured me that a teacher with tech skills would be coveted. Psychology seems somewhat run of the mill, but it's fully doable.
Don't worry, I'm not going to base my decision solely on the recommendations of this board, but any input would be nice, especially from current music teachers who might know a little bit about what is looked for in an applicant.
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2009-03-12 08:45
Well, if Arabic is an option do you think you might want to go and teach in an arabic-speaking country? in which case it could be quite useful. There are jobs advertised from time to time which seem to offer quite attractive packages.
If not, I'd say that either computer science or psychology would be good.
Vanessa.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-03-12 09:50
I've known a few musicians whose regular jobs are involved with computers.
Bob Draznik
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2009-03-12 11:55
If you plan on being a school teacher, psychology is probably the most relevent/usable in the classroom.
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Author: jsc
Date: 2009-03-12 12:56
Are there other music courses to consider? How about vocal music courses? Choir and Mens Chorus were actually very beneficial to me in my training. Was a computer course in some kind of computer based orchestration/composition using Finale or Sibelius part of your Music Ed degree? As a current teacher, I understand your situation. Of course, there is also practicing more. Imagine how solid you could be as a musician and how that would benefit your students. I'm not suggesting that the other courses, psych and comp sci, would help but it's a thought. Good luck in your decision and May The Force Be With You. You'll need it.
jsc - Teaching high school for 10 years and happy doing it!
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Author: bluemoose
Date: 2009-03-12 19:14
Thanks for your advice. JSC, believe me, I would love to spend the time just practicing more- I'm going to be doing a recital next year, so having extra time would be a great thing. However, I actually need to take some more credits in order to be considered a full time student, hence the minor idea. That, or I could just take basketweaving, scubadiving, etc. and have a grand old time, but feel somewhat like I'm wasting my parent's tuition payments. Decisions, decisions...
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2009-03-12 19:21
How about business? My first clarinet teacher studied business in addition to music. Especially if you plan on running a private studio, you need to learn about pricing, marketting, and maximizing your earnings.
Meri
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-03-12 19:33
Hmmm...I'd go with something that would get you a job. Not all districts/states are hiring teachers right now. My brother-in-law got an ed (not music) degree last spring, and then got no offers over the summer. All of the districts in his area put a hiring freeze on this past fall.
Not to discourage your music ed aspirations, but practicality is important! Business wouldn't hurt, but comp sci or Arabic are more marketable skills these days....you could (if you become fluent) work as a translator for the government with the Arabic, or you could fix/maintain/program computers pretty much in any arena...
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2009-03-12 20:06
Too many music majors never achieve what I would call a "college education" because their courses are too narrowly specialized. I know it is difficult to squeeze all that one needs to know about our art into a 4-year curriculum along with the general cultural knowledge that one needs to absorb in order to be an "educated" citizen. When I was at Juilliard the bachelor's degree program was nominally 5 years, as opposed to a performer's certificate 4 year program.
Your extra year of study should be a wonderful opportunity to broaden your horizon beyond those of the all-too-common "vocational school" educated musician. I've worked with too many colleagues, graduates of highly prestigious conservatories -- wonderful players -- but naive nincompoops when it came to the nuts and bolts of real life. Go for the gold (I don't mean money)!
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-03-12 20:56
I would probably do the minor in Comp. Sci. You can probably get some kind of computer-related job with a Mus. Ed. degree and Comp. Sci. minor, whereas I'm not sure what a minor in psychology gains you in terms of job skills (not that that's the point of a college education, but it is something to consider). Plus computer skills can be a useful complement to any field. Arabic might be useful if you want to work in the middle east or if you are considering a military, intelligence, or diplomatic-type job.
But computers and music seem to fit naturally together. Perhaps that's because.....
"All musicians are subconsciously mathematicians."
--Thelonious Monk
(I've been dying to use that quote somewhere, so now I have.)
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Author: bluemoose
Date: 2009-03-13 00:18
I agree that Computer Science is probably the most useful/practical. However, after looking it all up this afternoon, it seems like it would be almost impossible, given the lack of summer and January courses offered. So I guess that narrows it down to 2.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-03-13 00:42
You write well and obviously have a good mind. College is your last, best chance to immerse yourself in something just because it interests you.
There's much more to life than music or courses that will qualify you for a job. Every great teacher (and great musician) I've met has been broadly cultured.
In your place, I would take a minor in English literature, history or art. You may prefer Arabic literature.
Study something you love -- that makes you excited. It will pay you back for the rest of your life, and will deepen your understanding of your profession, whatever it turns out to be.
Ken Shaw
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Author: jsc
Date: 2009-03-13 00:49
Ken,
YES! Many of us that are now well into our lives wish for the freedom of those college years. The opportunities that present themselves and TIME that seems less and less as we get older. Given the chance, I would have gotten a second degree while I was in college. History or English, maybe even underwater basket weaving or better yet, culinary arts!
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Author: Pappy
Date: 2009-03-13 15:38
"I've known a few musicians whose regular jobs are involved with computers.
Bob Draznik"
I am one of those. I've been in IT for nearly 30 years. Not entirely satisfying but ironically, I can afford G.A.S. better than most.
My unsolicited advice is that you should study something you are really interested in and/or love and not try to optimize your employment situation. You are already doing music ed, which puts you in a better position than a lot of musicians. If you must minor, do it in something for YOU, not for your "career". (That said, I'm surprised that you need a minor - I thought music ed programs were pretty full without a minor.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-03-13 23:49
EEBaum wrote:
> FWIW, I'm going to grad school in the fall in something that
> started as a minor.
Good point. You can start with something in a minor have it later turn into A Major. In music school, they call it modulation. 
(Sorry. I just couldn't resist.)
Post Edited (2009-03-13 23:52)
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2009-03-14 00:41
Bluemoose, you're asking a great question. Getting a minor in a field outside of music is a wonderful idea, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who is getting a music ed degree.
When I went to college in the 1970s, the job outlook for music teachers was good. I never got a real minor in a field outside of music because it wasn't required and it didn't fit into my program. Very few music ed graduates did. There just didn't seem to be a need for something not music related. My major was music education, and the university told us our minor was music theory and literature. Yes, very practical!
If I could do it all over again, I definitely would have gotten a "real" minor, something that would have been useful. I worked as a music teacher for many years, but it was frustrating at times. Whenever money was tight, guess what was usually one of the first subjects cut? Just about every music teacher that I know is either facing or has faced the threat of being laid off at some point in his/her life. That's not counting those who were actually laid off. It's a real sinking feeling when you're 35 years old, you're trying to pay the bills, you have a family to support, and you keep hearing discussion of layoffs. You have no other certification to fall back on that might help to keep you employeed in your school district. You consider looking for another job in another district, but you know that you'll probably be facing at a big pay cut. Also, you'll be competing with younger and "cheaper" teachers for a job (and cheap teachers are what districts usually look for).
One music teacher I know--who had his position cut--managed to reinvent himself as a social studies teacher and stay employed. Another laid-off music teacher I know worked for a home improvement company for a couple years until he was eventually called back.
I consider myself a survivor. I narrowly dodged a layoff about 20 years ago (fortunately I was called back), but got out of regular teaching a few years ago when my financially-strapped school district started axing music programs. Along the way, I can't tell you how many times I heard rumors of impending cutbacks.
I'm sorry to say this, but too many music schools don't tell their music ed students the truth. They like to paint rosy pictures of nice employment prospects, cooperative administrators, and understanding school boards.
They never mention the never-ending threat of layoffs and cutbacks. They never mention teachers who do survive cutbacks, but are given unrealistic teaching loads and face unrealistic expectations.
Unfortunately, this is the real world. Cutbacks and layoffs are a fact of life in private industry, and the teaching profession is no different.
After thinking about your options, I'd say that you should go for the minor in psychology. This has several advantages. You could always use it as a future springboard to become a school psychologist. I'm hardly an expert, but from what I've read, there is a continuing need for school psychologists to deal with and/or help diagnose learning disabilities. As we know (and this is unfortunate), there is no shortage of special needs children. Music education and music teachers can be cut without violating federal laws, but psychologists can't be. Psychology could also be used as a springboard for a masters program in guidance and counseling or administration.
Best of luck to you. Congratulations for deciding to make a wise decision.
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Author: bluemoose
Date: 2009-03-14 02:27
Wow, thanks for all the great responses.
The more I look at it, the more psychology seems like the best option. While I would love to finish up Arabic (and I think I will take it up again, since I took 3 semesters already and I do love the language), minoring would actually, as I just found out, require 4 more semesters, and I only have 3 (or 2 really, as the last one is my student teaching semester). I suppose if teaching became impossible I could use Psychology as a springboard for something in music therapy, or something entirely different? I'm not sure- I've never really considered having a "backup plan" if I couldn't get a job as a music teacher. In a perfect world we would be in extremely high demand!
I'm going to talk it over with my advisor and figure out a plan of action. And maybe one of these days I'll get to take that darn creative writing course I've been wanting to try since freshman year!
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-03-14 04:07
Always have a backup plan. Especially if your major is underwater basket weaving.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-03-14 17:51
Don't know if I'd go with psych, especially if you're at all thinking of backup plan prospects. I tend to hear of people with bachelors and even masters in it who really don't find anything to do with it. If you're really interested in the subject material, go for it, but I wouldn't take it just because the schedule is convenient.
It sounds to me like you should consider not getting a minor, and taking a creative writing class instead. And perhaps every other unrelated course you've ever thought would be interesting but never tried. I loved taking social dance.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-03-14 19:15
Hi Bluemoose -
The responses here have been quite varied and wonderful. I especially found Clarinetguy's experience to be interesting. I, too, was a music ed major in the '70's, and found employment right out of college, only to face the same issues he discusses shortly afterwards.
This prompted me to earn a masters degree in sp. education. 25 years later, I still found it to be a wise choice. There will always be a need for teachers with sp. ed. certification, and I found that administrators liked the fact that as a music teachers, I could work well with a population in the school/district that other music teachers were perhaps a bit timid in dealing with.
Having said that, I have always regretted not following a different path - I had the opportunity to do my grad. work at Columbia - didn't want to traipse into the city (a long commute from where I was teaching) several times a week. Dumb choice - any degree from Columbia would have been highly marketable. My other option, that I also declined, was to pursue a masters in music at Westminster, which would have brought my skills to a far higher level. I have always, musically, regretted that choice as well.
BUT, as far as employability, the sp. ed. degree was priceless. I've never had to use it, but the fact that I had it was attractive to potential employers (I did follow up and obtain the certification that goes with the degree. Without the state certificate, the degree is useless).
Another option is to go into administration - but this would not be a minor for you, rather it would be a masters in supervision/administration. You can make far more money as a supervisor or adminstrator than you can as a teacher. However, this takes you away completely from teaching.
A question for you: What area of the country, or what type of community, would you like to teach in? In NYC, for example, there is a large Arabic community, and they have even opened up an Arab language based public school. Having a background in Arabic studies - the culture, the language, etc. - would make you very marketable as a teacher in that type of setting.
However, if you prefer a suburban/rural type of setting, having Arabic in your background will probably not help you much.
A word about psychology - while it's always helpful, it will not be enough to get you into a guidance position in a school. There are very few slots in those areas, and many people vying for those sports (much like music postions!) and you might be better off teaching in a district, THEN pursuing the guidance degree/certificate and transferring within the district if and when a position opens up. At least in the districts I've worked in, this was always how it worked. I never saw an "outsider" being hired for a guidance position.
You've received multiple opinions here, and have lots of options to explore. I wish you a lot of luck in your future. Please let us know what you decide to do!
Chorusgirl
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Author: 78s2CD
Date: 2009-03-19 02:39
I come from the other side, having pursued engineering through doctorate. The engineering degree proved to be a decent meal ticket, but music has always been my passion. My one college regret is not having made time to take some classes at Eastman while I was at the University of Rochester. I say, "Spend your free time studying what you love. You have already prepared for a career through your major."
Best regards,
Jim Lockwood
Rio Rico AZ
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Author: bluemoose
Date: 2009-03-19 16:49
Thanks for everyone's insightful responses.
I've decided to minor in Psychology, and I'm feeling pretty good about it. I'm registered for Child Development for the summer and Human Sexuality for the fall. I'm still going to have time to take some interesting unrelated courses (Yoga!) as well I think, because Psychology is a pretty flexible minor (just 18 credits: Psych 1, which I already have, plus 5 other classes, whatever Psych classes you want.) I don't know if it will actually help me with anything career-wise, but the Psych department here is pretty solid, all the professors are great from what I've heard, and I'm excited to learn about some new material. And it'll be nice to wander outside the music building once in a while!
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2009-03-19 17:07
bluemoose wrote:
> I'm still going to have time to take some interesting unrelated courses (Yoga!) as well I think, because Psychology is a pretty flexible minor
You'll be needing the yoga then (lol)!
Vanessa.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-03-19 18:38
Depending on the yoga teacher, the yoga may come in handy for a musician.
My yoga teacher used a lot of qigong in her classes, and some pilates/core muscle training as well, and I think it's very useful for posture AND breathing!
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