Applying to college as a music major

Have you taken classical piano lessons since you were four years old? Do you currently play in a garage band with your friends? Or own an iTunes library that extends for thousands of hours? If you are considering a career (or major) in music or a related field, there are a few things you should know before you make your decision.

Many colleges across the country offer some form of music program, whether as an undergraduate major in a liberal arts division or as part of an arts college or conservatory. While there is no denying that these majors and programs would help an aspiring musician, it is not necessary to major in music to have a career in music. Schools typically also offer plenty of music-related activities to supplement coursework, such as the marching band, chorus, a cappella groups, or music-study clubs. Courses focusing on communications, marketing, advertising, and business would also prove useful in a musician’s career down the road.

Understand that if you are applying to a specific music program, you are competing with other musicians with similar dreams. It is not enough for you to simply be talented; you must show drive and the ability to learn quickly. It is an absolute must for you to be able to read music, no matter how strong your play-by-ear skills may be. Music theory is the core of college music programs, so you must demonstrate a strong academic background to accompany your auditory talents. Collegiate music programs are very competitive, and if you do not have strong academics, a music conservatory program — that focuses on practice and performance — might be right for you.

Many music majors take on a second major or dual degree program; if music is your only focus, you may want to pursue a master’s degree. Recent trends have led colleges and universities to offer 4+1 or 3+2 programs in music that give a year of overlap between undergraduate and graduate coursework and give the student a chance to earn a master’s degree much more quickly. If you’re serious about music, be sure to learn about the different degrees: bachelor of music, bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of music arts, and bachelor of arts (with a major in music).

Your application process will involve two parts, an academic review and an artistic review, if you’re applying to audition-based programs. Even if you’re not applying to audition-based programs, you should still consider sending in a recording of your talents — colleges like to see (or, hear) that you’re able to contribute to the arts on campus.

Play your heart out, and you will surely impress admissions officers!