Do you have a passion for music and want to make it more than just a hobby? If you want music – instrumental or vocal – to be part of your future career you should consider declaring a major in musical performance!
Education
According to the College Board, many students who wish to major in musical performance have taken relevant courses in high school such as band, orchestra, chorus and AP Music Theory. As for college courses, students in this major often take classes such as composition, ear training and musicianship, music history and performance. In these classes, constructive criticism – both what you give and what you get – from peers and professors are common. Much of this criticism comes from “juries” or a group of your teachers that you have to perform in front of in order to receive your final grade. Students have to be prepared to give and receive constructive criticism and use it effectively.
What to know before you apply
Students who apply for this major should be prepared to perform as a solo or within a group, listen to a large amount of live and recorded music, attend regular rehearsals and spend many hours practicing their instrument or voice. When looking into different schools, students should be aware of how many performance opportunities are available both on-campus and within the region. Students should also look into the practice facilities, making sure there are enough places to practice as well as if the facilities have good sound acoustics.
Salary
Many students who pursue this major are interested in becoming professional musicians or singers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly salary for musicians and singers as of May 2010 was $22.39. If musical composition is what interests you more than performance, the average yearly salary in this field was $53,410 as of 2009.
