Tim, I have an Associate of Arts Fine Arts Music degree from Oakton College in Des Plaines, Illinois. When you start school take all of the music related classes available. Join all of the ensembles, string ensemble, percussion ensemble, keyboard ensemble. That will get you at least 3 recitals a year. I didn't do choir because there was sight-singing and ear training as part of the curriculum. You will have a lot of homework. It will not be easy. You will learn a lot of music information, some you will remember some you won't. The information that you remember will be stuff that you will use ever after. IMHO YMMV

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I'm hoping to pursue a degree in music, and that's my thinking exactly. I'd really rather do something I love and make an okay living than to do something I really don't enjoy and make gobs of money.

And between teaching, gigging, and studio work you can make a decent living.

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
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For sure man...I've never been afraid of hard work, and I plan to take as many different classes as I can. Thanks for the tips.



Go for it TGS...I have already had many people try and convince me to pursue something I can be more "successful" at. That statement just proves to me that their definitions of successful and mine are totally different.

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Check out my new FB music page!

https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilandMe.Music

Congrats and best of luck with your undertaking Tim.I constantly kick myself for not sticking with Uni and getting a degree.It's something that will always haunt me.BTW both my parents had their degrees in music from Trinity College but unfortunately I never learned theory or to read music even though I was given the opportunity,I figured I could play and pick up stuff pretty good by ear so why bother-another thing that haunts me.
BTW even though my father didn't play an instrument he could look at a piece of music that he'd never seen and be able to sing it-something that came in handy since he was a choir director for many years.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I'm doing culinary, starting in the fall at University of Alaska, Anchorage. Like Smokey, my general requirements let me take music as an elective. I'm taking music appreciation... it's a required class for everyone in music... I'm not sure how that will go...

We'll see how it goes. If I feel like I should, I might switch over my major to music. I dunno though, I'm cool with my current plan of doing culinary then switching to a different music college. I think it'll be fun.

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"Speak the truth, and speak it ever,
cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
-Miss Uel

good for you tim and good luck! i never finished high school and these days i spend my time working construction in this nice cool texas weather. i'm not complaining, it pays the bills.

Get that education Tim,you will be glad you did.
I have a high school education and a masters degree in the school of hard knocks.

If this is deep in your soul, GO FOR IT!

The director of music and liturgy at our church was just granted her PhD in music at age 50 (therefore no name).

She teaches, arranges Mass music, coordinates 3 choirs and ensembles for the parish, coordinates the huge musical requirements for Advent and Lent, is incredibly accomplished and hard-working. She moonlights doing weddings and funerals, and teaches voice.

And yes, one can earn a living wage with music degrees. And this writer, her bassist of 248 Masses and services, greatly respects her.

Im all for pursuing something that your passionate about- if your interested in music (everyone here knows we all are! ) then it will fun to learn & the passion for it will mean you are really interested in what you want to do. Which in turn, will make learning more easier as you will be more keen than most others in your class.

I personally however would take it on the side of another degree, music down here has no money in it. Agriculture/Engineering is where it's at. Universities are pumping out accountants, lawyers and students with BCom degrees in a day of age where companies are closing down and moving offshore. I fail to understand how economies can survive on a huge influx of students with professional degrees in business & law that graduate & settle for retail jobs, where what we need are engineers, farmers & labourers to keep an economy pumping.

The difference with you is that you will take up something that you have a genuine personal passion for. Hey, if you can pass the knowlege on to kids or make others happy, then all the better!!

Goodluck!!

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Back in grad school, 15 years ago, there was one prof who taught a pertinent business course, but also had masters degrees on art history, archaeology and art.

'Still pondering going back to the grind for am associate's or maybe even bachelor's in music....

"You can go your own way!"
(Fleetwood Mac)

As long as you want to teach a degree in music is great.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

@ Mac67:Mac do both courses back to back-then you'll really be cookin', Hee Hee Hee.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Well...School starts in just a few short weeks. I'm pretty stoked to be getting started. And regardless of the naysayers, I believe this will be a positive step in my life. It has been several years since I've done any learning in a classroom environment so I'm kind of anxious to get started and get into the swing of things.

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Check out my new FB music page!

https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilandMe.Music

One of my friend's sons got his degree and now he's struggling to find
a gig doing film scoring. To be able to repay his student loans he's now
playing the cruise ship circuit and hates it, but he is making some good contacts
in the biz.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I have no expectations of exiting college with the world laid at my feet. My goal here is to be able to leave the dead-end job I've been working, and finally establish myself in a career. Whether that means struggling through for a while and working jobs that may not be my top choices, that's fine by me; as long as I'm building a reputation and making contacts within my field, then that's a step forward.



At this point, I'm going for an associates. But I do expect to transfer my credits to a University and pursue further degrees in the future. And I do expect teaching to account for at least part of my income when I first graduate; and $60 an hour sounds good to me.

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Check out my new FB music page!

https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilandMe.Music