Two Degrees = Perpetual state of Undergrad

The majority of undergrad music students are allotted four years to complete their degree. However, more than half of those kids will either require an additional year to complete their requirements or change their degree; requiring them to stay even longer to finish.

This confuses many people. They ask, “why does it take so long to obtain a degree in something as simple as music?”

First off, Fuck You! Only those who have gone through an undergraduate degree in music understand the doubts, anger, and heartbreak that come with it.

Secondly, People don’t understand all the classes that are required of a undergraduate performance degree.

4 semesters of Music Theory - Its basically the math and calculated theories behind all that music that you enjoy. Its either a way to understand music to its fullest potential, or the way to suck out all the fun out of music.

4 semesters of Aural Skills - Music is an audible science, so for one to be well rounded in the art of music they must master the way they hear it. Things covered in this class - sight singing and audible music dictation.

4 semesters of Class Piano - Depending on your skill in piano this can either be a giant waste of time, or the bane of your existence. Just another obligation to pile on your already giant stack.

4 semesters of Music History - Probably the most difficult set of classes you will take in your undergrad because of the tremendous amount of information you are required to memorize and regurgitate onto paper. Terms, Dates, Events and their effects, OH MY!

Now, this is the basic outline of what ALL performance majors are required to take but does not include the other things required of the various kind of performance majors, including ensembles, specialty classes (vocal and piano pedagogy, instrumental methods, vocal lit) and Lessons.

Oh, and let us not forget the most hated part of a musician’s life; General Education Classes!!! These are the classes that you feel as if death is at your door every time you step into the classroom. It wastes your time, it wastes your money, and it looms over you whilst you are trying to gain a leg up in your field.

Somehow, they chunk all of these things into a simple 4 year program, however, they leave you with no room in which to take extra things that you wish you could take either for a.) the simple enjoyment of learning a marketable skill. Or b.) to further your education in your progressive field of study. So, in order to gain more from your undergrad you are either required to fill your schedule with things entirely related to your major and add addtional classes that you must pay for, or give yourself a few more years to complete everything in a way that doesn’t nickel and dime you.

So, the question is posed. “When Does it End?”

The answer is ambiguous and varies on a person by person basis. However, the most definitive response one CAN give is this… It ends when you want it to end.

The goal of an Undergraduate music degree is to make you quit. You either can find a way to finish it, get in and out in as little amount of time as possible; whether you are truly prepared to face the world of music or not, or get absorbed into the world of music and take up as much responsibility as possible as SOON as possible, throwing caution to the wind and not caring about when you will “Get Out” but rather learning about how to make yourself the best musician you can in the allotted time you are given in life. The problem with the later is that every day you will come home exhausted and emotionally broken and beaten, wondering when it will be your turn to make a difference.

Uncertainty is a scary, scary thing, but, it is the companion of every young musician. The sooner one learns this, the sooner life will open up its pearly gates of opportunity.

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