How Much Experience Do You Need Before Music School? | CAN I MAJOR IN MUSIC WITHOUT EXPERIENCE??
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- Опубліковано 10 чер 2024
- I recently received a great question on one of my other videos: how much experience do I really need to major in music? Let's talk through that today.
❋ TIMESTAMPS ❋
0:00 Intro
1:00 My musical journey
3:00 What music major might be right for you? / careers that intersect with music
7:47 Navigating audition requirements
8:56 Academic requirements to get into music school
9:46 Music courses - what should you know before starting school?
11:00 How to prepare for music school:
11:07 Take private lessons
13:13 Play in ensembles
14:37 Play in school ensembles
15:56 Take music classes in school
17:14 A few other tips
19:34 Advice from my Instagram followers
23:01 Book a College Audition Check-In with me!
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❋ MY EQUIPMENT ❋
Camera: Panasonic GH5
Microphone: Rode VideoMicro
iPad: iPad Pro 2020 12.9 inch
Sheet Music App: Forscore
Pedal: Donner Wireless Page Turner Pedal
❋ MUSIC ❋
Cradle Song by Reinhold Gliere, performed by Ottava Bassa Duo
I just finished my degree in music education and my major instrument was voice. Definitely for me, by far the most important factor for getting into music school was taking private lessons. That was how I was able to get the proper training and guidance to succeed at the auditions. I took private voice lessons for about 5 years and private piano lessons for about 2 years before I started music school. My teacher for private voice lessons was also an alum from the school I went to. My high school didn't offer any of those more academic-based music classes like theory or music history BUT I did take choir all 4 years. Plus I did choir all throughout middle school too. So factoring in choir plus my private lessons I had been singing for 9 years total before I started music school.
RE: Other tips: On the topic of watching people perform I also highly suggest, if you can, watching music performances at the schools you are interested in. My music school does recitals every week from students and faculty and most of them are totally free and open to the public.
RE: Theory test: I had to take a placement test for theory, but the audition was what determined whether you got into music school, not the theory test. The theory placement test was taken after being accepted to music school and it simply determined which music theory class you would be placed in to start. If you got 70% or higher you would be placed in the standard theory classes that music majors typically start with and if you got a lower score you would be placed in a lower entry-level theory class intended to help you catch up. But if you didn't do well the first time you took the test, they would give you one more chance to retake the test and try to get a higher score. I ended up not passing the first time, then retaking it and barely passing the second time.
And yeah, picking the right teacher for your private lessons when you finally get in is super important. Like you said, it's especially important for those who are majoring in performance, but I think it is really important regardless of which music degree you major in, since in most cases you'll be taking lessons from them for all or most of your years attending and they can really serve a role as a core mentor for you in your studies.
These are fantastic tips, thank you for sharing! Private lessons are probably the most important thing you can have before majoring in music.
I decided to start in my community college as a music major and it has definitely helped me! At my high school, they did offer private lessons, but it was mainly for the juniors and seniors and since I was busy being dumb and not paying attention, I didn't sign up for that. However, I've been in choir since the 5th grade (joined a local city choir in 5th) When I graduated I didn't know what to do, but I knew that I wanted to continue with choir so I joined the choir at my cc and eventually even switch to the music transfer major. I'm still looking through schools to decide where I want to go, however my directors have been a ton of help!
I'm starting music theory in cc, meaning the classes will be much smaller and I'm able to easily ask for help from my director and I'm also taking sight training classes and private voice and piano. :D (I have to stay a 3rd year btw, I started a semester late and they didn't offer music theory 1 till the fall. Plus I keep failing Composition 1 😭)
My community college offers dorms and on campus activities. It's not nearly as big or expensive as universities obviously, but I'm basically getting the mini experience without staying in the dorms since I live at home. lol
@@sparkle5164 Good luck on your studies! I went to a community College too before I went to the university where I studied music, but my community College didn't have many amenities or any in person classes other than some core general classes like math, psych 101, things like that. I took a few music classes there but they were online. So I didn't truly start my journey as a music major until I transferred to the university. But thankfully I was able to still do my private lessons on the side while I was in community College. Like I said previously my private voice teacher at the time was an alum from my university who runs her own studio. And for my piano lessons I did a year through a program at the university taught by current piano majors that is usually meant for younger kids, then a year at a local music store in the community.
Great video!! Thanks for demystifying music school one video at a time 😊
This is such a great and helpful video! Also I love your glasses and overall look/outfit! 😍
Thank you so much Caitlin!
I really want to prosue a Piano Music Performance career where I can either participate in or maybe even creating amazing music for video game soundtracks. But my big problem is that I have less than a year of experience with the piano and almost a Senior in High school. What advice would you'd give up to help me?
Hi there, it's hard to give personal advice without knowing more about your background and what your playing is like, so if you can, try talking about this with someone who knows you well.
Here's what I feel like I can say - piano performance seems to be very competitive. I'd personally taken piano lessons from the age of 6-19 and wouldn't have been able to get into the piano performance program at my conservatory (though piano wasn't my main instrument focus - more of a fun stress reliever).
Composing, though, could maybe be a little "easier" to get into quickly. You can write objectively good music without having a huge knowledge base in traditional music theory - especially for video game soundtracks (as opposed to writing classical style pieces like concertos and symphonies).
I'd say experiment the best you can with making music your main focus before you need to decide, and if you're not already, take lessons and talk to music teachers/professionals at school or in any circles you may be in. It's hard to give generalized advice like this because musicians come from all different backgrounds and learn at different paces.
The music industry (at least, the classical music industry) is hard to break into when you haven't been learning an instrument all your life. Not to say that it can't be done!! But there'll definitely be extra challenges in your way and probably a lot of catching up if you choose to pursue this.
I hope this helps! It's a big decision that isn't fully in your hands and it's very nuanced. Best of luck, and feel free to DM me on Instagram if you'd like to talk more!
also i wanted to ask, is it possible for a person to major in musical performance if they only learned flute in their sophomore year of high school?
There are so many different variables--how much time you put in, your level of motivation, and just how good you get in that time. If you have any musical mentors (a private teacher, a band director, etc.), this is a great question to ask them, since they're familiar with you and your playing!
@@ElizabethKnaub Thank youu for replying back, I'm a junior and practicing daily. I only learned flute during sophomore year but I am first chair in my band ensemble, I had my doubts because I want to major in musical performance for college and I'm currently having second thoughts because I get intimidated by players who's been playing since they were little. Thank you again and have a nice day!
sorry if I'm late but you said "you'll have a 1 on 1 professor working with you" does that mean they'll help you when u major for music performance?
Hi, you're good! I was referring to your instrumental professor. So, if you play flute, then your flute professor. :)
@@ElizabethKnaub thank you so much!!