subject: Is the Study of Music a Good Idea? [print this page] Is the Study of Music a Good Idea? Is the Study of Music a Good Idea?
Choosing the right university degree to begin can be a difficult decision In an ideal world, everyone would study their favourite topic. The choice may seem obvious to a person who really lives for music. Unfortunately, it is really not that simple. Is learning about music your number one priority or must this lead to a career? How will you feel if your degree leads to becoming a music teacher? Think about what the best route to becoming a professional musician really is.
In arts, sometimes the direction of a students career is not paramount after finishing the degree. It is believed that society benefits from more informed and discerning people, whether they be professionals. The real value and originality of new music can be accurately assessed by students of music. It is enough, for some students, just to have the knowledge. It is important not to forget that the skills gained from a degree in music may be very useful in many different careers. At the same time, though, there are few people in general who will pay any attention to the musician's opinion of music. It was stated by the philosopher, Walter Pater,"All art aspires to the condition of music". It seems to be a statement about the emotional response to music. Someone can feel deeply moved by music without knowing anything theoretical about it. All artists of any medium would love to equal the direct emotional response of music. The downside of this effect is that everyone makes themselves an advocate of the music of their taste and a critic of others. There are many cases of people who will argue the case for music, which has no originality or has very little composition, but it is impossible for the informed student of music to persuade such a person of this. So, the graduates' deeper knowledge of the subject is of no use in this respect and can even be frustrating.
Your way to a career in music depends on the type of musician you wish to be. Sometimes the subject of study is irrelevant as it is the social networking at university, which helps form bands and popular music groups. A lot of popular musicians honed their music and formed relationships while at art school. There are also examples of people who studied the technical side of studio production and used this as a foot in the door to then later become artists themselves.
To conclude, carefully consider what you wish to get out of university study and beyond. Becoming a professional musician does not always result from a degree in music. Likewise, a degree in another subject does not exclude you from becoming a successful professional musician.
