Music performance as double (second) major

[Anonymous]

DS (rising senior) is interested in a music performance major in addition to a math/physics major. While he will probably get credit for many of AP and DE math courses that he has taken, we realize that the music major will be intensive and time-consuming. A quick ChatGPT consult shows most of the prospective classes would be music ones, which would limit any research or upper level courses that can be taken. Another possibility is to just do music as a minor (which would in turn limit access to performances, recitals and instruction compared to music majors).

Any advice from parents of kids who have successfully navigated something like this, either at conservatory-type schools (Rice, NW, Rochester, IU) or schools that just have a school of music (e.g. Penn State, UMD)?

[Anonymous]

The performance major can be very demanding and a lot of legit music schools discourage doing a double major outside of music. I know someone who tried bio science and performance, and ended up doing only performance.

[Anonymous]

I know people who did this at schools like Duke and Princeton as well as SLACs that do not have conservatories or anything like that but I'm sure their music programs are perfectly adequate and they are better structured to handle something like this.

I personally would not attend a lesser academic school to fit in the music part of the equation. And I agree with you that I would not do it in a way where the music side of things interferes with having the full academic experience on the non-music side.

[Anonymous]

one option is to focus on non-music side for college, do a minor in performance or just take lessons, play in ensembles, and then a masters in performance at a conservatory if student wants more music after college. I have heard it is very hard to do a joint program; tufts-nec abandoned the joint program recently because it was just too hard for most students to do both well.

[Anonymous]

Schools without music performance program might actually be better if not planning to do a joint program—elite schools without performance programs have faculty leading ensembles, and often some players who could have gone to conservatories. If you go to Rice or Northwestern but are not in the music school you cannot play in the conservatory ensembles and often get lessons from grad students and open ensembles are led by grad students.

[Anonymous]

IU allows for double majors for music majors. I roomed with a vocal performance/ math BA 30 years ago. My kid is going to IU now and on her honors floor there were music kids double majoring within the honors college cohort.

Going to a school that will accept your kids DE and ap credits will help with double majoring.

[Anonymous]

It can be really tough to complete all the requirements in four years since nothing will double count as there aren’t any overlaps within these two very distinct degrees/programs. But, it can be done. Definitely something to ask and you’d probably want to put the question to the music program (How many students complete a second degree? How many are in unrelated programs? Are there challenges with getting it done in four years?).

I agree that a liberal arts college with a more open curriculum may be more accommodating than larger universities with standalone music schools. Doing one as a minor is one way to make it easier but only if the student really wants to prioritize one area over the other. The student may also need to complete some coursework over the summer. Music schools are definitely intense, even just the admissions process with prescreens, auditions, supplementals, and artistic applications. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Does your kid have the level to go through audition process? He should be by now a top musician in order to get into a Music School. If he is, then it's doable. My kid does it and takes classes during Winter session and Summer in order to keep on track, for a double degree.

[Anonymous]

Yes my niece did this as a double degree student at Oberlin. Ended up getting degrees in biochemistry through the college and vocal studies through the conservatory. She went on to a top PhD program afterwards

[Anonymous]

UR/Eastman has a 5-year program.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a terrific fit for Oberlin’s double degree program—5 years, you get both a BA and BM, v common to have science and math majors in the double degree program. The first couple of years tend to have more courses on the conservatory side (music theory etc. requirements), but the extra year gives room for e.g. an honors project in the BA major.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the responses. We do have a good list of schools. We know that even getting in can be very challenging. DS is in a good pre-college conservatory program, which might be helpful.

Just wanted to get any first-hand experiences from people who had gone through this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a terrific fit for Oberlin’s double degree program—5 years, you get both a BA and BM, v common to have science and math majors in the double degree program. The first couple of years tend to have more courses on the conservatory side (music theory etc. requirements), but the extra year gives room for e.g. an honors project in the BA major.

I was just coming in to say that your DS' plan sounds doable in 5 years, a stretch for 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the responses. We do have a good list of schools. We know that even getting in can be very challenging. DS is in a good pre-college conservatory program, which might be helpful.

Just wanted to get any first-hand experiences from people who had gone through this.

A family friend just graduated from Vanderbilt with a double major in cello at Blair school and English in A&S. Four years. I think a math major would also be in A&S so doable.

This person had adequate time to also pursue Greek life and arts-adjacent official clubs and activities at Vandy (publishing, radio).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the responses. We do have a good list of schools. We know that even getting in can be very challenging. DS is in a good pre-college conservatory program, which might be helpful.

Just wanted to get any first-hand experiences from people who had gone through this.

A family friend just graduated from Vanderbilt with a double major in cello at Blair school and English in A&S. Four years. I think a math major would also be in A&S so doable.

This person had adequate time to also pursue Greek life and arts-adjacent official clubs and activities at Vandy (publishing, radio).

Type of degree really matters. Vanderbilt (Blair) has two music degrees - the BM and the BMA (often just BA at other schools). BM is a professional degree. You don't really double major with a BM degree, you double degree as you'd be going for a BM/BS or BM/BA. That normally takes 5+ years. But a lot of schools offer a BA degree that can more easily form a double major in 4 years.

I've researched all this because my daughter is interested in that path. The trick is finding a school that balances your musical interest/level with the academics. That's why Rice is off her list - the BA isn't really great for performance oriented kids. BFA at Vandy is great, designed for a double major, but it's also one of the most intense applications (with prescreen) that's not a full BM. Emory is a great option - they only offer a BA, the music program is top notch and there's no other music degree to pull focus.

We really had to research school by school. My daughter also contacted a lot of faculty individually to discuss the programs.