Getting a BA/MA/PhD degree in music with no prior formal education

Question

Can one really enter a BA degree of Music (particularly in Europe) if they have not been playing three instruments and studying theory since they were five? This really is the feeling I get every time I talk to the admission office of ANY university that has a degree in music. They all have at least three or five stages for their entrance examination and that you can easily play any Chopin piece on the piano.

I have been yearning for studies in Music/Composition since my early teenhood. I picked up the guitar when I was about 15. I remember practicing no less than 8 hours a day until I was 17-18 when I entered university. I had to opt for a BA in Computer Science (because of family pressure) and not Music.

Years have passed since then and my love for music has increased day by day, and I have been adding more and more different instruments to my room (flute, piano, clarinet) becoming more and more obsessed by instruments and music in general. I am on the verge of finishing my Master's degree in Computer Science, and it was during the previous semester that I took a Music Theory course at the university as an elective course. I was so amazed by how enjoyable the classes were for me. However, I was so depressed to see that all those people in the class know all the scales by heart, they can play the piano so brilliantly, and they can do chord/harmony analysis in a matter of seconds.

Music is not a hobby for me and that's what's killing me, because doing Computer Science is just forcing music into being a hobby, and that's not what I want. Music is my entire existence and the more I go forward academically in Computer Science I see how much less time I have got for music and practicing.

My utmost concern is firstly, how to enter a BA degree given my background? And secondly, can I really be optimistic about earning money from a PhD in music? I know that if I start a BA in music right now, it is gonna take me a good 8-9 years to reach PhD level. Can I then be absolutely sure I would be able to earn money from my degree and completely throw away Computer Science for good?

My goal is to become an impeccable musician/performer and truly learn composition, music theory, and orchestration extremely well and put it into use. That is, I wish to not only be a performer of few different instruments but also be a composer very well familiar with all the meticulous details of theory and composition, and potentially even do research in music theory.

Answer 1

Why not rather use your science in some sort of music technology trade? I'm sure some of the science things regarding acoustics would not be above a computer scientist ability.

You have to be real about your chances of gainful employment. Conserve training is hard, no I mean it really hard. Ask yourself do you want to put 4 years of grinding into a profession that you are not even sure you will be able to enter when you are done?

There should be excellent music technology programs in your area, really consider them. You probably have the science and the computer knowledge to master them already and you can still be a productive member of the Music Fraternity by being one.

Rather use your current abilities towards a new music career.

Answer 2

An academic degree in Music is no different in principle from an academic degree in any other subject. Any reputable university or college requires that all new students, in any subject, can demonstrate they have sufficient knowledge to successfully do the work that will be required.

That is most easily done by specifying some requirements based on standard tests which are widely accessible to potential applicants, but most academic institutions have the option to treat individual cases on their own merits.

As a non-musical example, I know of a guy who had no "official" record of any academic achievements up to first degree level, since it had all been destroyed in a war zone, and the university he had attended no longer physically existed. But after been granted asylum status in the UK he was accepted by one of the leading UK universities for a PhD, having convinced them that he did in fact meet the requirements.

Simply "having a love for music" is no more relevant than "being passionate about winning an Olympic gold medal" or "becoming an astronaut". It seems significant to me that your question never mentioned being taught to play the guitar, and taking a single elective course isn't going to count for much.

Realistically, you are currently in the same situation as somebody who says "I never took any math or science courses in high school, but I'm passionate about physics, so please give me a university place on a physics course."

I think the best advice would be to find a teacher and get some examination results in performance and theory. You certainly didn't "need to start when you are five," unless you want to be an internationally famous performer. Find out what pieces of paper you really need to be a serious candidate for admission, and get them - and it shouldn't take too many years to achieve that, if you really want to do it.

Answer 3

It's somewhat contentious: there are plenty of excellent musicians out there who didn't go down the academic route. To a degree (pun intended), a PhD or whatever will probably gain you a place as a lecturer at college or uni, but won't necessarily get you a job in an orchestra or band, playing. In fact, it may not help at all. To be in an orchestra, o.k., you need to have theory, and be able to apply it, but primarily you have to be an excellent player. The uni course will help with this, but a lot of it will come from within. You're either a brilliant player or alright at the end.

If you are already a not bad player, the theory should make sense quite quickly and easily. In my opinion, applying theory for someone who can hardly play is really hard work. Much better the other way round - learn the instrument, then find out why certain things happen.

The other aspect you ask about is the propensity to make a living with music. Of course, people do, but there's also many many poor musos out there. Happy doing what they love, but that doesn't pay the mortgage and feed the family. For a lot of musos - myself inc. - it's a great second job/income, and a great relief from the tedium of what brings home the bacon. I'd advocate stuying by yourself, whilst continuing to learn/play music, and use it as a very satisfying back-up, that, one day, when you feel the time is right,may become the main job. Good luck!

Answer 4

Realize that while the skills you mentioned are useful as a musician, that in many cases these are not sufficient to earn a living or deriving all of your income through music. Many musicians also choose to do other supplemental things to earn a living.

I have a BA in Music Education and half a masters in performance. I also just finished a BA in Information Systems. I routinely gig with my former trombone professors; one of them is the chair of the music department I went to. He spends most of his time doing administration, sometime teaching private lessons, but doesn't derive a major source of income from music performance. As mentioned, this is not unusual for the profession. He plays more than I do professionally but I'm still young and he has a much deeper network of connections. On an hours/week basis, he actually probably has more non-music work than I do given how much he works.

Nothing is stopping you from practicing and taking lessons as a Computer Scientist. Indeed, with a sufficient income, you can afford to study with some terrific teachers either over Skype or in person depending on your location. This includes both of the instrument(s) you wish to be accomplished in and composition, arranging, and engraving. You may be surprised at how much you can accomplish when you are outside of an academic setting and working for a firm, particularly if you are located in the US.

The avenues that are generally open to musicians are:

• Performing
• Teaching
• Sound Engineering/Recording
• Composition
• Administration

A PHD will allow you to teach at the university level. If that's what you want to do, you have little choice. You'll probably have to get a doctorate. [US/European centric, I'm not aware of other locations.] If you want to teach elementary-high school (again US centric), you'll have to get a certification which usually requires a specific bachelors or masters' degree.

However, if you want to do any of the others and particularly if you're okay doing administration or non-music stuff to supplement any of the other activities, you're probably better off finishing Computer Science. With a Masters in that, you can get a job as a mid level technician fairly quickly. I work 8:15-4:30. Lots of time on the weekends, before work, and/or after work to practice. There are also many freelance opportunities in, for example, web development that allow you to work from home on your own time. Lots of ways to structure that where you'll have lots of time to make music and have an income much higher than someone who has even a PHD in music.

Answer 5

You don't need college titles to do what you can do.

1. Because you can do just by finding people that needs good professionals. A lot of people realise that university certifications are useless to engage good professionals, and can ignore or even reject professional studies.
2. It can be a very good filter to you: organisations focused on certifications are interested only on certifications and you risk a very bad time there. Organisations focused on good professionals will accept you, if you are really good. And you will be really productive there, and probably will have a really good boss.

This is precisely my case, despite on another branch. My titles are not valid in Europe, so I decided not to revalidate them here. I had some trouble finding job at the beginning, but the jobs I've found turned to be excellent experiences, leaded by people focused on quality, not certificates. It was a great filter to find good bosses and amazing experiences.