Making the Decision to Take On a Bachelor of Music in Performance Degree
Most of the people who decide to spend their college years aiming for a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree with the hopes of someday making a living off of performing music at a professional level. This path however can be considered as the epitome of the line “high risk, high reward” because only a small portion of these hopefuls will make it big and actually manage to live off of their passion for music. This small portion of the gifted or the lucky will earn compensation way more than that of other jobs if they manage to make it big.
A few years of fame as a performer may set you up for living comfortably for the rest of your life. The majority who don’t make it however, will have to get part-time jobs to support themselves. Some may even end up forgetting about their dream and think of performing music as nothing but a hobby. This is why you need to be sure of your talents, perseverance, and passion before you take up the course.
Should I Do it?
This is the number one question that comes to mind when a music lover first contemplates getting a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree. This question is quite difficult to answer. First, the individual must assess himself and determine how much he really loves music and how confident he is that he can make a living off it. Second, he needs to get the opinion of his parents and teachers. These people know him best and can provide him with a proper evaluation of his talents, attitude, and drive and if they are enough for him to achieve his dream. If both steps yield to favourable results then you are all ready to set sail towards becoming a music performer. Achieving your dream will not only satisfy yourself but also assure you of financial stability.
Can I Do It?
After deciding that he should do it, the next question the student should answer is whether he can do it or not. He should consider the fact that music in college is nowhere near music in high school. The former is a lot more competitive. Not only do you need to have ample latent potential but you must also be able to work hard in order to hone that potential. Remember that unlike in high school, most of your classmates in college also love music.
Three General Courses
1) Classroom Courses
Courses in the Bachelor of Music in Performance category are delivered just like how the subjects in high school are. They are focused primarily on theoretical knowledge to strengthen the foundations of the student. Common subjects in this group are:
- Music History
- Music Theory
- Aural Skills
- Harmony Skills
- Composition Skills
2) Private Lessons
Private lessons and solo performances is the second category which focuses on advanced musical development of the student. The students are grouped into teams based on the quality of their voices and the instruments that they prefer. It also involves weekly one-on-one lessons between instructor and student. The student not only hones his voice but also an instrument of his choosing. The highly skilled teachers will provide the students with essential experience they will carry on even after they have become professionals.
3) Performance Ensembles
Bachelor of Music in Performance, revolves around forming teams to render musical performances. Each team can spend up to one whole semester in preparing for their performance. It will be viewed by the rest of the students and several experts.
