So your child wants to major in music? Great! They are certainly talented, they’re motivated, and they love what they do! What could go wrong?
I have no intention of being a downer, but I would love to take all of that unabashed enthusiasm and focus it a bit. What exactly does it take to major in music? What do I need to consider to help my child responsibly, yet enthusiastically?
Take comfort in the fact that if you’re reading this, you’re already on the right track. Please also take a moment, however, to consider these other issues that come into play when helping your child decide if and where they will major in music.
Skill
Does your child have what it takes? We live in a world where everyone is encouraged to follow their dreams and anyone can do anything they set their mind to. And I would agree… to an extent. Your child does not need to be the new Pavarotti, but things will be substantially more difficult if they don’t have some sort of baseline talent. They probably do if they’re at the point of considering music as a career, but it’s important to evaluate.
Even more important than talent, your child will need the drive, work ethic, and humility to make it as a classical musician. So often singers switch fields not because they didn’t have the talent, but because they couldn’t take the pressure, or didn’t work smart enough, or they acted too entitled. Conversely, many singers make a good living in music, even without buckets of raw talent, because they worked for it and sought out trusted guidance. Furthermore, your child will need a certain amount of business-savvy. Singers are freelance workers who create their own opportunities.
Finances
Can you afford to help your child through school? Can you help your child after school? Can your child go to a state school with a great program, or get great scholarships? It’s no secret that art and music are not lucrative fields, but what most people don’t realize is how expensive it can be. For example, singers often have to pay to audition for jobs. That’s right: we pay to get work, sometimes even for unpaid gigs.
Furthermore, music is not the kind of field where you get a 9-5 job and that’s it. Even if you teach, the work is often still not steady. And those who do have a separate job may have a harder time getting work as musicians due to conflicts and an overly stretched schedule (I am not suggesting that your child should avoid this route, however. This blog post illustrates why that kind of thinking can be equally dangerous).
Support
Are you prepared the give the emotional support needed for a career in music? Will you go to your child’s performances? Celebrate their successes and mourn their losses? Furthermore, will you help your child find knowledgeable teachers and other professionals to guide them and advise them in their career? Will you believe what those professionals are telling you and your child, even if you don’t like it? Music is too hard to pursue without emotional and professional support, as well as financial support, so please don’t set your child up to fail if they will experience an extreme deficit in any of these areas.
With all of that said, there are many, many rewards to be had with a life in music. There will be opportunities for self-expression, emotional fulfillment, cultural education through travel and international colleagues, skill development in music, languages, theater, and so much more. I simply want to present you with some important questions and a brief understanding of the complexities a freelance artist faces.
If you have any questions, or would like one-on-one advising for your child, please feel free to contact me through our contact page. If you are an artist and have more suggestions for young musicians and the challenges they may face, please comment below.