Right now I’m considering possibly changing course and going for an associates degree in music technology at a community college. I have half the credits completed already, so it will take a bit less time and money if I do.

Minimize debt. You can fill in what you miss, while debt can weigh you down for years.

Good luck.

My daughter is going through this now. Follow your passion but have a back up plan. My daughter is going to auditions in the morning and tutoring students in the late afternoon. My ex and I fully support her. You don’t want to wake up one day and not at least have tried to follow your heart.

Debt is a drain on your life to be avoided as much as possible. My background is Engineering, not Music. But the thing they have in common is it is the performance, not the degree that is important. The degree is only a credential useful in opening some doors, it is the performance that keeps you in the room. My advice; Take the shortest, least debt building way to a degree (just about any degree). Then free yourself to perform!!

Interesting - I studied music at a conservative Christian college, too. I didn't want to be a school teacher so i went to grad school for a masters then a doctorate and basically was a professional student for years.

I ended up being a CPA in my 40s. Point is - there is no point. Whatever you decide to do now doesn't seal your fate.

You have to do what makes you happy. My daughter is working on her PhD at UMich in Germanic Linguistics. People tell her she will have to teach but she says she won't. I tell her, she should pursue what makes her happy. You have to do the job, you have to show up everyday for whatever you choose. Go with your heart

I'm a reformed music major.

I got part way through college, and realized I didn't have the desire to pursue music education, but figured I had to keep going at that point.

I taught for three years, hated it, and got out. Made my way into business, discovered I was good with crunching numbers and analysis, and now I'm a business analyst for a well known bank/financial organization.

My feeling is, and it's just a gut feeling, is you'll probably be OK either way you go. If you have the drive and technical skills to make it as a performer, you'll probably make it whether you change to a performance major or stay as an education major.

I think as long as you stay on any path that completes your educational experience, you'll be OK. Most people change their career paths multiple times over the course of their working lives.

Follow your bliss.

Stick it out and try to perform when you get out. If it doesn’t work out, you can still teach.

I triple majored in music, history, and education.

And wound up working in completely unrelated fields for the last 13 years.

Personally, i say tough it out.

What are your work opportunities without the degree? Steven Spielberg left college for a 7 year directing contract. Bill Gates left Harvard to start Microsoft. But lots of people need the degree to get the work they want. Focus on what is the work you want to do and how best to get it.

It's pretty tough to make a living as a performer. And an injury or illness can bring an untimely end to a career. Having the degree is a very good backup plan. Or even main plan. It's hard to argue with a steady gig with good pay and benefits. Of course you would want to get something more out of it than just money. Teaching can be a rewarding vocation, but it's not for everybody. About half of the people who go into teaching quit within 5 years. It's not for the faint of heart. Whatever it is, it's a job of work. But so is being a professional musician.

Not to be a downer...but as a lifelong professional musician, nearing the end of my career...I can tell you that music is pretty much over. I would find something else to be passionate about.

Most musicians end up teaching or running music stores since there's not a lot of money in performance, unless you become famous, or get a gig in the movie business.

My nephew was a child prodigy on the piano, gave performances, played Mozart in a movie when he was eight years old, etc. even taught for a while at a university, but now he runs a piano store.

Find a way to pursue your true passion, even if you have to do something else as well, such as finish your degree or perhaps tutor. But if performance is what you truly want, find opportunities to perform--join a band, check out open mike nights, do accompanist work at various functions or stage shows--while you're making a living otherwise. Do it wisely, but follow your heart as often as possible, because you can't buy back the time you lose.

I honestly don't think it matters where you get your degree. If music is your passion, (like me as well), It should not matter where you learn.

If you get down to it, most of the best music, art, Science etc. were done by people that were very much god loving people.
Believers or not, if it's the passion of the art, or music that drives you, then go for it, where ever it may be.

Ugh, that is difficult. You need to weigh debt against reward: will the degree allow you to earn enough to justify the added loan amounts? Will you be able to earn enough in the area where you want to live to pay bills and pay loans?

Factors to consider: Where do you want to live and work? How much does it cost to live there, and are the wages compatible?

I may not be the best person to listen to, but I have traded working in jobs that I enjoy doing for doing jobs that could pay me more but with other sacrifices. I tossed my early adulthood thinking I would be a rock star, so I didn't commit to much of anything, it just so happened that I was good at my job as a graphic artist to sustain my r&r dreams, then life happened; so I'm not famous, don't have money, but have had more fun than most humans should be allowed...

I guess you need to define your needs, vs. your wants.

Hope that helps?

Follow your heart.

What is your instrument? How is your sight reading? Are you compositional/improv? Do you play more than one? Flint is a good school for band nerds. If you feel jazz and have the tones go to UNT or Berkley at Boston. There is a good jazz school in LA.... these are 1st tier schools. If you are classical well everyone know Juliard.... but there are several runner ups. Most musicians are not classical. So .... Peabody, Anne Arbor, depaul, ... most all Universities will have a decent music program. UMKC is really working on their conservatory, good choice. The best schools will have 5 year BA, you
can't escape that. Coming from a Great School will give you job security and good pay. UNT is World Class, IU is world class for voice. KU is excellent for Fine Art. Really depends on you your talent and what you wish to achieve. There are more schools, but where you are at is for band people, not Artists in my opinion. You can find great teachers. Like a world famous russian pianist at Park Universty. I think he is russian. A 1st generation Sergovia at SMU in Dallas, if classical guitar is your Forte... gets no better than that for classical guitar. I can also contact some people who are in the scene and might know better, ..... they know better than I. My choice is UNT... or Peabody... or IU..

However UMKC was a tier 3 now solid 2 moving into a tier 1 world class school. Kansas City is a Historical City for Jazz and Acting. And the have the Greatest Performance hall on the planet, Australia passed the torch.

Wait, you are from michigan, why did you chose flint over Anne Arbor?? I have been out of the loop for a while but not that long.. and No!! I do not rank Anne Arbor with Peabody. But I shouldnt judge either, all shools serve a purpose.

Really depends on you kid. What is your Talent?? UNT is tough 5 year... but you would be considered world class.

It depends how unhappy you are; if job opportunities await you and if having a degree is worth the debt or not. We can't see into the future.

Lots of people have done well without degrees but degrees also open doors.

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I think it was just a wasting 3yrs for CCM. if i go back to the past I would study first for a qualification to find a job and study CCM as part time during working

I got degree from CCM relevant hilllsong church.it would help u to get a leading position worship in any church but God does not pay back ur deb thru it. u gotta find a job by urself such as painting cooking cleaning telemarketing etc.. for ur deb

I would suggest getting the degree, although student loans really suck! Lol!

I was a music major years ago and almost finished but ended up with a BS in economics and later, Juris Doctorate. The debt is real. It’s like a payment on a second home. I regret not finishing up the music degree but can always take a few classes to complete but unless you want to teach, it won’t be a big factor in the music industry. The core education/ teaching cert you will get will be more valuable than a music degree. You can teach most subjects anyway. I remember being advised to get a degree of expediency and finish up incurring the least amount of debt. That was a good plan because I changed careers many times anyway, at least until grad school which I’m still paying off. Finish now while you are young. You will likely change careers/jobs many times in your life.