Thursday, April 17, 2014

Cooler than shit.

Apparently, there is a music school in Holland--called The Metal Factory--that does more than just music.  They also do "entrepreneurship: the management side, booking, merchandising... also history and music theory": something that university music programs here don't do. 

Here, in the U.S., a degree in music is almost worthless, outside of teaching.  The only things my university's program requires are dedication, a willingness to spend almost twice as long as anyone else (and rack up debt so doing), and a butt-ton of instruments and vocals classes, as well as a complete and total lack of stage fright (concerts and recitals are very, very much required).  It doesn't require something students can use to make a living.  It doesn't seem to hold the expectation that the students can make a living with it.

I like that the Dutch school emphasizes the practical with the music, the theory, and the history.

8 comments:

  1. I like that too. I originally majored in vocal music. You do that when they throw money at you. And yes, I am completely devoid of stage fright. Changed tracks when I realized that a degree in music only prepares you to teach music to other people that can then go on to teach music. Vicious circle, that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can't do a whole lot more with an English degree, but then again, I truly like teaching, and my income is meant to be a supplement.

      Delete
    2. Would have been a great path if I had any desire to teach. But I never really had much desire to work in accounting either, just kind of worked out that way.

      Delete
    3. My other half, Odysseus of By Other Means, is about a year away from having an accounting degree. He's finding that he likes it about as much as he liked the study for the econ/finance degree.

      Delete
    4. It's not exciting work, but it does pay the bills.

      Delete
    5. That can also be said about delivering pizza--he and TinCan Assassin work at the same place.

      Delete
  2. So what is to prevent them from earning a double major? (Honestly asking, here) Your school does offer a business degree...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Here, a lot of our music majors double-major with something in business, so they can go into the business end of things if they don't get a performing contract. I'd also think that having a business background would make it less likely for unscrupulous agents or such to take advantage of a person.

    ReplyDelete

Sorry, folks. A hundred plus spam comments in an hour equals moderation on older posts, so until further notice...you're gonna have to wait for your comments to be approved before they show up.