Reasons to NOT get that Master of Music Degree

If you want to have a career as a professional orchestral player, you need to have the training that often involves getting a Master of Music Degree. This video covers a few reasons why maybe you don’t necessarily need that Masters Degree.

[@Will67267]

Music degree is useless unless you want to teach in a university level which is too competitive. Better go to the medical field and do music on the side. I had a bachelor degree in cello performance and couldn’t find a decent paying job for 3 years. Took Radiology for 3 years and became a Cardiac Ultrasound Tech now making over $150K a year and playing the cello in the side . Best decision I ever made.

[@hawaiiflute]

@@Will67267 I hear you. Thank you for your input - this is really what Music Majors need to hear. I’m always trying to get the point across that, at best, music majors will end up freelancing. And that’s not very sustainable.

[@mmeeozzzaaa3421]

I would also say that there's the question of once you finish your education, where will you work. This country does not by and large, prize classical music in the same way that, say, Europe does. A friend's son recently completed his musical education in Canada, so he doesn't have huge if any debt. However he faced the reality that working in classical music is very arduous, and you may, if you do find a job, wind up 'stitching' together three different jobs a day to earn a living, and it won't be a great living. None of these part time jobs will have benefits nor will they have pensions or things like 401ks. Better instead to learn a European language. because in Europe, there are tons and tons of small orchestras, and the odds of getting a job playing classical music for a living are far better than they are here.

[@hawaiiflute]

@@mmeeozzzaaa3421 yes, this is a big issue in America. I am one of those people that had stitched together an income along with no health care, retirement funds or savings. I will address this in a future video, but the topic is often ignored for some reason.

[@midnightmoth1]

I agree with your commentary. May I also add that getting a Master's in exactly the area you studied in your BA (to me) feels a bit repetitive and unnecessary because you've already been through it, so really you would only be doing a continuation of the same thing. I think it'd be better to get a Master's in a different area like Education or Composition (if possible), that way, your BA and Master's can provide you with two different sets of possibilities and opportunities in the workplace. Specially in an industry where 1st flute spots and such are quite limited. 💜

[@hawaiiflute]

@@midnightmoth1 good point - you are doing a continuation of the same thing. But for lots of people, that continuation with a different teacher & higher expectations, etc can be the difference between plateauing as a player after your Bachelors or continuing to excel as a player. I know if I did not get a Masters degree, I wouldn’t be half the player I am today, and probably would’ve quit music altogether. I see what your saying, though, about taking the opportunity to expand into a different speciality. And that is definitely the better choice to have more options for employments. Thanks for your input!

[@midnightmoth1]

@@hawaiiflute
Sure! And thank YOU for the content 💜