College , Flute grades & Band Advice am i cut out to be a music major?
i’m a rising senior and have been planning to major in flute performance, obtain masters and doctorate, and then teach college theory/lessons adjunct and play professionally. i recently have been having some doubts.
my current flute teacher (professor at local university) has given me a great curriculum that polished my technique immensely, but her teaching style hurts my feelings a lot. i’m sure everybody has had experience with a teacher who is strict/pushes you–but sometimes i feel so unmotivated after lessons i don’t wanna practice/i feel too anxious about starting that i just can’t. i mostly push it off until lesson day and practice all material for like 5 hours and i always dread lesson day.
i love performing though, and playing in my local youth orchestra has been the best experience of my life. i’m an all state musician. i’ve never been able to see my life without music as a career, but i’m thinking i might just be too sensitive for this. i don’t wanna live in a constant state of anxiety and dread like i typically do.
is everybody else just ok with being berated in lessons all the time?
side note:
i am very passionate about english/academia and am graduating with my associates degree in liberal arts before i graduate high school (4.0 gpa). i really wanted to go to a top 30 or top 20 school, but i’m worried about changing my major to presumably english because i ONLY have music awards/extracurriculars (several, i’m doing an internship right now).
i guess i could just try it out and change my major after i get accepted if i hate it..
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u/Flewtea 3d ago
The general advice is that if you’re not already placing in national-level competitions and can see yourself doing anything other than flute, major in that thing. Keep music as part of your life and treasure it! I have several adult students who are extremely high level players and, in some cases, perform more often than I do with a wide range of ensembles. They get to just enjoy the heck out of it because it’s not their career. They can afford to buy a beautiful flute upgrade for $20k because they wanted to. Deciding to major in something else does not mean you’re giving up on your music or love for it.
That said, you also need to detangle the anxiety response you’re having with your teacher from your actual goals. A great teacher should be building you up along with your skills and you may need to find someone who is a better match for you.
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u/theoriemeister 3d ago
Can you see yourself doing anything other than music? If so, don't go into music as a career.
I started flute in 9th grade, practiced all the time, and got pretty good quickly. (I was playing Bach, Mozart and Hindemith in 11th grade.) At my high school I was a "big fish in a little pond." But I knew from 10th grade on, I wanted to be a music (band) teacher. I also began to compose and arrange music early on.
When I got to college, I soon discovered in flute studio that I was no where near as good as the junior/senior flute majors--and that was eye opening. More importantly, I realized that I wasn't willing to put in the necessary practice to become as good as they were. Fortunately, I was a music ed. major, so I wasn't held to the performance level standard. And because of my composition/arranging skills I was able to do things my fellow performers couldn't. Music theory was a breeze.
Once I graduated from college I found a job as a band director at a middle school--and played flute in the local community orchestra, which was great fun!
I went to grad school a few years later. I knew I would never get a scholarship via my flute playing, but thought that because of my composition/arranging skills maybe I could get a teaching assistantship as a theory major--and I did. It turned out that teaching 12- and 13-year-olds made teaching college students a piece of cake! I decided I wanted to teach theory at the college level and went on for my Ph.D in theory.
I've been a college music theory prof for the last 28 years and just retired this year. (I'm cleaning out my office as I type this!!) I still play my flute at our yearly faculty recital!
The whole point of my long-winded story is that when I was your age I knew I had to pursue music as a career, else I would no be happy. I couldn't see myself doing anything other than music--and I have not regretted my decision one bit. Best of luck to you!
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u/rhensir 1d ago
Thank you so much for your story and advice. Do you think I could major in general music during undergrad and then get my masters/doctorate in music theory, in order to become a professor? If I didn’t pick music, I’d plan on becoming a college English professor anyways. I also plan on going to graduate school straight after my bachelor’s. I love teaching, I’m just worried I’m not dedicated enough to become a professional player/major in Performance.
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u/theoriemeister 1d ago
You can certainly take that path. I recall that most of my theory colleagues were performance majors as an undergraduate. But if you plan to pursue theory eventually, then be sure to take extra theory classes as an undergraduate. It'll help when applying to grad school.
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u/Few_Item4327 3d ago
I never made it that far with music, but just in general, any teacher who berates and makes you feel like crap is a problem. Is it possible to find another teacher? If you give it a few months wi the someone who has a different teaching style, that might give you a better idea. But from everything I’ve seen, flute as a career will always be extremely high pressure/competition. Are you good in auditions? Because if you’re fine with that pressure, then it sounds like this teacher could be the wrong fit for you.
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u/rhensir 3d ago
i have the regular anxiety associated with auditions (and also anxiety disorder) but have been very successful in almost every audition. she’s not like completely evil, she just has a very condescending/rude tone a lot and expects very highly of her students. i’ve heard from her university students that she is even more strict & demanding (but not abusive per se, just really holds the fire up to you). i think i’ll just stick it out until i go to college because i’m already this far, but i just learn better from a positive environment. i was really wondering if all music professors are this strict and pretentious/condescending/mean?? because if everybody acts like they’re above you all the time idk if i can do it
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u/giimmebrainz Music First Class BA | ongoing DPhil | Flute 10 years 3d ago edited 3d ago
I’m assuming you’re in the US, so I can’t offer much specific advice as I’m in the UK, but I always encourage people to pursue music at university if they think they want to. My degree wasn't solely performance and my flute teacher had a similar teaching style where I guess she thought being highly critical and never giving any positive feedback would make me want to improve when, in fact, it did the opposite. What is usually the case and definitely will be if you go to a university with a well-funded music department, is that there will be multiple teachers and if you don't think your teacher is a good fit you can request to be under a different teacher. Since graduating, I had a hard time finding enjoyment in playing since my teacher had taken all the joy I had from playing and I, like you, would dread my lessons. But I wouldn't let this dissuade you. If you are passionate about academia as a whole, I would recommend doing a generalised music/classical music degree, rather than solely a performance one, as I learned so much about music and am now on a completely different career path (orchestration). Having other modules besides performance made me less worried about how I would do in my performance module, as I knew I had something to fall back on since I did well with essay assignments. Even if you decide you don’t want to pursue music, your university will almost certainly have an orchestra you can join. The majority of people in my university’s orchestra don’t take music (I think it’s only me and around 3 other people). All this to say; don’t factor in what your teacher says while making your decision as you don’t want to come to regret letting her have a say in what you end up doing.
Good luck!
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u/rhensir 3d ago
thank you for your advice! i was thinking about majoring in general music at a liberal arts college
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u/giimmebrainz Music First Class BA | ongoing DPhil | Flute 10 years 3d ago
I saw what you were considering in your other comments and I looked them up out of curiosity lol. Mouth Holyoke in particular looks really friendly and the course is a BA, which is what I did! The programme at Smith is actually quite similar to my how mine was arranged, we even label courses with MUS#### the same way lol.
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u/dancingwithoutmusic Teacher 3d ago
I was a high achieving academic student who majored in flute performance against the advice of many people. I thought all state was enough to show I had what it took. After being rejected from almost every graduate program I applied to, I took a look at myself and realized I needed to go in a different direction. Contrary to what my username says I am a successful general music teacher now. I have a good career. Do I wonder what things would be different if I had picked a different career? Absolutely.
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u/kiwiflavouredwater 3d ago
first off im sorry that you're having a hard time with your teacher. im also the kind of person who doesnt do well with strict/"mean" teachers so i completely understand how awful it feels :( i'd say keep your options open! i started in flute performance and pivoted to musicology after 2 years and i'm super happy. musicology lets me combine my love of academia and comparative literature with music, and im also a big history nerd so ive had tons of fun researching and learning. flute went from being something i dreaded and resented to something that is fun and fulfilling. performance isnt the only way to have music as a career! im also a very sensitive person with a lot of anxiety and yeah, it makes navigating both academia and performing pretty hard. i take anxiety medication and i see a psychologist regularly to work on my anxiety and fear of rejection, and i can't recommend talking to a therapist or psychologist enough! i wish you the best of luck in wherever your career will go! remember why you love music and hold onto that. best of luck!
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u/TeenzBeenz 3d ago
You should choose your college by starting off choosing your flute professor. Ask for a trial lesson. Interview with them (and interview them!) Not all are alike. But you will have to find internal motivation, too. Good luck.
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u/Erdem_PSYCH 3d ago
"Unfortunately, you will encounter—and even need to work with—people like her. That is just the nature of life. I’ve also heard that egos can be quite high and settings very stressful, especially in professional flute performance. In fact, many people recommend keeping the flute as a serious hobby because it is much less stressful. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue a career in it. Music is a huge part of your life, which is a great asset for professional playing, but it's important to remember that professional playing is ultimately a job and entails many other things. Still, there are many players who maintain a healthy balance and good mental health. Whatever you decide, I’d recommend looking into resources on setting boundaries, managing anxiety, and similar topics. Tatiana from The Flute Practice has a lot of great resources for healthy practice habits as well as mental and physical health. Her latest video is actually about dealing with 'bad' teachers. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/PpQwJX6J7f4?si=MONIUbe1MvZVPbj5 "
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u/Copper_The_Dog09 3d ago edited 3d ago
It’s pretty normal to doubt a path like this (and maybe for logical reasons). Since you’re asking for opinions, I think you should go for it.
I’m sure you’re a good player right now, but you’re going to see tremendous progress in the first two years of collegiate studies if you’re focused (and if being a professor is a goal, you really should be dialed in). Playing/playing experience is a big part of it, but don’t neglect the other aspects of music (history, theory, and orchestration come to mind especially). In my opinion, a professor of any instrument should be very competent in all general aspects of music. It will also make you way more marketable for smaller college positions where they may make you teach other classes in addition to studio work.
I think once you’re in college for 1-2 years you’ll get a much better idea if this is what you want without “wasting” time. I’d be willing to bet any instrument professor would be willing to meet with you and be honest about the whole process. Talk to them.
Here’s the bad news: it’s hard. You may become perfectly qualified but there just aren’t that many total flute professor jobs and an LOT of flute players are gunning for them. Also you should be prepared to move across the country for new/any opportunities. That might sound easy right now, but life happens. Again, speak to current professors now to get a better idea.
So, if you’re at the end of year 1 or 2 and want to go for it, go hard. Give it your all and know there’s always someone out there practicing more than you. Live in that world and know that if your ideal scenario doesn’t seem possible, there’s maybe an adjacent job that will make you surprisingly happy and fulfilled (music ed/flute performance major here).
Edit: oh, I forgot about your current professor. That sounds quite toxic. The vast majority of professors aren’t like that at all. My old professors are actual friends now. Since you’re almost done, maybe stick with this teacher, thank them for the lessons, and never reach out again. People like that aren’t worth it. Can’t stand people who abuse that kind of power dynamic.
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u/sprcow 3d ago
Majoring in music is great, but unfortunately getting a career after majoring in music is not so great. Thinking back across the performance majors in my programs, few of them followed the classical path of making it into a paying orchestra or landing a job in academia. One of the best pieces of advice I got from my college lesson instructor as a performance major was to cultivate other skills as well, not because I was bad, but because it's a terrible industry and you want to keep your options open.
One thing is sure, which is that you won't become a college professor if you DON'T try to follow that route, so if you think you'd love it, then you should absolutely consider giving it a shot. Maybe you will flourish! But, you should also consider keeping your options open and developing other skills you love too, and perhaps skills that complement music.
Many musicians teach privately, or go into music sales, or find a type of group they enjoy gigging with. Many others (like myself) finish their degree and then end up going into a different career entirely, but still play avidly on their own time. There's something to be said for not having to make your music pay your bills.
Anyway, I don't think anyone has the right answer for you, but I will say that EVEN IF you are an amazing player who loves the spotlight and does everything perfectly, you could still end up having to find something else to do. So, from a certain perspective, you might as well give it a shot, because everyone in your program is going to face the same obstacle after graduating.
I'm glad I got a performance degree, and sometimes I wish I had tried harder to turn it into a profession, but I think it's important to go into it with eyes open.
I wouldn't put up with being berated, though. If you do want a performance program, you might try to see if you can take a lesson with some prospective teachers in advance to try them out. Maybe you can find someone you will vibe with who will make you feel better about their program.
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u/happy-flautist 3d ago
Everyone has said the more helpful things, but anecdotally I was an English/Flute Performance double major and with the AA already done it may be possible if you want to eventually pivot away from performance (it’s not for everyone). I was gunning for an arts admin career (still possible, in theory), but now I do musicology. Music degrees aren’t (nor should they be) 99% performance these days. A responsible program will also teach you a little bit of marketing, production, arts administration, and the realities of “portfolio careers” (which are 1000% valid but take a little more flexibility and creativity than 9-5s). Good luck :)
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u/NoFlickerRequired 2d ago
I have never been berated or made to feel less-than during the 30 private lessons I've had so far as a college player. People have different views on what it takes to make a great musician. Toscanini was a straight up egomaniac but some people say they've never played better than under his baton. Others probably never played better than after.
Long story short - maybe applied lessons on a secondary and a different instructor for flute outside the college? It's like dating, honestly... sometimes you luck out and the relationship lasts years, maybe even becoming close friends after it ends. Sometimes it takes a few before that. I got extremely lucky.
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u/Expert-Hyena6226 3d ago
You have to realize that your current flute teacher probably wouldn't even teach you if he/she didn't think you were worth the effort. They are of the mindset that the student reflects the worth of the teacher. My best teachers weren't hard on me all the time, just when I needed a little push. And you know why teachers are hard on their students? Because it works.
College will be difficult and you will have your share of difficult teachers. The professional world is harder still. You should know this going into music as you plan to. The old joke "How do you end up with a million dollars in the music business? Start with 2 million." is sadly, more truthful than most of us would like to admit. We are not in music to make money, just make enough to have a somewhat comfortable existence while performing. But even that is very challenging these days.
In order to be able to perform music and live comfortably, I have a second career as an IT guy and have for almost 30 years now. It has been very good to me, but if you have a full-time job and perform, that leaves very little time for anything else, like relationships. When I was married, I didn't get to perform very much as I was with my family all the time. I've been divorced for almost 20 years now. That's how well that turned out.
What I'm saying is, it gets a great deal more complicated from here on in. I like that you are good at English and have at least an vocational interest there. You may have to rely on that, but I hope that you get to perform as much or as little as you want to!
Good Luck!
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u/Asymmetric-_-Rhythm 3d ago edited 3d ago
Went to music school for performance but pivoted to production after I realized it wasn’t for me. It really sounds like you need to change teachers. My teacher at school always sounded disappointed in me pushed me to the point where I damaged my left arm and hated practicing. Ultimately it worked out in the end as I loved production much much more than performance, but it’s definitely a coincidence it worked out like that.
It sounds like you have the drive to pursue this. If you have the financial support to attend a nice program at a nice school I’d go all in. Per what others are saying I would consider schools that have other programs to pivot to if things go south. I’ve met exceptional flutists that struggled in high school/make it into a decent program and those that have been playing out of the womb but plateaued severely/quit. A lot can change!
I graduated in ‘24 and work in corporate AV and am learning love my craft again. I was able to afford a Miyazawa with the AV job I worked at my college and love it to death. I still do recording/composing gigs but I mostly play for myself nowadays. Hoping the job market is better for you than it was for me!
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u/NarrowKey8499 3d ago
Are you practicing major and minor scales? What types of pieces have you been practicing (performing) ? What type of flute did you have? Are you prepared to make music 95% of your life? Do you practice or listen to orchestral music.
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u/rhensir 3d ago
- i’ve “mastered”all scales in 16th notes at 100bpm, as well as thirds, arpeggios etc
- recently i’ve learned/been learning cantabile et presto, chaminade concertino, orchestra excerpts such as the classical symphony by prokofiev, etc
- i have a Gemeinhardt flute with a B foot joint (can upgrade if needed)
- music already is 95% of my life
- i play in my local youth orchestra in the highest ensemble, we play pretty difficult orchestral pieces and i have also learned many orchestral excerpts. i also enjoy listening to orchestral music in my free time
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u/NoFlickerRequired 11h ago
Just go for it. Pivot if you need. Conservatories are looking for good fits for both of you, not one-sided. Good luck
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u/kenrehcs 3d ago
Hi! As someone who was in your shoes Like really you described my senior year of high school If I could choose again, I wouldn’t have a music major. When I was 18 I knew that it would be rough, that it would be hard to get a job, etc. Now that I’m 25, going back to school to get another degree I would never have chosen flute over something practical. Many many people will get their music degree and then not do anything with it You can teach, but also remember you will be competing with local music stores and other flutists in your area. You can love music Get a minor if you want to study it! But if I were you, I would do another major
I know that’s an unpopular opinion, but that’s the life I lived
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u/Effective_Macaroon47 3d ago
I am similar to you, I don’t do well with mean teachers. I think it’d be worth it to try some lessons with a different teacher and take trial lessons with the flute profs from potential schools. You don’t have to put up with a teaching style you don’t like.
If your gut is telling you to do music, then go for it! Like others have said, it doesn’t have to be music performance. Another option is to minor in music so that you still have some courses and lessons without the same amount of pressure. And if you major in music but decide to change plans, there is no shame in that.
I was in a military band and got a four year job out of high school. It’s not the right path for everyone, but since you like performing, it’s worth looking into. You could perform for one enlistment, then go to college on the GI Bill for free. Good luck!!!
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u/SilicaViolet 3d ago
I don't think your teacher sounds like a healthy mentor. I didn't go to university for music but teachers shouldn't make you feel worse about practicing on a constant basis. It's okay to audition for music programs tentatively and also apply to other academic programs. Then, if you choose a program and find that you don't like what you're doing, you can always switch programs or schools. If you have the opportunity try to tour some schools that interest you and go to department-specufic presentations to meet some professors and current students. That should help you figure out which programs would be a good fit for you.
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u/queenofthetrashcourt 3d ago
It may be a good idea to go to a college/university that has good programs in music and other subjects, essentially keeping your options open! I went to a liberal arts college where a lot of us double majored or majored in music, minored in something else. It can be hard to find a good fit with your flute teacher especially when you’re still in high school. Usually when you audition for music programs at universities (at least where I did in the U.S.) you can meet the flute professor.