Finding the Perfect College Major: The Rockstar Edition

By Amelia Woolard

Despite your best attempts at becoming a teenage prodigy, here you are – a rockstar heading off to college. You can just see it now: meeting likeminded musical geniuses, forming an all-star group, spending your weekends performing on lawns, front porches, and dorm steps… and, oh yeah, attending classes.

Everyone knows that declaring a major is a crucial decision. But with so many options available, how do you know which majors will speak to your guitar-smashing, up-all-night and sleep-all-day creative soul? Don’t worry, uCribs has you covered with the latest installment of our continuing series, Finding the Perfect College Major: The Rockstar Edition. With our tips, you’ll be on your way to composing a fulfilling career track in music. (Just try not to stay up all night and sleep all day, alright? Unfortunately, your professors aren’t as rockin’ as you.)

Music

For music aficionados, this major is a no-brainer. If you’re a music buff and you’d like to practice its general study, consider pursuing a music major. Music programs can be general or more specific, depending on the university. And while music majors get a bad rep for studying a subject many ill-informed parents deem “invaluable”, there are plenty of reasons why music students emerge from college well prepared for their post-grad life. Let’s not forget that many music students are products of years of hard work and uphold a sincere dedication to their craft. They recognize the importance of perseverance, and many of them have already forgone parties and other social events, choosing to practice or perform instead. Does any of this sound familiar? If so, congratulations – you possess many qualities future employers will love.

Speaking of employers, you’ll likely have a wide variety to choose from upon graduation, thanks to the versatility of the music major. Careers associated with a music degree can vary, but may include the titles of music producer, professional instrumentalist, or even music journalist. You may also decide to go into music education or private training, but we will delve into that subject later on.

Law

Before you jump to the conclusion that a law career is definitely not in your future, hear us out. Musicians, especially the Billboard-topping artists populating your Spotify feed, need legal representation just as much – if not more – than anyone else. Ever wondered how legal disputes regarding royalties and feuding bandmates get resolved? Or what happens when an artist is approached with a big-time endorsement deal?

Entertainment attorneys are responsible for making sure everything goes smoothly, whether it’s routine contract work or a scandal that needs to be swept under the rug. Let’s just say that behind every Taylor Swift/Kanye West media circus, there’s a highly-skilled team of attorneys working to ensure your favorite stars emerge from any legal troubles or public embarrassments with their reputations and bank accounts intact. If this career sounds like a good fit for you, consider declaring a major in pre-law, political science, or English, which are all great prerequisites for law school.

Education

Think back to your humble beginnings – you know, before you became a bonafide rockstar. Remember those people who influenced you to pick up the guitar, learn the bass, or start singing your heart out? We’ll bet that at least one teacher comes to mind. Now it’s your turn to shape the musical interests of generations to come and pursue a career in music education.

As a music teacher or private instructor, you’ll get to cover a wide range of topics relating to music, including the fundamentals of music composition, music history and theory, and reading music. You may end up teaching young children, young adults, or even older adults who feel as though they’ve missed out on a worthwhile hobby. Either way, music instruction can result in a very rewarding career for those who want to share the power of musical expression with others. You never know, maybe one day the child you taught to play “Happy Birthday” on the piano will thank you during his or her Grammy acceptance speech!

Plus, education degrees can yield a large range of career options including music education and music therapy. Just keep in mind that you will need to receive the proper training to become a teacher. These requirements vary by state but typically involve completing a training course, spending time doing hands-on, in-classroom work, and passing a final examination.

Journalism

Have you ever identified with a song so well, you thought it was written just for you? Or spent hours penning a ballad with your high school crush in mind? If so, you certainly understand the power of the written word, especially when put to music. If you enjoy expressing your thoughts via pen and paper, consider majoring in journalism. A writing-intensive major such as journalism will be of interest to any rockers out there who’ve ever fallen in love with lyrics or have been inspired to write their own.

Journalism is a broad major that can open doors in several different career fields. You could become a full-time lyricist or an entertainment journalist. With a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work, music journalism can even take you to the pages of Rolling Stone. You could opt for something digital-based as well, developing content for music-focused social media accounts, blogs, and the like. Even if you don’t end up pursuing a journalism career, possessing excellent writing abilities is a fantastic skill for your resume and will be of use to you in just about any position out there.

Film or Broadcast

Whether you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it, odds are that your inner rockstar is fascinated by the realm of film, television, and broadcasting. As a film or broadcast major, you can use your excellent, working knowledge of the stage and screen to bring together art and technology. A career in film or broadcasting will likely have you working very closely with other entertainers and will encourage you to stay involved in your city’s cultural scene – which is no problem for a creative spirit like you!

If you love the arts and want to learn more about the many working parts associated with producing a film, TV series, or news broadcast, consider this major. Careers associated with this field include video editor, lighting technician, producer, and television script writer.

No matter which major you choose, opting to pursue a career in music or any other related field offers a way for you to make a lasting impact, all while quenching your artistic thirst. By following your passion and keeping these major recommendations in mind, you’ll be on your way to a fulfilling career in no time.

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