Posted by Steve Dedman on July 07, 2001 at 16:34:15:
In Reply to: How many college hours?? posted by Matt C. on July 07, 2001 at 15:26:06:
The answer is: it depends.
Are those 16 hours limited to 4 or so classes of basics like English and US History, or are they spread out over 7 or 8 classes like ensembles, theory, lessons, and methods? Like Mr. Tiger says; leave plenty of time to practice. Also leave plenty of time for other things like dates, movies and er, blowing off steam. Leave some time every day to do something other than schoolwork and music, or you won't make it.
The best things to do are:
1) Make sure that the person who advised you on what classes to take is the advisor for the school of music. Most non-music advisors see the degreee schedule on a piece of paper and load you up with the requisite number of hours on the page. However, that number is usually a pie-in-the-sky number that will come close to burning you out if you let it. Non-musicians usually don't know or understand that the out-of-class requirements of a musician are very demanding, and the time necessary to fulfill the requirements for 16 hours worth of music courses is roughly twice that of non-music courses.
2) Talk to some sophomores. They just went through the same thing a year ago, and the memories are still fresh in their minds. If you can find a sober junior (they did just turn 21, after all), get some advice from them. But be absolutely sure to ask some seniors. They can tell you what they might have done differently their freshman year that would have made a big difference in their senior year.
3) If you don't like what the advisor recommends, talk to them about it. Ask them if there is an alternate timeline for your degree completion. Don't get in a hurry. 5 to 6 years for an undergraduate music degree is not unusual.
The bottom line is, its your education. You will get out of it what you want.
Good luck, and take notes.
Steve Dedman