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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Getting A Degree In Guitar. Worth It?

Posted by: SpiritCrusher Jun 14 2019, 03:12 AM

Hello everyone.

I've been admitted to a music school in Berlin called BIMM where I'll be able to take a degree in guitar, which takes three years and costs €7450 pr. year. I'm in a pretty big dilemma if I should go with it as I'm not sure if it's the right path to take. I love the guitar and I'll probably continue playing it for the rest of my life, however, I'm not so sure if I should take a degree in it, especially when I don't play a wide array of genres but only stick to a few that I like the most(mostly the neoclassical metal genre). While the thought of becoming a professional guitarist and making a living from it, whether it's teaching, performing etc., seems very appealing, I'm not so sure if this day and age is the right time to make it as a guitarist anymore. Let's face it, there are lots of great guitar players everywhere these days who would love to make a living from it, and secondly most aspiring guitar players learn from the internet, like us at GMC for instance. And thirdly, the music industry today rarely includes guitars like it did before and if they do, it's mostly very simple chord bashing, which many guitarists can come up with.

What draws me most to attending BIMM is to establish a connection of musicians that I'll be playing with for that time and maybe come up with some projects with them, which I am unable to do atm. because I live in a smaller city. And the thought of simply making friends with and surrounding myself with like-minded people is something that I'd really like to do. And also to get the chance to improve and polish my guitar skills. I'll be turning 21 in two months, and if I start now and finish the degree, I'll be 24 at that time. All in all, I think it would be a great experience in itself, however, the price of it seems most frightening to me. I could get a degree and have a great time doing it and then end up with a huge debt that I might be unable to pay back from the degree itself, but having to end up as a factory worker or something like that to pay back my debt.

What do you guys think? Is the time over to becoming a professional guitarist and making a living from it? And do you think it would be a wise of me to attend BIMM, or should I consider other possible paths in life?
I'd appreciate all suggestions, thanks!

Posted by: klasaine Jun 14 2019, 03:33 PM

Studying the arts is great.
A degree in music has never guaranteed one a 'job' in music at ANY time in history.
You go to get better and make connections.

If you only focus on the genre you already play, you'll be wasting your time and your money. Take advantage of the opportunity to immerse yourself in higher learning.
Or, 'major' in music business or music technology if you only want to play neoclassic metal. At least you'll have the degree in something that is useful and employable in areas other than just music performance.

Posted by: Mertay Jun 14 2019, 05:14 PM

Hi, I also went to college but it wasn't guitar (composition with engineering focus).

If you're going to take that serious step, what you'll notice quickly is you "learn music through guitar" which is unlike how other non-college program education work. You may have some likes or ideas of what you want to do but if you dislike the idea of learning everything else then getting a degree is not for you (or anyone else).

Job thing is as Klasaine mentioned, no job is a guarantee after education. With guitar, likely the worst that can happen if you do your best is you'll become a big fish in a small area. As far as I noticed this is usually enough to make a living but again even achieving that takes a lot of energy.

Do try to find and have a chat with people older than you who had that degree working as musicians. Don't only ask about the money but also their lifestyle, everything good or bad. I for example never liked the idea of gig'ing before I started my education but found alternate ways (education, engineering...) to earn money from music.

Posted by: Adam Jun 14 2019, 07:35 PM

In my region there's only one music academy and it doesn't accept people for classical guitar studies unless you have played the instrument since early childhood and graduated from 2 levels of schooling (which is easy to miss if your parents don't choose for you). The only stuff available for non-classical folks is jazz and 1) they have unreal expectations just to accept you in, 2) you are expected to give up on non-jazz genres because they are uncivilized and stuff. Basically you become one of those jazz elitists or don't get to graduate. The other thing you can study is sound directory and I was considering this at some point. I know it's easier to get hired as a sound director, but sadly in my country friends come before certificates and diplomas when it comes to job hunting.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 15 2019, 01:46 AM

I say go for it smile.gif You are young. You will probably have several "careers" in your lifetime. The age of one career, cradle to grave is going away imho. If you love music, go study it. Absorb everything, make lots of contacts. As ken said also try to learn about the technical and business side of things. As far as Music Education, one of the primary jobs for people with a degree in music is teaching other people about music. There are wads of folks that do othe things of course. You may decide to go back to school later for something else. This happens all the time. It's tough to say what the future will hold and impossible really to make solid plans for way down the road. We can just move in the general direction we want to go and the world changes around us as we move.

In short, sounds like you want to do it but are a bit worried. I'd say jump in and give it a whirl smile.gif I've got a bachelors degree that was "Pre Law" but I never went to law school. Ended up going to film school instead. Things change. smile.gif
Todd

QUOTE (Adam @ Jun 14 2019, 02:35 PM) *
In my region there's only one music academy and it doesn't accept people for classical guitar studies unless you have played the instrument since early childhood and graduated from 2 levels of schooling (which is easy to miss if your parents don't choose for you). The only stuff available for non-classical folks is jazz and 1) they have unreal expectations just to accept you in, 2) you are expected to give up on non-jazz genres because they are uncivilized and stuff. Basically you become one of those jazz elitists or don't get to graduate. The other thing you can study is sound directory and I was considering this at some point. I know it's easier to get hired as a sound director, but sadly in my country friends come before certificates and diplomas when it comes to job hunting.

Posted by: Monica Gheorghevici Jun 15 2019, 08:09 AM

I always say "yes" when it's about music education because I'm that kind of person who like to learn and play a wide array of genres. Also I love to learn many things and from what I saw on BIMM site, the students can also customize their studies through optional modules like: Solo performance, Music teaching practice, Online music, Music production, Video editing, etc.

BUT....If you love to play only some particular styles and you don't feel good playing anything else, then to go at BIMM it's probably something that will not makes you happy and also will be a wast of money.

Also as already Ken and Mertay mentioned, a degree will not guarantee a job.
From my point of view, a degree it's something that brings you a wide range of musical knowledge that can help you in this area. Also will gives you happiness and a personal pride. It's good for mind and soul and for many people (me included) this kind of personal satisfaction worth more than the money.

Posted by: SpiritCrusher Jun 15 2019, 02:08 PM

Well thanks for the answers everybody!
I'm now 80% sure I'll attend it, and like you said I have to open myself up to different genres and styles in order to get the most out of BIMM and maybe become the big fish in a smaller area.
And I fully agree with you Todd, people are switching careers much more than back in time when you had the same career from cradle to grave. And I will have a chance to have the experience now and see where it leads me. If I'm certain about anything in life, it's that I can never be certain about how things will turn out. I can go with it and suddenly find a completely new possibility that I've never before considered.
And yes, Monica, it's definitely something that will evolve me personally that is worth more than the money itself.

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