Major Selection

[pmarion]

Hello everyone.

I am a senior in high school. I have been playing the euphonium since I was in 4th grade, and trombone since 7th grade. I definitely want to major in music performance in college. I have auditioned at a few schools already for euphonium, since that is clearly my stronger instrument at this point. I have gotten some positive reinforcement from potential professors so far, but I want to know whether I should stick to euphonium only and limit my professional opportunities severely. I have been told it is possible to reaudition wherever I decide to attend, and double performance major in Trombone and Euphonium. Would double majoring be better for me in the long run, or not? I am looking for the best possible way to make a career in the music field without teaching K-12. Maybe this is just an identity crisis, but I would like some input from people who have possibly been in this situation. Thank you all for reading!

[Euphdad]

My son is a college junior. He majors in Euph Performance and Music Ed. He also takes private lessons from one of the trombone profs and sits in with the trombone studio. He plays trombone in a brass quintet, a ska band and new orleans brass type band. You can always just keep your trombone chops up. During breaks he gets a few trombone paying gigs through connections, teaches trombone and euph lessons, etc. You don't necessarily have to double major.

[davewerden]

If you don't want a teaching job, then a double major is not as important. However, the trombone lessons might be valuable if you want to work more (especially for $$). But if you mean you don't want to teach in public school, but would like to teach in a college, then you really don't want to leave with a euphonium-only major. In fact, you are looking ahead to a masters degree at the very least, and that is rarely enough. A DMA would be in your future if you want to land a college gig and get tenure someday.

So what do you consider a "career" in music?

[pmarion]

I have no solid goals set, but as far as everyone has told me I should look into trying to be in a service band if I want to continue with euphonium. I would like to eventually become a college professor whichever route I choose. I also love orchestral music, and would possibly try to land a spot in a professional orchestra if I could get the proper trombone training. At the end of my undergraduate I will probably be looking into finding a good graduate program to go to, but if I could find a solid, steady paying job playing I would obviously take that first. I realize my goals are high, but If I'm going to invest so much time into this I need to make sure my heart is in it as well. Maybe that's what I'm having such a hard time deciding what I want to do. In the end I don't want to be left wondering "What if I had done that instead..."

[JChiang]

Just thought I'd chime in here. I personally think that having the ability to play trombone is a great asset. Not only does it open up more doors for performance but from my experience, they compliment each other quite nicely and in some cases really helps improve your playing on both horns.

I recently have been playing a lot of trombone as well and it's great having the ability to play in jazz band, trombone choir, brass quintets, etc. And it's great because people will get to know your playing and chances of getting gigs are a lot better.

And hey, trombone playing is fun for those days that the valves are just driving you crazy haha.

Cheers

[blueeuph]

You don't have to be a double euphonium / trombone major but you should be able to get trombone comfortably if needed. I do agree with everybody about taking trombone lessons as it will give you more opportunities to play. In college, it wouldn't hurt learning tuba and be able to play tuba well enough to get around a good chunk of the band reportoire.

[iMav]

I was a euphonium performance major in college, but also did extra curriculars with tuba (marching band) and trombone (pep band).

I'd love to tell you it worked out great, but I actually drank myself out of college (an alcoholic who is now 20 years sober).

You don't need to have your life all planned out at this point. Your professors will have some good advise for you along the way. Focus on soaking it all in and enjoying this time in your life. Definitely set some goals...just be open and flexible, you never know what life will throw at you.