Professional musicians - Do you have a college degree?

[seemunkee]

I think my son is going to bring up dropping out of school when we see him next month. He is in his third year of a 5 year program(6 months on 6 months off for work experience). He started his own label last year and has put out Cd's for other artists as well as his own music and has sold out of everything he has done. He is being asked to go on tour in Europe and New England/Mid-Atlantic this spring. If he wanted he could arrange tours of Japan and Iceland as well as the West coast. The shows don't pay all that great but he can sell a lot of merchandise at them as well. This is all his solo work.
He also belongs to a band that wants to tour heavily starting late summer when he is supposed to start back to school. All the other band members will be graduating spring of end of summer and most likely moving out of Boston and down to Providence. The band is talking to a new label that could mean a huge break for them.
I'm at a loss as to what to say if he wants to quit. Music is all he has wanted to do and things seem to be falling in place for him. He get very determined and focused when he wants something. He graduated high school early because he thought it was a waste of time. I can hear some of the same anxiety about college as we did about high school.
On the other hand I never graduated college and it has been a thorn in my side. I would hate for that to happen to him too.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

1. I know a couple'a musicians w/o MUSIC degrees....

But they still have college degrees in some other subject.... :shrug:

Kick for the jammers....

:kick:

[no name no slogan]

2. I have a degree-- but I regret not following my dream

He's doing better than most if he has a label and can sell out of everything.

Right after highschool, I was in a band that could have really gone somewhere. The time was right, our sound was right, and we lived in a town where a lot of local acts were getting signed. I decided to quit the band and go on to college.

Consequently, I never did get to go pro. I finished my four-year degree (in something totally unrelated to my present career, of course) but never did music full-time again. It's one thing in my life I really regret.

Now, I'm too old to live on the road-- touring is tough on anyone, and even tougher on a 30-something man with chronic health issues. I still play and write music and have put out CDs, but I really wish I was 10 years younger.

If he's got the chance, I'd say GO FOR IT. These days, lots of people go back to college later in life. It will still be there when he gets done being a rock star.

Best of luck.

[hholli11]

3. yep.

I have to admit, however, some of the best musicians I've worked with, do not.

[BlueJazz]

4. I worked for CBS as a Studio Musician for 8 years and the ...

,,,Degree I have is in Physics....Go figure. :)

BUT..I probably spent as much time (on my own) learning Music theory as a student would..

[ChoralScholar]

5. no one's music is permanent

and at some point in his life, he'll have to do something else.

Not to mention it's a good safety net, in case his career doesn't take off as quick/at all.

Just my two denarii