I did a cheap (i.e. $5000) Diploma of Music alongside a more job-friendly Bachelor's. Did many jobs, including Military bands, but eventually won an audition for a professional orchestra in my early 30s. Every professional move I made was low-risk, high-reward. I recommend my strategy to my students who are not extremely wealthy ;)
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Smart!!
@natpeterson-blankenship29949 ай бұрын
I really like how you covered so many different angles and situations here! I was lucky enough to have financial support from my parents for my Bachelor's in performance and then took out loans for my masters in Music ed. Luckily I've always wanted to be a music teacher so it's never felt like a "backup" job. I've been happily teaching for 6 years with health insurance and the money I make from gigging on the side is an additional bonus. If I had to take out massive loans, or was considering performance as my only source of income I would definitely reconsider going to the school that I went to. Love your videos, keep up the great work!
@Jepsonite9 ай бұрын
Based on this video and what I've heard from people who went to really high end music schools is that the upside for the high end schools is being surrounded by people who are extremely motivated on doing that stuff, which then also fuels your own growth perhaps more than it otherwise would've. Though I've only heard from people who have had full or nearly full scholarship, so the debt aspect hasn't been quite as bad as it could've
@foodbeats42669 ай бұрын
As a saxophonist in my junior year in high school, this video is extremely helpful. It’s helped me realize that although I enjoy learning music theory, music school is probably not the best option for me and that its perfectly okay to just have a teacher and fully immerse yourself in a local scene and improve that way. Thanks for the insight Frankie!
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
I’m happy it’s valuable to you!! Thank you so much for watching🙏🏻🙏🏻
@WmRob6 ай бұрын
My dad once told me: don’t spend $100 to earn $10. So I went straight into gigging and learned along the way.
@Vivi-Mage3 ай бұрын
As someone who is working to audition as a music major and get into music school this information is valuable stuff to consider. Thank you for producing this content!
@FoolishFrankie3 ай бұрын
Glad this was helpful thank you for watching 🥺🙏🏻
@Mellerman49 ай бұрын
So I went to music school as well. I graduated in 2000 so the environment now is very different than it was back then especially when it comes to finances. I got a degree in Music Education. I tried to be a pro gigging musician for awhile and I was doing ok but I eventually felt that the lifestyle wasn't for me and I pivoted to a different field and eventually landed in IT. For awhile I was still able to work and keep playing but eventually family and career demands made that impossible. I am starting to get back into but it difficult to get going without the contacts that I used to have from my pro days. I feel that going to music school was right for me but wouldn't be right for everyone. I was lucky in that I got a partial scholarship and was able to graduate without taking on any student loans (I also went to a state school). This financial flexibility allowed me to take my time post school trying different things and figuring out my path. Some of my colleagues are still struggling with student loans to this day so it is a big decision. I would not have achieved the level of musicianship that I did if I had not gone to music school. The music scene in my area is smaller and getting into the scene through my contacts in school was essential to get started. Also, having a college degree helped me when I pivoted to a different industry. Some people saw my "unconventional" degree as an interesting quirk that got their attention and that got me opportunities I might not have gotten otherwise. The friendships I have from college are still a big part of my life so that in itself may be worth it.
@corbinwoodbury76539 ай бұрын
thank you so much frankie! i’ve been considering going to music school very heavily right now and this information is really helpful to also consider. haven’t made a decision yet, but this is super helpful!
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Of course I'm glad it's helpful!!
@BelllasTrainVlogs9 ай бұрын
Yes!! Uploads return!! 🎉❤
@okiedokieartiechokie84589 ай бұрын
I love this type of content ❤ thanks for putting in the effort
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Much love🙏🏻
@d.h.54075 ай бұрын
50 years ago, I thought about playing professionally in SoCal. Already, players were being cut in favor of recordings for shows & live performances. People hire DJs for parties. School doesn’t train ANY student to think about the labor market, the performance market, advertising, and return on investment. Every student needs this knowledge before selecting a major. I didn’t choose music.
@AndreGasparConductor9 ай бұрын
Hey! I’m applying to UNT for a DMA! Thanks for the video! I’m sure tons of people will find this very helpful.
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Ahh that’s awesome!! I hope it is. Thanks so much for watching🙏🏻🙏🏻
@Overlycomplicatedswede9 ай бұрын
In my opinion, if u want to go to music and be taught by some of most skilled musicians in the world and be around a ton of musicians by all means do it I had the opportunity to take a master class on trombone by a retired musician who was a bass trombonist in the military band and it was probably the most fun yet challenging and insightful hour and a half I’ve had in awhile I came out of it feeling so good about my bass trombone skills
@mjvibar25949 ай бұрын
As someone who is currently undergoing a computer science course, it was interesting to hear dan's take on this.
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Yes!! I thought it was good to include people that still play music professionally but have a stable 9-5
@Jon-c2q5k6 ай бұрын
Regarding 30:30 of having a private lesson with a professor-- that's actually possible without going for a degree! Some colleges have "community music schools" and their faculty give private lessons to people from the college's county! I didn't know about that until WAY too late. lol
@andrewmaloney60389 ай бұрын
In my opinion, if you want to be a professional player, you don't necessarily need to go to music school. However, you DO need to take lessons consistently with master players so that you can learn the important elements of becoming a great player on your instrument. I personally went to music school because I benefit from structure and having a consistent schedule, as it helps me to get things done and make more progress, but not everyone needs that; it also helped to surround myself with the musicians in the program who were better than me so that I wasn't only learning in the classroom, but that I was absorbing information from them all the time. I will say that I don't think it's necessarily important for music programs to teach "wedding songs" and stuff like that as you mention, because going to music school will give you the tools necessary to listen to most wedding songs and figure out the horn parts pretty easily, even for more complex tunes. The greatest benefit I gained from going to music school was not simply the knowledge I gained, but the people I gained it from and the relationships I built with those people.
@EverettJohnson-gu3tu5 ай бұрын
An honest review of experiences and benefits is exactly what I needed.
@FoolishFrankie5 ай бұрын
Hope it was helpful!
@pawa3038 ай бұрын
I never realized you’re in Pittsburgh! I’m an hour and a half away, in Morgantown, WV. Great content, keep it up!
@FoolishFrankie8 ай бұрын
Ahh that’s awesome, I go to Morgantown for a bluegrass jam every now and then! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@jetplanevanman339 ай бұрын
holy shit your conclusion is so insightful
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Thank you I'm just trying to provide people with the insight I wish I would've had when I was considering school!
@thelicc13069 ай бұрын
My biggest let down is posh jazz musicians who only plays standards
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
That doesn’t have to be you!
@petedenton94349 ай бұрын
Interesting to near Bryce Rabideau say he went to Dusquene. As a tuba player, one of the greatest mentors and tutors I studied with (Jim Gourlay) is on the staff there. I know from personal experience that studying with him will bring a great deal of benefit and probably also start a life long friendship.
@FolsomC8 ай бұрын
It seems like one of the biggest benefits to going to music school is the connections that you make. One of the things that it might be nice for the music community to do rather than relying on school for that is having more community groups where you can go to to form those connections, rather than just trying to find other musicians in jam sessions. But of course, who has time for that?
@isaacjohnofficial9 ай бұрын
Wow 💥🔥 this is inspiring... While in school get involved in the music outside...
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Yes!!
@Zoey53749 ай бұрын
I want to become a music therapist, so I’ve decided to apply to both a college and university for music. The college is affiliated with the university so I can go from a music performance degree into third year BA in music then take a year to get a certificate of music therapy from that university. The good thing with going to the college first is staying at home, and the college has music business courses that are mandatory. I’ve met many of the staff at the college, and it seems like a great school overall! The university isn’t in my hometown, so I think it’s smarter (and cheaper) to stay at home first.
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Jason Raflak in the full video did music therapy!
@FishMonger8497 ай бұрын
Any musician who goes into music for money is a fool; if your end goal is money do something else. In any career, contacts are everything. If you go to music school do it in a happening city. Many of my contacts are people I went to school with and not just performers; engineers, composers and especially contracts and producers. Not only will a city provide this, but the studio teachers at many excellent schools In urban areas will also be on faculty at less expensive state schools. Today I make a very comfortable living and live in an excellent suburb. Do I have the biggest house? No. Nicest car? No. Do I get to make music everyday and perform with extremely talented people? Hell yes!!
@j0hnnyboi1Ай бұрын
Something modern music students are never really taught in school is how to get their first paid gigs. Professionals always emphasize the idea of networking but what if you just don’t know anybody. What other ways could you find work?
@FoolishFrankieАй бұрын
This video should help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4rLeKmoopeDh6M
@50shadesofbeige888 ай бұрын
As a violonist who ended up with a music business degree, if I had the choice to go again, I don't think I'd do it... especially not at an arts school like Berklee.
@limitedxlives2 ай бұрын
thank you so much for this
@FoolishFrankie2 ай бұрын
Hope it was helpful!
@tomaslobos13268 ай бұрын
next month I'm starting my first year and I'm scared as hell. I'm still scared as hell after this video but thanks for putting it in perspective
@FoolishFrankie8 ай бұрын
That’s normal no matter what!
@red_rassmueller17169 ай бұрын
Well... imagine living in America where you have to really pay to study... In Germany you have to pay like 200€ a year... 😂😂 but you get so many benefits, you gain more than that.
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
But less people are moving to Germany to study music. I do think school should be much cheaper though
@gudmundur-heimisson9 ай бұрын
While tuition is free in many countries in Europe, you still have to pay for living expenses and many people do take out student loans for this. Granted, it is many many orders of magnitude cheaper than any American school and you can easily pay it off even with a music related job after you graduate.
@gustavoastudillo4019 ай бұрын
Uploads this as I’m going through a school of music audition process dilemma 💀
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Oof🫣
@kintorey11959 ай бұрын
If there is a doubt about whether studying music at university is good or bad, it is probably because it is not very good. When things are really good, there is no doubt (like for example that this channel is really good). Very nice video ^_^ PS: Sorry for my English 😂
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
LOL, well thank you Kinto! Your english is great:)
@JK-vc7ie9 ай бұрын
Or, you could say that most everyone would do it if the costs were low, therefore you could say that it is "good".
@FishingForLife284 ай бұрын
Only thing I got from this is the money struggle. Im fortunate enough that it wont cost me a dime (school doesn't in my country). I was more after, is it a waste of time or not
@FoolishFrankie4 ай бұрын
Not a waste of time if you really love it imo. You can always change career paths later in life. But it becomes much more difficult to to the reverse
@backyarddosser5 ай бұрын
Learn a trade, carry on playing music.
@50shadesofbeige888 ай бұрын
Great video!
@FoolishFrankie8 ай бұрын
Thanks!!
@westonashe59419 ай бұрын
that last guy was pretty cool, he seems like he would be a good youtuber
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
nah he sucks
@bryantdarris8 ай бұрын
@FoolishFrankie Awesome vid. This is a clinic for those people ready to jump into the college music track. Nice interview with yourself 🤩. Question) Did you answer your questions prior to or post asking everyone else? Did hearing everyone else answers change your thoughts about your experience?
@FoolishFrankie8 ай бұрын
I filmed mine after hearing everyone’s responses! But I pretty much knew what I wanted to say before I even started making this video because people ask me this question a lot!
@tjplusproductions9 ай бұрын
Hey Frankie, As a life long musician and college grad BS music ed, I am wondering why a terrific player like you isn't teaching public school. Think pension! Tom
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
Hey! I have no desire to teach, and am building pension-like sources of income through social media:)
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
I do appreciate the kind words and for you watching!!🙏🏻
@digitalslw9 ай бұрын
But what about Boating school?
@corbinwoodbury76539 ай бұрын
definitely go
@FoolishFrankie9 ай бұрын
I need a whole separate video for that
@ashjefferson58088 ай бұрын
It's unfortunate that the downside is mostly money
@50shadesofbeige888 ай бұрын
13:50 What law says you can't reach without going to music school?
@FoolishFrankie8 ай бұрын
In some states to teach full time at a public school you’re required to have an education degree
@FoolishFrankie8 ай бұрын
But you can definitely teach private lessons without it
@LostStraygames9 ай бұрын
can you say hi to me pls, im an alto saxophonist and love your vids