From Garage Bands to Marching Bands: 5 Tips For Musicians Applying to College If your artistic inclinations are leading you to a career in music, there are a few things you should know. First: all musicians are contract workers. It doesn't matter if you are a music teacher (long-term contract) or booking concert gigs with your band (short-term contract), said Fred Peterbark, an assistant dean at the College of Music at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Pursuing a professional music career may require booking a series of jobs that can supplement your income or pay for your talents in a more sustainable way. So far so good? If so, we have gathered some advice from Mr. Peterbark and Jerrod Price, the director of admission at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. They gave a presentation for college counselors during the annual meeting of the National Association for College Admission Counseling last week in Denver. Here are a few tips for college-bound musicians: You Don't Have to Major in Music Just because you want to have a music career doesn't mean you have to study it in college, Mr. Peterbark said. Rather, there are other degree programs that may help you enhance the skills you need for a successful music career: communications, advertising and marketing, and business programs. Carrie Underwood didn't major in music, Mr. Peterbark said. Neither did John Legend. It is also noteworthy to remember that nonmusic majors are not excluded from musical activities. In many schools, the panelists said, a nonmusic major can perform in marching bands, chorales and ensembles. Talent Isn't Enough to Get Admitted Faculty members are looking for students who understand music theory and are proficient with their skills, Mr. Price said. But that is not all they are after, said Mr. Price, who recently talked to faculty members at his school. "Ninety-eight percent of them said hard work and discipline are the two biggest qualities that would provide success," he said. It is also not enough to be able to play by ear, no matter how awesome your garage band skills may be. Students who are applying to a music program will be expected to know how to read music, the panelists said. Musicians Have Multiple Degree Paths in College There are three major degree paths in which students may study music in college, the panelists said. Double Major: A student may major in two programs -- one in arts (or science) and another from the bachelor of music program. Dual Degree: A student may pursue two bachelor's degrees -- one in arts (or science) and a bachelor of music. Students will have the same core curriculum requirements if both programs are in the arts, Mr. Price said. Five-Year Master's Track: This option is "a relatively new phenomenon," Mr. Price said. The most common types of this program are 3+2 or 4+1 tracks. The 3+2 program, for example, includes three years of undergraduate coursework, one year of overlap -- a combination of undergraduate- and graduate-level work -- and a final year of master's-level coursework. It is important to know what the difference is when you apply so that you can begin studying the proper courses immediately. "A bachelor of music is two-thirds music and one-third liberal arts," Mr. Peterbark said. "and a bachelor of music arts is exactly the opposite." Musicians might also consider a music education degree, which would allow them to become instrumental or choral teachers. Before You Apply, Find the Right Fit Not all music students go to a college or university; some opt to attend a music conservatory, which is focused more on music and less on academics, Mr. Peterbark said. Conservatories aren't for everyone, he said. A university may offer more opportunities for a student musician who is interested in taking classes in management or other career-related fields, he said. Do your research. Make sure your institution is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. And if the college you are considering does not seem like the best fit, it is best not to apply, Mr. Peterbark said. The Admissions Process Has Two Parts Prospective students will most likely undergo an academic review and an artistic review before they are admitted to a music program at a college or university, the panelists said. Many programs give students a music theory exam as part of the application process, the panelists said, so having studied music theory in high school is a plus. It is also not too late to begin preparing your audition for the artistic review. The panelists recommend researching the audition requirements of your prospective school -- the songs rarely change, they say -- and developing an audition repertory that may be used to audition at multiple schools. It is important, of course, to find out if there might be any other expectations at particular schools. Owning your own instrument is a plus, the panelists said, especially if your instrument is of good quality. The quality of an instrument, said Mr. Peterbark, can make a difference in the sound of an audition. Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko, a student at Metropolitan State College of Denver, contributed to this post.