In a message dated 02/21/2001 10:02:15 AM Eastern Standard Time, Mezzoid@a... writes: Mezzoid@a... writes:
<< << What does a college degree give that one can't put together better, living in a city (San Francisco, in my case) and studying languages/theory/piano/voice/coachings on my own, reading music history and autobiographies, going to the symphony and opera and ballet and concerts? What could a degree program possibly provide me with that I can't recreate on my own? >> >>
i agree with the reasons others have put forth as to why a music degree is important.
however, i also believe that in this competitive world, it is a way to weed out those with the discipline and perseverance to gun it through a degree program from those who haven't. this may not be completely right or fair, but like it or not, it is an easy way to assess what a person has done.
if you undertake that self-study program you outlined, you may well have as good an education as a degreed person (with the caveat mentioned, that you might not know what was valuable to study on your own) but it may be harder to convince people.
they might think, well, if she was disciplined enough to learn all that on her own, why didn't she go ahead and get the degree anyway?
also, i can't imagine having the motivation or discipline to study theory, counterpoint, etc. on my own. if you can do it, i salute you.
merry
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