as the topic suggests, i'm looking for other opinions here...

my brother is finishing his diploma in engineering soon. and recently, he said to my parents that he wants to pursue a degree in music (can't remember which academy in malaysia)...as a typical asian family, this issue has made my parents furious...

i've advised him to just finish his degree, get his masters...and if still unsucessful in looking for a job, get a PhD...

so what do you guys think?

let the kid chase his dream

it wouldn't be pleasant if he ends up relying on my parents (or ME) for money...that's the whole point...

please correct me here if i'm wrong, but i really don't see a bright career in music, compared opposed to other 'safer jobs'...

i think he should continue with his career in engineering and keep music as a hobby for now..

i think this is the best way to tell him.

"for now my little bro, u need to concentrate on your engineering study first", get a hold of your degree first.
then when u get your degree, it's up to you which direction u wanted to go.

u know when he ended up his degree program, he would think twice to be in the music education or not.

i'm taking the route where im getting my engineering degree first. i've been a so called part time musician for years. then again, thats cause i suck. lol.

okay i'm not gonna say much. he and u have already heard alot of views on why going into music would be "bad, no job and cant survive". there are truths in it, but not entirely true. my advice is he (or you) make the effort to meet up with people who have walked the path, and get their advice. so try to get people who have had a degree in music and:
1. is struggling to make ends meet
2. makes ends meet
best to get advice from those who have walked the path. just because someone fails doesnt mean he will fail, and just because someone succeeds doesnt mean its that easy, especially being in such a competitive, unfair and underdeveloped industry.

making money from music isnt about music degree...it all comes down to ur business sense.
i have a friend whos got a music degree from berkeley, but whos teaching and not really making alot of money.
then theres izham, head of 8tv / positive tone / whatever else, who also has a music degree...but has much better business skills.

if strictly music, well thats not really a career is it? more like a job.
not as if ur going to be advancing up the corporate ladder or whatever.

thanks bro...these words really helped alot...

Agree with echo... advise him to finish up his engineering education/proceed with his engineering career. You don't need a music degree to be in the music business.

He can work on it part-time and if he really wants to get serious, he has the option of taking music courses on the side (not just performance classes, but music business, sound engineering, etc.) from local music colleges.

That way, he'll be able to balance your parents concerns and do what he wants to do.

what if you get the reply "who's gonna make music if everyone finds a 'normal job".....sigh

I don't think so thats right. I thought Cromok was a bunch of engineer and yet they do make good music and succeed.

Dr Alban was a practising dentist, still make good music.

Pretty Ugly was a sound engineer, still make good music.

And many more....

It takes talent and time management.

Furthermore, engineering pays good money, im sure he can invest some of it to his music hobby. Lessons, etc just to get the basic knowledge.

Then its all up to the creativity. If all follow by the book, we get the same kind music all the time.

This post has been edited by CyberianHusky: Apr 17 2009, 09:21 AM

what kind of instrument he is palying to major in music? rock or classical??? it has big difference...obviously classical grants u safer and steadier job than rock...unless u r realy good in it and able to get to overseas to forge out a good career and network, rock can only be kept as a hobby.

But again, speak of classical, most ppl start from the beggining of their childhood... i started classical quite early and only i got into some non- clasical at late teenage... cheers.

This post has been edited by liez: Apr 17 2009, 11:13 AM

then tell him..."so u saying music is not a normal job right?"...and "no one says you cant make music in ur free time".

that's a respected respond if you ask me.

no doubt. you can make music as a part time. but music works like this - everyone wants the best music. nobody willing to pay for so-so quality music. musicians are like that, we strive for the best quality output, thus we spend our entire life to improve ourself. it's a very dedicated job if you ask me. same goes to audiences, they simply want to spend on something they think has the value of what they pay for. not going deep into the current music scene, but just to give you an idea of what music scene truely need.

however, getting a degree is not always necessary. there're excellent performers who never got themself a degree, and there're PhD that plain sucks. the only thing that's 100% benefit a degree holder is that they can get a higher pay when they try to teach in colleges or university. plain and simple, you won't get high pay if you don't have degree qualification - or you're not qualified at all to teach in colleges or university if you don't have a degree.

oh and degree or not, college or university will give you a very good environment to improve youself in music. everybody is making music, so naturally everyone will involve in "competition" and strive to be the best. many many graduates eventually stop developing themself after they graduate, which is a pretty sad thing.

yes, i know it was a noble resonse...but all i want is him to have financial security in addition to doing something he loves...

what you said i right, but i think i've managed to convince him that taking music as part time is more reasonable...

thanks guys...

good for you.
just make sure u assist him in doing music as his part time as long as he is serious about it.
if he really serious of something he dream of then he deserve it.

a degree, and a job, isn't financial security.....

i thought at least that'll be something to fall back on...

This post has been edited by edge85: Apr 17 2009, 08:37 PM

just for your informations. there's a PhD i came across during my music college life.

he's got many qualifications, FTCL piano performance (highest performance diploma), PhD in music (not sure which field, should be performer). but his stories are amazing - his father forced him to obtain a degree in engineering, and he then made a deal with his father, after he obtain degree in engineering he can study whatever he want.

so there he is, a full time music lecturer/faculty director, and have been doing something he loved so much and earning steady income every month, at the same time, a B.E degree holder in chemical engineering.

This post has been edited by little ice: Apr 17 2009, 10:44 PM

I know who is he...lol.
those who not in music line really dont know music industry. is truth. explain so much at last they will know nothing. for them....study music is for teaching only.......or good luck......can become artist/singer. these is what those not in music line people thinking. I have been facing a lot of these question....' study music can earn money..?'. o come on..... for what they established music college/music course if music got no standard in this world.....
study lawyer so that can become lawyer. study doctor so that can become doctor. these is great because u can c they are doctor/lawyer everyday. in music, usually u cant see they tag themselve 'im music teacher'. because music job is complicated. one word, complicated.