Check the application and audition requirements at schools you’d consider applying to. This will provide useful information. We also encourage you start taking some music lessons as soon as possible and to take a summer music program as well. This will all help you in figuring out your next steps. While you may not be prepared to audition for a music program by your senior year, you will have learned a lot. And you may want to choose a college where you can take music classes to increase your knowledge and proficiency. Note that piano lessons will prove to be useful for any area of music.

A violin performance major will probably be your best bet if you’re going for the career you mention below. You may be able to take guitar as a minor or at least continue taking lessons and finding ways to perform with others. But we also urge you to take classes in entrepreneurship if at all possible so you can learn about additional ways of getting your music out into the public arena. The pandemic has proved how much musicians need to learn flexibility and additional skills besides performance skills in order to keep their careers going.

Look at music industry programs as well as composition programs – see whether you have – or will have – what it takes to meet the audition requirements at schools you’d consider attending. If you don’t already have a background in either of these areas, or need more experience to audition, consider taking some classes, summer programs, and/or private lessons. Also talk with people who are working in these fields in order to learn more about what each of these areas would entail.

Here’s a great way to start answering your question for yourself: Read the Music Therapy articles on MajoringInMusic.com to learn more about what this career field is about and what the training entails. Then – check out the websites of schools linked at the end of the article to see their application and audition requirements.

Look for ways to take classes, lessons, and participate in other music-related opportunities if there’s not time to learn an instrument and become proficient enough to audition successfully.

We suggest that you read this article: “Which is the Best Music School for Me?” here on MajoringInMusic.com to help you start thinking about your college plans. There are many other relevant articles on the website as well.

We also strongly encourage you to visit the Summer Music Camps and Programs – in addition to many program options, there’s great information there about how to choose summer music programs. Should you find you are still confused, note that we do offer fee-based consulting. You and a parent can contact us to learn more.

Great time to start exploring your options. Take a look at this article and then click on any of the highlighted careers to learn more about them: What Can You Do with a Music Degree

Read this article: What Can You Do with a Music Degree. Share it with your parents. Click on each profession that’s highlighted – to learn more about each of the careers. We also encourage you to share this article with your parents, and for you to read it carefully as well: https://majoringinmusic.com/transferable-music-skills/

Find a summer music program to attend to help you clarify your musical interests and to help you prepare for auditions in the fall. Check out the Summer Music Camps & Programs section of MajoringInMusic.com. Many of these still have openings but you should apply ASAP. Note that Juilliard is a very competitive school and very difficult to be accepted to. One must have an extraordinary audition to even be considered. We suggest you learn about additional schools where you’ll be able to advance your musical proficiency and develop other skills you’ll need if you want to work in music after you graduate.

A good foundation in music theory is typically not a dealbreaker for being accepted, but it will help ease you into college-level theory. Most music schools will test you on music theory for placement purposes before you start your freshman year.

Each school handles AP credits their own way. As far as Music Theory goes, the schools will test students on their music theory backgrounds typically after they’re accepted (but sometimes before) for placement purposes. They want students to start their schools at the appropriate level of music theory that matches their current level of knowledge and understanding. That said, taking more demanding classes like AP indicates a student’s willingness and ability to stretch basic high school requirements, and is looked upon favorably by schools, especially those with higher academic expectations.

We suggest taking a summer music program. It’s a great way to learn more music, find great mentors, meet other students with similar musical passion, and get a better sense as to how to continue on in music as you continue on in high school. Take a look at our Summer Music Camps & Programs page – we’ll be adding more programs over the next few months but this is a great list to get started with. Be sure to take a look at the information that helps you figure out how to choose a program.