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Going into a different major doesn't mean you have to quit music completely. I know very few major band geeks that are going on to music in college, but they dont plan on stopping playing. In fact, I have a friend who is going to be a junior next year that quit band, but he still wants to see about doing regionals and stuff like that, and still plays at home whenever he wants.

Personally, yeah, i'm going into music education.

My background story for my final decision:
I've "known" what I wanted to be since I was a little girl, but it always changes. I was told at a young age that I would make a good teacher: I was shy, bbut I liked reaching out to younger kids and helping people. I didn't know what I wanted tot each, but I wanted to teach. After a few years of being set on that, a love of animals(and a bit of greed over low-paying teacher vs high paying) coaxed me into wanting to be a veterinarian. Around 6th-7th grade, my mom started volunteering at a local wildlife rescue and rehab center, which eventually offered her a job. Being able to help her a lo, I realized that a)I wasn't very good at it, except figuring out where injuries were(I would never be able to memorize dosage formulas or medicines) and B) I didn't really enjoy taking care of the animals like that(I love animals, I just don't like healing them). Besides that, I really don't think I will ever be able to handle putting animals to sleep. I've had to help my mom while she has done it before, to baby animals.(Its horrible!)
Around this time, I had finally realized how much I really love band and music. I started clari in 5th grade kind of reluctantly(I wanted to play drums or flute, but the school was out of instruments, we couldn't afford to rent, and my mom had her old clari) We were required to play something, and I couldn't stand string instruments(did that 4th, never again) i was one of those people who would "forget" their instrument on a regular basis(I thought I sucked really, but turns otu it was the clari all alongXD It needed some...a lot...of repairs)
6th grade, I wanted to start singing. I signed up for choir, but it ran out of room. Unable to think fo a second choice, I wrote down band, since my mom seemed to really want me to continue in her footsteps. I entered sixth grade band not expecting much of it. i got a new clari, my piece of junk Flarp, followed by another new one that actually worked, my precious Claribelle. I was still a bit if I cant find anythign I like better, I'll continue band." That was, until I found out i had made the top band, without an audition. I was the only one who ahd made it no-audition, and I had started in cocnert band(beginning band really, but he expected we knew a little about our isntrument) which was really rare and a great achievment. Upon realizing I had a talent for it, I decided to continue on. 7th grade, I realized I actually loved it. 8th grade I was basically section leader, since I was the only returnign clarinet in the top band, and most of the yeaar 1st chair(if I didnt have an idiot in my section, I would have been all year.)
I entered high school a bit wary of marching band. My school required marchign band for band at all, so I was a bit forced. Out of shape and lazy, i expected a bad time. Band camp came, and I nearly gave up, nearly quit. I didn't think I could do it, didnt think it was worth it. I decided to hang on until the first game. If I still thought I couldn't do it, I would throw in the towel. The moment I stepped onto that football field at the first game, it clicked in my head what I really wanted to do. Since then, it has been set into my mind. I decided that night that I wanted to return to my childhood dream of being a teacher,e xcept now i knew what i wanted to do exactly: be a band teacher.


I think had I gone into veterinary medicine, I really would have regretted it. I've talked to a lot of people who are adults now, who used to do music. They really wish they had continued on.

like I said, if you love music, you dont have to stop just because you dont plan on going into a career involving it. Plus, you can always minor in music performance. Then you can do music performance as a career if you can't find a job/dont like the career you major in. I know a lot of people doing that.

My high school BD was a political sciences major and music minor. I don't know how he stumbled into applying for a music teacher position but when he replaced the previous BD the school district paid for his extra college so that he could get a music education certificate.

I must say that as much as we loved the BD before him the poly sci guy was much easier to relate to because he wasn't quite so adamant about the music and playing it the right way. He taught us much more about music than how to count and read and play to state competition standards.

Being from a different major might be more helpful if you decide to stick with your choice of music education later on.

I'm having a similar dilemma myself. While I don't want to be a Music Major for sure, I'm having trouble deciding now between Computer Engineering and Art (so I can go into animation and such). Honestly, I'd rather do something with drawing, whether it leaves me a "starving artist" or not, than trying to create programs for technology to function.

I think, even if your mom disapproves, you should definitely choose to do what you want. College kids change their majors ALL THE TIME. There's no reason to go into a field that you lack the interest or drive for. :]