Is your son or daughter considering
an undergraduate degree in music? Many other parents have contacted me
at this exciting and nerve-wracking time with questions and concerns.
Here are answers to some of their most frequently-asked questions.
Q:
Will my
child be able to earn a living with a music degree?
A:
The $40 billion global
music industry presents your son or daughter with many options. The
traditional job choices for music students - teaching and performing
- are only two of hundreds of employment possibilities in this healthy
and growing arena. The Entrepreneurship Center is here to help your
child explore all the possibilities of a career in music and support
them in whatever area they wish to pursue.
Q:
What is music entrepreneurship?
A:
Music entrepreneurship
is a way of perceiving and taking advantage of opportunities wherever
they may be found. To quote Jeffrey A. Timmons, author of New
Venture Creation, "Entrepreneurship is creating and building
something of value from practically nothing. That is, entrepreneurship
is the process of creating or seizing an opportunity and pursuing
it regardless of resources presently controlled."
Q:
How is music entrepreneurship
different from music business?
A:
Music entrepreneurship
and music business both provide students with an understanding of
basic business skills and principles. Music entrepreneurship encourages
students to think creatively about how their talents and interests
can be applied in the music industry. Its focus is to teach students
how to recognize opportunities for new ventures and pursue them.
Q:
How can the CU-Boulder
Entrepreneurship Center for Music help my child?
A:
Figuring out how to make
a living in the music industry can be a life-long challenge. Musicians
need to understand the music marketplace. They must be great communicators.
They need business and technological skills. Above all, musicians
have to develop an entrepreneurial spirit. The center helps students
gain that competitive advantage through music
entrepreneurship courses, internships, guest
speakers and workshops, and individual appointments to discuss
career options.
Q:
Can my student get a degree
in Music Entrepreneurship at CU-Boulder?
A:
Students may take music
entrepreneurship courses as electives; we do not have a degree in
music entrepreneurship.
Q:
Are there any double-degree
options in music?
A:
Students can pursue a double-degree
in music and business, music and journalism, and music and engineering.
Many students use the Bachelor of Arts in Music format to include
a second degree, which usually takes five years to complete. An additional
area of expertise increases the employment options for music students.
Q:
May my child contact you
with his/her own questions about the Entrepreneurship Center for
Music?
A:
I welcome the opportunity
to speak with your child, either in person, by phone or e-mail. My
contact information can be found here.
