Though traditional orchestra jobs are becoming more competitive, Michael Manderen, director of conservatory admission at Oberlin, says that “students are hip about the professional realities.” Music students have many transferable skills, such as discipline and collaboration, which are valuable assets when entering graduate school or the professional world. Thus, rather than eliminating other career options, studying music can actually be some of the best preparation you can get for business, law, or medical school.

While previous generations of music learners were limited to careers in teaching or performing, the digital age has opened up innumerable opportunities that were formerly unavailable. Students today are majoring in things like ethnomusicology and music administration and getting jobs in the video game or entertainment industries. Because many music programs are a part of a larger university, students have access to the vast and varied curricula of the greater institution. Music majors at Northwestern, DePaul, and Indiana Universities study alongside more traditional majors. Oberlin students can learn about entrepreneurship and tax law. Even Julliard, the most competitive performing arts school in the nation, offers classes on starting non-profits or creating digital scores.