Asking God what to major in...

[charlemagne_4]

For some context, I want to study music performance or double performance with music recording technology (MRT) depending on the school I attend. Back when I was 9 God told me that I am going to be His musician. I am musically gifted. I sing, play drums (and other percussion instruments) and piano. I'm actually the keyboard player at my church and fill in on drumset when our main guy isn't there. I LOOOOOVE IT!

But when I told my parents I want to major in music (major instrument voice, minor piano) in college they basically told me no, at first. Now, since the deadline for enrollment is getting much closer (less than 2 weeks away!) they told me to simply ask God what college to go to and what to major in. But what if He tells me to do something outside of music? I like writing and public speaking so communications or journalism isn't bad. I'm not a STEM person at all. I know God has already created a plan for all our lives, and it is perfect, but I'm afraid I'll be devastated if he tells me not to do music. I'm not really interested in anything else career-wise so I'm scared He's gonna tell me to do something that I'm not interested in. Now, I doubt he'd make me do like engineering or some mathy major since I don't like math, but it still lingers in the back of my mind.

 

[adderbolt]

What if God tells you nothing -- nada -- nothing at all? And anyway how do you know that the message you will get will be from our Lord?

It's not for us to get in between you and your parents but why not just take the safe way out? If you are not allowed to major in music then go the liberal arts route and give it some more time for things to develop.

At your age my eventual career was hidden behind a thick curtain of time. But time passed and a joyous life opened up for me -- people were met and things happened that were totally out of my control.

And good things can happen to and for you. Just give it time and much prayer of course.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father ..." - James 1.

 

[charlemagne_4]

What if God tells you nothing -- nada -- nothing at all? And anyway how do you know that the message you will get will be from our Lord?

By nothing do you mean He lets me decide?

 

[adderbolt]

By nothing do you mean He lets me decide?

Sure and why not? The vast majority of folks your age do not have a realistic goal -- and very few of us have/had a true calling. The mountain lion, the eagle and the crawfish all know what they want to do early on -- not so those of us created in the image of God ...

 

[Tree of Life]

God is not going to tell you what to major in. He wants you to take responsibility for your own life.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

FYI, a lot of people who major in one thing may not work in that field. I'm a chemical engineer working in IT in healthcare.

 

[charlemagne_4]

FYI, a lot of people who major in one thing may not work in that field. I'm a chemical engineer working in IT in healthcare.

I read somewhere only 27% of college graduates work in a field related to their major.

 

[Tree of Life]

Most people don't use their music degrees.

 

[adderbolt]

Doctor of Philosophy enables you to teach philosophy and what else ???

 

[Tree of Life]

Doctor of Philosophy enables you to teach philosophy and what else ???

It barely enables you to teach philosophy. The academic world is more competitive than Hollywood.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

Most people don't use their music degrees.

One of my fraternity brothers has a BS in Electrical Engineering and minored in music and builds electronic instruments, started with church organs but does a lot of work in London with Moog synthesizers.

 

[adderbolt]

It barely enables you to teach philosophy. The academic world is more competitive than Hollywood.

You mean academia has their own version of 'the casting couch'?

 

[GreekOrthodox]

Doctor of Philosophy enables you to teach philosophy and what else ???

Do you mean a doctorate in philosophy or a PhD? Generally if you are on a doctorate in philosophy path, you are in academia. Even engineers only get a PhD in their field if they are going to be teaching. Otherwise, BS or MS is generally enough.

 

[adderbolt]

My brother in law had a PhD (a Doctor of Philosophy) and he made his living proof-reading books.

 

[plain jayne]

I'm actually the keyboard player at my church and fill in on drumset when our main guy isn't there. I LOOOOOVE IT

Firstly, I am giving you this advice as a Christian woman who has been the church pianist/praise band member for 44 years. [I started when I was 16].

I love playing at church, too. And teaching the preschoolers music. But music is not what I majored in. Why? I was not going to be a music teacher and any other college degree in music, such as performance, wasn't going to pay the bills.

If you are undecided now, why don't you go to college and for the first two years, take the basic courses that EVERYONE has to take. Then declare a major at the end of your sophomore year. LOTS of people do that.

Secondly, God may or may not directly tell you what to do with your life. Walk by faith, grounded in the Bible, prayer, fellowshipping with mature Christians who can provide occasional counsel, and do what brings glory to God. You can do that as a musician, doctor, teacher, plumber, or circus clown.

Find what brings you joy, peace, and passion. Lean on God for his leadership, but don't expect him to send you a heavenly email that outlines the details of your daily life.

 

[plain jayne]

oops! double post.

 

[charlemagne_4]

Find what brings you joy, peace, and passion.

Well, that's the issue. For me it's music. Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who were passionate about chemistry, physics, computer science, you know real jobs. Not to say it'll be impossible to make a living making music, but we simply don't know the future.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

Just looking at this again, you could look at a music major with a minor in something else, even like English. You might be surprised how wide the music field can be:

music journalism (look up a classmate of mine, Alan Light, editor in chief of Spin Magazine, several biographies of Prince, Gregg Allman, Leonard Cohen, and now has a program on XM Radio)
instrument design (such as my fraternity brother designing synthesizers)
video game music (heck, the video game Destiny music was written in part by Paul McCartney)
recording or studio artist (my guitar teacher in college was a professional musician and did studio recordings for Elvis, the Four Tops)
music therapy
recording engineer (Alan Parsons was first a recording engineer for Abbey Road Studios and was an engineer for The Beatles, Wings, Pink Floyd, and of course the Alan Parsons Project)
music with a business minor - music agent
theater / movie musician

 

[charlemagne_4]

You mean academia has their own version of 'the casting couch'?

What do you mean by "the casting couch"?

 

[GreekOrthodox]

What do you mean by "the casting couch"?

The casting couch is a euphemism[1] for the practice of soliciting sexual favors from a job applicant in exchange for employment in the entertainment industry, primarily acting roles.[2] The practice is illegal in the United States. Predominantly male casting directors and film producers use the casting couch to extract sex from aspiring actors in Hollywood, Bollywood,[3][4] Broadway, and other segments of the industry.