Music is the process of combining form, harmony, melody, rhythm, and other emotional elements with sound. Music production is typically broken down into three categories: musical invention, musical creativity, and live performance.
One career where creative talent is more important than academic training is music, but having a degree can help you discover positions that pay a regular salary rather than freelance income.
You’ve definitely thought about pursuing a music degree at some point if you have aspirations of becoming a professional musician.
What do you learn in Music?
1. Musicology
Musicology, which embraces all centuries of culture and history, is defined as “the study of music.” Music can be studied at an equal level of academic depth as art history, which is the academic study of the history of art. With this degree, you can immerse yourself in musical trends and learn all the fascinating details about the musicians, songs, and trends that make them up.
2. Music Education
A student who is passionate about music and understands they want to share it with others through education and certification as a music teacher is the ideal candidate for this programme. Music theory and study are combined with instruction and an examination of various learning styles in the field of music education.
3. Music Engineer
The broad topic of study is music technology, which covers sound engineering and music creation. It leads students through courses that equip them with the knowledge and abilities necessary to seek careers in music across a wide range of industries.
These professionals include sound engineers, producers, sound systems designers, concert mixers, composers of electro-acoustic music, film, theatre, or gaming music, sound artists, performers, digital instrument designers, experts in digital sound compression, and creators of music tools.
4. Music Therapy
According to the American Music Therapy Association, a licenced practitioner who has successfully completed an accredited music therapy programme uses clinical and scientific proof-based music therapies to achieve individualised goals within a therapeutic partnership.
5. Sound Engineering and Music Composition
Both the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science programmes provide this. You should search for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree if you wish to specialise more in the artistic part of music. Any degree in the fine arts is one that focuses on the arts and is necessary if you want to pursue an arts degree in music.
By combining, replicating, and adjusting the equaliser and electrical effects of sound, sound engineers, also known as audio engineers, focus on the technical aspects of sound and music composition.
Skills Needed to Study Music
1. Analytical
It takes more than simply practise and performance to learn music. A music degree’s academic aspect demands reading and understanding a great deal of technical information, such as studying a musical section or reading a historical record, which you’ll need to comprehend before forming your own thoughts on it.
2. Good time management skills
Students of music immediately realise the need to remain organised, arrive early, and be prepared. You’ll have a hectic schedule of rehearsals, concerts throughout the year, and other events, in addition to needing to balance your academic work with playing your instrument or voice.
You’ll quickly discover that keeping a regular notebook is certainly important when you consider this along with the hectic social life of a student. Employers will adore your capacity for time management and capacity to meet several deadlines.
3. Great communication skills
Being a good communicator is very valuable, and you will be a step ahead if you have a degree in music. The abilities that are crucial to making music—listening, sharing respectfully, and confidently conveying ideas—are also directly transferable to how you’ll perform in meetings, the boardroom, or while working with a team in almost any field.
4. Motivated and committed
Musicians are entrepreneurs. You’ll likely find yourself planning a variety of occasions as a music student, starting teams, and seizing your own opportunities. All of this looks awesome on your resume and is valuable experience, especially for employment in management consulting, marketing, or events management.
5. Problem solver
What distinguishes music grads the most? Artistry! Music is special. It is both incredibly artistic and highly disciplined. This implies that as a music student, you’ll be able to think creatively while staying focused on the task at hand, whether it’s coming up with a fresh perspective on a Beethoven Sonata or coming up with a new strategy for handling a big project in whichever field you work in.
Career Options for Music Graduates
You could work as one of the following:
- Choral Conductor
- Composer
- Concert Band Instructor
- Instrumentalist
- Music Arranger
- Music Director
- Music Producer
- Music Teacher
- Performer
- Recording Engineer
General Entry Requirements to Study Music in Malaysia
i) Academic Entry Requirements
STPM | Minimum CGPA 2.00 |
A-Levels | Minimum 2Ds |
Foundation | Minimum CGPA 2.00 |
Matriculation | Minimum CGPA 2.00 |
Diploma | Minimum CGPA 2.00 |
ii) English Language Entry Requirements
MUET | Minimum Band 3 |
IELTS | Minimum 5.0 |
TOEFL | Minimum 42 (500 Paper Based Test) |
*Note: Requirements may vary among universities. Contact us for more details!
Top Malaysia University to Study Music
Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA)
Since its establishment in 1967 as a non-profit institution, MIA has educated and developed tens of thousands of creative people who have lent their talents to numerous sectors.
This institution has grown over the years, providing a variety of diploma courses in the areas of art, design, and music with thorough and well-designed course content.
At its own location in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, MIA offers courses in the fields of creative art and music. They place a greater emphasis on visual arts, such as painting and sketching, in comparison to other arts institutes in Malaysia.
Programme Offered | Major Electives offered include:
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Intake | Jan, Apr, Aug |
Duration | 2.5 years |
Indicative Fees (2022) |
About The Author
Brenda Wong
Simplicity is the best.