How do music and science relate?

Science or Music - Which to choose?

• I, like many others, has the problem of choosing between science and music. I'm really interested in science: I'd like to study Geology at the university and specialise in Volcanology. I might be the best at maths and science in my year and I really enjoy it. On the other hand I've been playing guitar for years; my guitar teacher tells me I could become a professional musician - which she only would if I had the potential to became one of the best! - and I would very much like to go to the music conservatory and study classical guitar. Sadly, I cannot combine these 2 educations. Some might say I should keep music a hobby, but I think I'm to passionate about it. I still have some years to choose, but still I think and worry about it a lot. Can I have your opinions? Thank you!

• Answer:

  Do it this way, if you can get into Berklee or the Juilliard School playing music then you have "it" and can be a professional musician. If you can't, do science. I know a lot of professional musicians who don't have a degree in music. In fact, name some who do. Most don't have a degree in anything at all. On the other hand, I also know a lot of professionals who play music for personal enjoyment and are able to do so because they can afford to buy a nice instrument on an engineer's, doctor's, or accountant's salary whereas on a musician's salary we're lucky to have dinner. And, you can indeed combine the two. Most schools have a science AND music department. Combining music with science is called acoustical physics or acoustical engineering and those folks do very well for themselves.