{"id":1852,"date":"2019-03-05T11:32:07","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T11:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lastminutemusicians.com\/how_to_get_gigs\/?p=1852"},"modified":"2026-03-05T08:23:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T08:23:42","slug":"is-a-degree-in-music-worth-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminutemusicians.com\/how_to_get_gigs\/is-a-degree-in-music-worth-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Is a degree in music worth it?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last updated: March 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With soaring tuition costs in the UK (universities are now able to charge a maximum of \u00a39,790 per year in England) the decisions about further education are becoming more important than ever, especially in the music industry.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with most degrees, there is no certainty of a regular income after graduation. Finding work in such a competitive industry can be tough, especially considering a lot of musicians are self-employed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auditions, unlike a lot of job interviews, are based on one\u2019s musical ability rather than their qualifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, a music degree can give you invaluable experience that you may struggle to find outside of the university or higher education environment. It allows you to commit to improving yourself, and your technical ability in a dedicated environment for upwards of 3 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use this opportunity to make mistakes, experiment, and reflect without having to worry too much about income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experienced teachers and professors are available to advise you on your goals. The time you have during your degree forces you to focus on improving your craft in a professional environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do not underestimate the value of being able to meet like minded people, with similar goals, and skill sets that will be invaluable to you a working musician. For example, The Kooks formed after meeting at BIMM, Adele studied at Brit school, and John Mayer spent time at Berklee College of Music (eventually returning to give a guest lecture). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also worth noting, many musicians choose to setup cover bands to play weddings and corporate events<\/a> after meeting at university- the networking opportunities can be invaluable!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, a lot of these skills can be learnt outside of university. You could save money by finding a fantastic music tutor, able to give you a lot of guidance in achieving your goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning to read music, a highly sought after skill for session work and classical musicians, can be learnt without further education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

YouTube tutorials are a fantastic source of information and can help you progress faster, not only on your instrument, but in other areas too. Social media allows you to find groups and pages to meet like minded musicians and find work, as well as advertise your services (especially useful for teachers!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the pop world, a record label isn\u2019t going to ask you about your qualifications – they\u2019re going to care about the quality of your songs (which can be improved upon without the need for a degree.. just ask Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl and Ed Sheeran just to name a few!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, If you\u2019re starting a function band, prospective clients are unlikely to ask where you studied at university! (And you don\u2019t need a music degree to sign up for a Last Minute Musicians listing!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\t\tVotes 240<\/b><\/span>

Was your degree in Music worth it?<\/strong><\/h3>