Careers

Jennifer Nixon’s earliest "music memory" is from the third grade. "I had a solo in a Christmas cantata at church," she recalls. "And I remember my knees knocking!"

Yet as nerve- (or knee-) racking as the performance was, Jennifer sang well. Afterward a voice teacher in the church offered to give her lessons.

Then in the fifth grade Jennifer saw the movie The Sound of Music. This famous musical about a spirited tutor and seven children enchants most who watch it. But the movie inspired Jennifer. One person in particular caught her attention.

"I saw Julie Andrews, and I told myself, That’s what

I want to do," says Jennifer.

More than a decade later, Jennifer isn’t a tutor for a half dozen unruly children. Instead, she’s a junior voice performance major at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. And one day she’d like to perform professionally in musical theater.

Although her dream is still some years away, she got a taste of amateur theater in a recent school

performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors. In this story of a crippled shepherd boy and his mother, who are visited by three kings on their way to Bethlehem, Jennifer sang the part of the mother.

"Amahl was the first performance I’ve ever done. I felt so good, because I felt as though I’d done something really big," says Jennifer. "You could tell people were moved by the music, and it’s an adrenaline rush to know that you’re pleasing an audience."

Sound fun and even glamorous? Yes, but while music enthusiasts may fantasize about everything from musical theater to solo concerts in symphony halls, getting to that point means studying, studying, studying, and more studying.

Listen as Jennifer lets us in on the behind-the-scenes work of being a music major.

On Course: I thought all music majors had to do was practice. What is this about studying?

Jennifer: Most people don’t realize that as a music major you have to take many music theory classes.

I have to take four semesters of music theory that involve all the technical aspects of music, such as chord structures and analyzing music. These classes can be very difficult, so it’s a lot of hard work.

Also, music majors have to take classes in music history, which deal with the development of music and various composers.

OC: But you do have to practice a lot, don’t you?

Jennifer: In my program you have to practice a minimum of eight hours a week on whatever instrument you’re majoring in—whether it’s voice, piano, or cello.

Some teachers keep track of your practice hours and base your grade on it. But most teachers base your grade on your progress. I try to get in as much time as I can, which would probably be from five to eight hours a week.

OC: Do you have to learn other instruments?

Jennifer: I think some of the music majors have to learn how to play different orchestral or band instruments. I don’t have to, because I’m a voice major.

I do have to know how to play the piano, though. They have something called a piano proficiency exam that you can pass. Otherwise you have to take some semesters of piano lessons.

I think it’s better to know different instruments, because it gives you a better understanding of music.

OC: Well, let’s talk about your options after

college. You want to get your master’s in musical theater, but what are some other options?

Jennifer: You can take education classes and teach music in a school. You can teach your particular instrument for private lessons. Or you can study to become a music theory or history professor.

I don’t know how many performance majors there are, but most music majors go for education.

OC: You mentioned the theory classes. Are there any other things people should be aware of before choosing music as a major?

Jennifer: I would say be prepared for competition.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a competitive thing. But if you want to perform, there’s a competitiveness that comes with it.

At Southern it hasn’t been that way, because we’re all friends in the music department. But going out into the music business means there might be competition, and you have to be prepared.

Also, you can’t hate criticism. Most of the criticism you receive will be helpful, and you can’t take it the wrong way. When people give you advice on how to improve, you have to be able to consider it rather than getting angry. I personally take criticism with a grain of salt and see it as a way to improve.

OC: What kind of people should major in music?

Jennifer: First of all, just like any other major, you have to love what you’re doing. Also, you have to have a lot of patience.

Developing your instrument takes a lot of patience to get good enough to teach or perform. Practicing also takes a lot of self-discipline. So a music major should definitely be motivated.

Music is also a talent, a gift from God. So you have to have certain musical abilities before going into it.

OC: Do you think it’s easy to be a Christian in the music industry?

Jennifer: I think a career in music has some spiritual dangers. You have to have a strong relationship with the Lord and trust Him to lead you. And there’s a lot of temptation to perform on Sabbath. So it’s a choice between your own glory and God’s glory.

It’s easy for people to begin developing big egos for the performances they’ve been in. They forget to recognize that it’s God who gave them the talent.

For me personally, I’m not sure where God’s going to lead me with this, since I want to go into theater. But I want to be a witness for Him wherever I am.