Hi Henry123,
Forgive the long reply, but it’s a complicated question.
I did exactly that and I’ll give my perspective ( after an almost forty year career in medicine). I went to music school (jazz studies) at North Texas and played in the highest level ensembles with great players many of whom have gone on to world level success, as well as concerts at festivals, etc.with iconic musicians.
At that point if someone would have told me I was going to go medical school it was such a foreign concept to me I wouldn’t have able to even process the thought.
I live and breathed music 24/7 (as did all the best players). There was no other plan or option. And, I think to reach the top level there can’t be another option. I think when you’re in your late teens and early twenties is when you can fully develop and master skills as a player. And to achieve success it usually happens fairly young. You can study organic chemistry at any age, but becoming a master musician is different.
That said, it comes down to what you see as what will make you happy in life, which ironically is impossible to know in your youth.
Looking back they’re two VERY different lifestyles. My closest friends are musicians ( and I still play) and I’ve seen what their lives are like compared to mine. Being a successful musician involves potentially LOTS of time on the road, stretches of uncertainty regarding your income, career, intense competition ( including from younger upcoming players), good years and bad years, etc. And, you don’t always get positive feedback even if you’re great. That said, there is an incredible feeling playing for appreciative audiences and the high that comes from that creative zone and flow that occurs when you’re performing. There are tremendous rewards if you’re talented and lucky enough to get there.
As a physician (I started premed at a post baccalaureate program in NYC at age 28) I’ve had a very rewarding career, and when I look back I’m happy with my decision, but that’s my perspective. I’m thanked daily by my patients for my service and the help I provide them. The professional environment in medicine is much different than the world of a professional musician. You always have a job, you generally have no financial worries, and you don’t lose a job. It’s a very secure profession. The work environment is very professional. In contrast, work as a musician is a constantly moving target.
I can’t imagine trying to do both premed and achieving the highest of music as a performer simultaneously (unless you’re such a gifted prodigy level person that you almost don’t even need to go to music school). The amount of time it takes to achieve mastery, learn the language of music, etc is all encompassing. There are a few people I suppose who could do well in premed courses simultaneously, but that’s assuming that general chemistry, organic, etc come really easy and you could memorize things on first reading The time it takes is substantial.
Even with having gone to music school, a lot of my musical growth came after I had moved to NYC and the “bar” was at the highest standard. Becoming a great musician in some ways doesn’t even start until after music school.
And, it’s hard to continue to play with the highest level players if you aren’t in the game full time, both from a skill stand point and their acceptance of you as a player. There’s too many great players out there vying for so few opportunities.
As far as medical schools perspective, it was actually a great advantage to me apply with a Bachelor’s of Music. They all wanted to interview me because of that. ( My premed GPA and MCATS were good). Often they just wanted to talk about music, they were probably bored with the usual premed spiel. As an older applicant, it seemed more like two adults talking as opposed to a more formal interview. I was lucky enough to be accepted to multiple medical schools.
Finally I would say as you might know, musicians are kind of born that way, and you’ll always be a musician and love music . It picks you, you almost don’t have a choice. Majoring in music and going all in- this is the time to do it. The future of that career is less predictable, but now is your chance. It’s not that hard ( but does take a lot of work) to go back and do a post baccalaureate program to go to medical school, as long as you can afford the time and money. It won’t hurt your chances for medical school in the future, and you’ll develop skills ( both discipline and focus type skills) and the skills of emotional connection and empathy that are sometimes lacking in physicians. Medical schools loved my non-traditional background. They realize life experiences do matter as far as a physician’s approach to medicine.
