After finding a "You know you're a pianist when..." list on a friend's page, I stumbled across a "You know you're a music major when..." The music major list applied much more to me than the pianist one did (mostly because I'm not all that hot at piano, but I'm sure if you were, that list would apply to you). So I thought I'd share some of my favorites, because they are really dead on. At first I thought that all college majors had their weirdnesses, but since my sister is taking a music class to fulfill one of her Gen Ed requirements she has pointed out to me that it's strange to see people walking around the halls singing really loudly to themselves. Really? Not everyone does that? Anyway... here they are...
...you've ever had to sing to yourself in class to understand the point the teacher was trying to make.
... someone's cell phone goes off in class and people try to name the interval, including the professor. (can't even count the number of times a cell phone ring tone would become the topic of musical discussion in a class)
... everybody in your department knows everyone else, if not by name then at least by instrument.
... recital attendance credit will be the death of you. (mostly because we had to take it for 5 semesters and it actually counts as 0 credits)
... you actually have some classical music and show tunes on your iPod.
... you know the difference in between baroque, classical, and romantic music, and that Beethoven did not write all three.
... you know the beauty of manuscript of paper, one packet can last you for years.
... your personality has become defined by your instrument or voice part.
... you understand there is a silent war between the vocalists and the instrumentalists.
... your classes are randomly interrupted by the sound of someone loudly practicing down the hallway.
... someone says the words "sight-singing and ear training" and you feel a sudden urge to cry. (so so so true)
... even if you try to stay under the radar, most of the professors in your department actually know who you are.
... you've ever turned a pop song into an opera or classical piece. (check)
... you've ever had to write a paper that was more than five pages long on one freakin' piece of music.
... you've pretty much been in classes with all the same people since your freshman year.
... sometimes you pretty much hate making music, but it's such a part of you that you know you're not changing your major.
... you keep catching yourself randomly conducting music, even if it's
"Money Maker" or "Bye, Bye, Bye".
... you've ever laughed at a really corny joke that used a musical term.
... you've ever MADE a really corny joke that used a musical term, then actually laughed at your own stupid joke. (here's one of my favorites... What do you get when a piano falls on an army guy? A: A flat Major. hahahahahaha)
... meter changes in pop music make you cheer. (the meter doesnt even have to change any pop song that not in 4/4 makes me cheer)
... you even realize a pop song just had a meter change.
... you associate Beethoven Symphonies with certain moods during your day.
... you laugh when TV ads come on that have instruments in them and you know that the person is holding it wrong.
... you know that the person on TV playing the music but rather, Joshua Bell, or Yo-Yo Ma dubbed over the person.
... if you're in class and hear a muffled but insistent ticking coming from somewhere. Eventually everyone starts noticing and looking around, and diving for cover screaming, "Bomb!" and you are so used to the noise that it takes long awkward moments for you to finally realize... "Oh yeah, um, sorry guys. That's my metronome in my book bag. It must have been bumped accidentally...." (yes, my metronome has randomly gone off while in class)
...you see a sheet music mural and think it is just about the coolest thing ever, but mostly you just sit there trying to figure out composer/piece. (and half the time I point out all the incorrect notations in the mural... usually if it's a real piece though I can figure out what it is)
... the only things you can spell are chords. (I'm fairly confident that I can spell any chord out there... Abm7b5add11 = Ab Cb Ebb Gb C, not sure if that would sound very good, but that's how it works)
...you would rather practice piano than go to dinner and eat crappy cafeteria food.
...when listening to music as you walk, you automatically fall into step.
... your professors are like a second set of parents.
... you can answer the phone with a real or tonal answer.
... you enjoy the tang of a tri-tone whenever you can. (fyi: a tritone is the interval that begins "The Simpsons" theme song, they aren't very common in melodies)
(if interested in the rest of the list... and to give credit where it's due: http://themusingsofkev.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html)
...you've ever had to sing to yourself in class to understand the point the teacher was trying to make.
... someone's cell phone goes off in class and people try to name the interval, including the professor. (can't even count the number of times a cell phone ring tone would become the topic of musical discussion in a class)
... everybody in your department knows everyone else, if not by name then at least by instrument.
... recital attendance credit will be the death of you. (mostly because we had to take it for 5 semesters and it actually counts as 0 credits)
... you actually have some classical music and show tunes on your iPod.
... you know the difference in between baroque, classical, and romantic music, and that Beethoven did not write all three.
... you know the beauty of manuscript of paper, one packet can last you for years.
... your personality has become defined by your instrument or voice part.
... you understand there is a silent war between the vocalists and the instrumentalists.
... your classes are randomly interrupted by the sound of someone loudly practicing down the hallway.
... someone says the words "sight-singing and ear training" and you feel a sudden urge to cry. (so so so true)
... even if you try to stay under the radar, most of the professors in your department actually know who you are.
... you've ever turned a pop song into an opera or classical piece. (check)
... you've ever had to write a paper that was more than five pages long on one freakin' piece of music.
... you've pretty much been in classes with all the same people since your freshman year.
... sometimes you pretty much hate making music, but it's such a part of you that you know you're not changing your major.
... you keep catching yourself randomly conducting music, even if it's
"Money Maker" or "Bye, Bye, Bye".
... you've ever laughed at a really corny joke that used a musical term.
... you've ever MADE a really corny joke that used a musical term, then actually laughed at your own stupid joke. (here's one of my favorites... What do you get when a piano falls on an army guy? A: A flat Major. hahahahahaha)
... meter changes in pop music make you cheer. (the meter doesnt even have to change any pop song that not in 4/4 makes me cheer)
... you even realize a pop song just had a meter change.
... you associate Beethoven Symphonies with certain moods during your day.
... you laugh when TV ads come on that have instruments in them and you know that the person is holding it wrong.
... you know that the person on TV playing the music but rather, Joshua Bell, or Yo-Yo Ma dubbed over the person.
... if you're in class and hear a muffled but insistent ticking coming from somewhere. Eventually everyone starts noticing and looking around, and diving for cover screaming, "Bomb!" and you are so used to the noise that it takes long awkward moments for you to finally realize... "Oh yeah, um, sorry guys. That's my metronome in my book bag. It must have been bumped accidentally...." (yes, my metronome has randomly gone off while in class)
...you see a sheet music mural and think it is just about the coolest thing ever, but mostly you just sit there trying to figure out composer/piece. (and half the time I point out all the incorrect notations in the mural... usually if it's a real piece though I can figure out what it is)
... the only things you can spell are chords. (I'm fairly confident that I can spell any chord out there... Abm7b5add11 = Ab Cb Ebb Gb C, not sure if that would sound very good, but that's how it works)
...you would rather practice piano than go to dinner and eat crappy cafeteria food.
...when listening to music as you walk, you automatically fall into step.
... your professors are like a second set of parents.
... you can answer the phone with a real or tonal answer.
... you enjoy the tang of a tri-tone whenever you can. (fyi: a tritone is the interval that begins "The Simpsons" theme song, they aren't very common in melodies)
(if interested in the rest of the list... and to give credit where it's due: http://themusingsofkev.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html)
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