One big vote for a liberal arts education

This comes from Peter Lynch, who managed Fidelity's Magellan Fund from 1977 to 1990, when it was the best-performing mutual fund in the world:

In college, except for the obligatory courses, I avoided science, math, and accounting - all the normal preparations for business. I was on the arts side of school, and along with the usual history, psychology, and political science, I also studied metaphysics, epistemology, logic, religion, and the philosophy of the ancient Greeks [at Boston College].

As I look back on it now, it's obvious that studying history and philosophy was much better preparation for the stock market than, say, studying statistics. Investing in stocks is an art, not a science, and people who've been trained to rigidly quantify everything have a big disadvantage. If stockpicking could be quantified, you could rent time on the nearest Cray computer and make a fortune. But it doesn't work that way. All the math you need in the stock market (Chrysler's got $1 billion in cash, $500 million in long-term debt, etc.) you get in the fourth grade.

Logic is the subject that's helped me the most in picking stocks, if only because it taught me to identify the peculiar illogic of Wall Street.

One Up On Wall Street. Peter Lynch (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000), p. 49-50.

Questions to ponder for a student choosing a college

Keep in mind that no degree will get you a job. Rather than trying to determine a hypothetical advantage of one school’s degree over another’s, think about these questions when you choose your college.

1. Where will I be most comfortable?

You are choosing your home for the next 4 years.

2. Which school reflects my personal values?

I believe there is a misconception in the minds of many students. College is not a time to test the “real world.” It is a time to formulate what your identity will be when you have to make a career and family after college. A college that nurtures and strengthens your values is far more valuable than one that “challenges” them with a chop block at every turn.

3. Where will I best develop my adult character as a person of faith and a good citizen?

In college, you are free – sort of. Your parents are now letting go, and you are learning how to handle your day to day life on your own. What opportunities does your college provide to help you gain confidence as an independent person?

4. Where will I be challenged intellectually?

Will I have the intellectual capacity to get work and to work well? Keep in mind that there is a big difference between learning “skills and procedures” for a career and developing critical thinking skills for a career. Critical thinking skills are far more flexible and capable of innovation. This is the focus of the liberal arts education at Concordia University.

Only you and your parents can answer these questions for you. What I can say is that Concordia teaches you to think like a professional while becoming a wise, honorable, and cultivated citizen who is commissioned by Christ. The faculty take all of this seriously, not just the academic side of it. But like anywhere else, how far you progress on that track is in your control.

God’s blessings on your college decision!

Concordia - a great alternative to the major university music program

If you are considering Concordia alongside a major university, please consider the following:

Especially if you've already auditioned at a major university, there are some obvious differences between the big music departments and Concordia. I'd like to take this opportunity to explain some not-so-obvious things that hopefully make Concordia a strong alternative.

School size: Concordia is a small school. If you would like to have a significant music education but don't want to be swallowed up in a "factory" of music students, Concordia is the place for you. If you want to be able to take a short walk to the music building to practice in the middle of the day, that is no problem. Our campus is small and and the music buildings are accessible, which is not the case at many major universities. Of course this means that you won't be competing against dozens of motivated musicians on your instrument. In most cases, you'll be one of a few music majors on your instrument. If you are the type of student that has intrinsic motivation, the lack of massive competition won't keep you from being a high achiever. And the close-knit nucleus of music majors who have similar goals as you will become your best friends as you share many experiences.

Becoming a seasoned performer: The flip side of our small size is that you will have numerous high-pressure performance opportunities. You'll be able to compete for the principal chair as a freshman (if you are a particularly strong player) and you won't have to beat out a whole studio of graduate students to get it. Even if you are not the principal player in your section in the Concordia Wind Orchestra, our policy of not doubling parts unless it is necessary for balance (mainly in the clarinet section) means that you will have a playing experience more like what is common in a symphony orchestra - you'll be singularly responsible for your part. The result is freedom to phrase and express your part and make decisions about how to do this. Therefore, you'll be expected to think and execute a high level of musicianship and your part will be very exposed - each performance is high stakes! And our repertoire is advanced college music.

At Concordia, you will become a very seasoned performer. The Concordia Wind Orchestra performs nearly 30 times per year, its associated chamber ensembles perform anywhere from 2-15 times per year. Also, as a soloist you will be expected to perform a piece in a noon recital twice per semester. Students who achieve the 300 level in applied study by their sophomore year are eligible to present a half recital (app. 30 minutes). Juniors give a half recital and seniors give a full recital. And our music department's close association with worship provides an additional layer of performing for soloists and chamber groups. If you want to become a great performer, you'll have plenty of practice at Concordia!

Private Study: Concordia is located in one of the most musician-dense populations in the entire world. When a position becomes available, we have an unbelievable pool of talented candidates. Concordia's teachers are some of the finest in Southern California. Their resumes attest to that (you can read them at www.cuimusic.com/privatestudy.html).

Instrument Access: If you are an instrumentalist that needs access to more than your own instrument, we can accommodate. Percussionists can view our extensive list of outstanding instruments, including a Musser 5-octave marimba at www.cuimusic.com. Trumpet players can check out a C trumpet, piccolo trumpet, D/Eb trumpet, or a flugelhorn. Clarinetists can check out an Eb clarinet, bass clarinet, alto clarinet, or an A clarinet. And we have a new contrabassoon for bassoonists. And all of these instruments are less than 4 years old, and they are top-of-the-line professional models. There are not many schools our size that can boast such a collection of instruments.

Degree: Concordia offers a Bachelor of Arts in music. One of the emphases that you can select is performance. We don't offer a Bachelor of Music degree, which requires more units than a Bachelor of Arts (although many music majors far exceed the number of required music units to graduate). However, a Bachelor of Arts degree fully educates you. Sometimes students are nervous about majoring in music because they are afraid that they are locking themselves into a particular career path. Not so with a bachelor of arts. You will develop your non-musical skills fully - the skills of communication, writing, and thinking. Make no mistake about it, these skills help you stand out in a very competitive fields.

Faith-centered Music: And finally, the most significant thing that makes Concordia distinctive against major universities - Christian ministry. We hear a lot about spiritual connections with music, but at Concordia music affords a spiritual connection with the Lord. Many concerts take sacred themes, and most of our groups perform regularly in worship.

If you want to play music at a high level in a uniquely faith-based way, please consider Concordia. Our facilities may not be as spectacular, but the Concordia Experience more than makes up for this.

FAQs About College Music

If you are soon to be in college and you are a musician, please take 10 minutes to read this excellent article by Dr. Scott Harris. Although it addresses the perspective of a percussionist, it applies to any musician.

1. FAQs About College Music / Percussion

2. Now, I have a few comments to help you understand Concordia's music program...

Should I major in music ed or performance? Another issue to keep in mind is that the typical student working toward a performance career will get a master's degree and often a doctorate in their performance area. Having a broader approach to your undergraduate study will keep more doors open.

But I really want to perform. Do I lose performance opportunities as an education major? At Concordia, most music majors give a senior recital, and many also give a junior recital. It isn't required, but it is rather common regardless of an emphasis in performance, music education, or church music. On top of that, once you achieve the "300 level" on your instrument, you can give a recital - some students get there before their junior year, allowing them to give 3 undergraduate recitals.

How long does the degree take to complete? At Concordia, students should be able to graduate in 4 years. Music Education students might be wise to take an extra semester to accommodate student teaching. This is an advantage of Concordia, since many universities are growingly unable to matriculate music majors in 4 years.

What should I play for an audition? Unlike the scenario explained in Dr. Harris' article, Concordia usually does not have the private teachers sitting in the auditions. However, his point about learning about the teacher you will spend 4 years with is very important. Please get to know Concordia's studio faculty. If you are considering the music major, please contact me about setting up a complimentary lesson with your potential studio teacher.

If I don’t major in music can I still take lessons and play in the band? Concordia is a different environment than what is explained in Dr. Harris' article. Here, many non-majors participate in the top groups and many not only take private lessons, but receive extra scholarship money (in addition to money provided to play in ensembles) to pay for them.

Do you have more questions? Go to www.cui.edu/music for a detailed overview of Concordia's music department. And don't hesitate to contact Concordia music faculty with questions.