Does Music School Matter?
Does Music School Really Matter?
Students and parents ask me this every damn day: “Do I need to go to music school to have a career in music?”
The answer is simple: no, you don’t.
Every single piece of information a music school will teach you already exists. It’s in the counterpoint of Bach, it’s in the extended improvisations of Keith Jarrett. It’s in every great transcription, method book, and recording available at your local library or online. If knowledge is all you want, you can save yourself the tuition bill and start digging through the material right now.
So what’s the point of going?
Because music school isn’t about the information—you’re there for the environment.
When I was a composition student at Berklee College of Music at 150 Massachusetts Ave, I wasn’t there for the lectures. I was there to be surrounded by music 24/7. Walking down the hallway and hearing jazz pouring out of one room, producers rapping in the next, and chamber groups rehearsing across campus. It was staying up until 3 a.m. in a practice room, trying to nail some ridiculously difficult line that Larry Carlton seemed to have zero issue with.
That’s what music school gives you: fertile soil. The only way you’re going to benefit from that environment is if you’re willing to plant the seeds, water them, protect them from predators, and keep them going after they get stepped on.
The Trap of Music School
It looks like this: you’re in your dorm with five other players. You’re high, the vibes are good, and everyone is talking about how much they “live for music” and how Snarky Puppy are the greatest thing since penicillin. But most of those people will never put in the extra hour in the practice room. They won’t spend their last $20 on a ticket to see a musician that will change them. They won’t walk into the room with better players and take a chance on falling on their face for the sake of being better.
And at the end of the day, those are the people who give the rest of us a bad name. If that’s what you want from your life, zero hate; I wish you all the best in the world. But don’t call yourself a professional musician unless you’re willing to sacrifice for it. Because there are ten other phenomenal individuals ready to do so.
The musicians who thrive are the ones who push themselves into uncomfortable spaces. You don’t have to be the best guitarist in the room. You don’t have to know every ounce of theory. But there is no successful musician who wasn’t willing to be uncomfortable, take a chance, take a risk, and be ready to eat it in front of a room of people just to get right back up to play another gig.
My Story: Risk, Pain, and the Payoff
I was a composition student at Berklee, and for a while, I thought that was the only path. But I gave up much of that journey for two reasons:
I went on tour. I traveled the world, performing across genres—jazz, pop, rap, you name it.
I moved to Northwestern University to study statistics, because I wanted to connect my love of music to real research. I wanted to understand creativity, learning, and performance not just as an art, but as something we can measure, study, and expand.
It hurt to let go of what I thought my career would look like. But that risk shaped me into a better teacher and coach and that’s the biggest takeaway: you have to be your own advocate in music. You are your boss, you are your employee, you are HR, you are the legal team, you are the finance department, you are the PR firm. You have to be your own fallback plan. No teacher, no institution, no program will save you. The tools will be there, but it’s on you to use them.
Now, when I guide students through guitar lessons, music theory, composition study, improvisation training, or voice coaching, there is no arbitrary handing out of exercises and scales. I’m here to teach you how to think like an artist, how to keep evolving, and how to bet on you.
Why Your Path Is All That Matters
You don’t need a four-year music degree, but you might need mentorship.
That’s why I believe in the power of private music lessons in Chicago and why I feel very fortunate to have walked the walk from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles to Barcelona—whether it’s guitar lessons, artist coaching, professional tour prep, vocal training, or composition research. No one can teach you anything, but we can help inspire you to learn something you may not have otherwise. You may find that in music school, you might not, but only you will know that.
When I work with students across Chicago—from Wilmette to the Gold Coast to Hyde Park—I see the same pattern: the ones who grow the fastest are the ones who take risks, show up whether they’re ready for the challenge or not, and put themselves in musical situations that encourage them in ways they can’t do themselves. My role is to coach you through those moments so that when you fail (and you will) it makes you better.
This is the core tenant of CareAgain Music. I’m here to help guide you to where you want to be, and maybe we can figure out a better way to get there.
For more details on lessons, visit CareAgain Music’s lessons page.
What Music School Can’t Do For You
Music schools can provide incredible tools, but they can’t do the work for you. They won’t wake you up for your 8 a.m. theory class, they won’t put you next to the best players, they won’t practice for you.
If you want to get serious about music, ask yourself: am I ready to take responsibility for myself, knowing full well that I will screw up but I will be able to handle it? Am I ready to say no to people who don’t reflect my musical goals and walk a much harder road of seeking out the people who do? If yes, then music school is the best thing you can do.
If not, save the tuition. Spend $12 on a library card, grab a subscription to Scribd, start transcribing everything from Bach inventions to John Coltrane solos. You’ll learn the same lessons, but only if you have the discipline to handle it.
So, Does Music School Matter?
Only if you make it matter.
Degrees don’t make artists. Daily practice, mentorship, and courage do.
Ready to Take That Next Step?
If you’re in Chicago and want to explore guitar lessons, voice coaching, composition mentoring, touring artist preparation, or theory training, reach out at CareAgain Music. Let’s build the foundation that actually matters: you, your music, and your future.
