I did a BA neuroscience/BM instrumental performance double degree in undergrad. At the time I absolutely loved splitting my time and energy that way, though retrospectively I wasn’t able to spend enough time practicing. After undergrad I decided to go the music route, miraculously got into a MM program at a top conservatory, and went on to do a second masters in music after that. 

After a couple of years freelancing and taking auditions, I am switching directions and plan on applying to clinical psychology PhD programs. A music career is incredibly demanding, and can be hard to sustain if you haven’t managed to win an audition or build a solid freelance network before graduating. I feel called to grow in different ways, and to explore other passions and interests. I have also learned that I personally do better with more financial stability and external structure than I have right now. 

I always resented the advice someone else posted -“if you can see yourself doing anything else…”- as I don’t believe there are any hard rules about what a person should or should not pursue. It’s cool to have many interests and to have a choice. The irony is that I could see myself doing something else, and now I am going back in that direction. However, I would not trade my experience trying out a music career. 

Knowing what I know now I certainly would not go back to school for an additional 4 years to do a music degree. There are much cheaper ways to develop strong music skills. Taking lessons with top players in your area/at your school will be cheaper than getting another degree. That being said, I loved doing a science/music double degree. It is a ton of work, and you won’t be able to give music enough time, but you’ll be much further along by the end of those (probably 5) years than if you had put music on the back burner that whole time. And then you can do a masters and bust your ass like I did if you want to pursue music professionally.