The only reason you might want or need a degree in music would be if you were interested in being a music teacher or a professor in an educational setting.... or maybe to work in an orchestral setting. I know to be a teacher a 4 year degree is the minimum requirement. A Masters degree makes opening those doors a bit easier and generally adds income to the bottom line salary.
 
To compose music for orchestra and scoring for films, certainly, a master's degree will impart a vast knowledge of chords and theory and such things that are the tools of the trade in composing that style of music.
 
To teach guitar at a music store, no..... you don't need any degree. Just an ability to play and read music to a fairly decent level. To play in a band or to have an indy-music career, or write songs.... no degree needed.
 
That was actually one of the things my mom used to say about the Beatles..... (in putting them down.... besides commenting on their long hair).... they don't even have an education in music.... my response.... (at the age of 9 or 10)... yeah mom, but their music sure is nifty!!!

marcus3
Thanks everyone and UbiquitousBubba good point.
...
To clear things up I'm 24 I've been playing for 6 years this being my 6th. I do want to be composer and piano player.
...

Welcome ... you do know that we are all experts on all things "COFFEE HOUSE" but that beyond here, you are on your own, right?
 
Composer/PianoPlayer ... I'm not sure one needs the piano to compose these days. You can use the piano to play whatever you want, but it doesn't have to have anything to do with the composition ... maybe you just want to play Greensleeves to the kid watching you!
 
One part is internal, and sometimes demanding and not fun. The other, is more external in that you end up concerned with everyone's response more than you should.
 
I think, and I am not an expert in this area, though I have been a writer for 25 years, that you have to get to a point where the external does not interfere with your internal experience that is helping you compose. The day that happens, you might never play again for anyone except yourself.
 
And then there is ... the composing part. In 10 to 20 more years, having a piano will be a bad joke and the new surrealistic joke will be a broken piano on top of a burro! Only took 85 to 90 years to get what it meant! You will be in front of the computer and try out this ... let's see ... string with a bass ... and you play it here ... nahh ... let's try 5 strings and a bycicle ... that's better, but not Zappa enough ... let's try 3 strings, umbrella and a garden hose ... and it's perfect ... it works  ... and you keep it. Using the "piano" to find the right mix, or the right notes, will be crazy, and a waste of learning and effort, specially when you have so many hundreds of other options available to you!
 
Now comes the bad part. Learning an instrument, will not be the future of music or composition, when so many of the folks creating music, are not even playing the damn thing, and are sampling and what not! Music folks think that their history will live forever, like they will ... and you already know that answer ... so, it might be better to think ahead a bit and realize that one choice you make, does not necessarily help the other. In that sense, a lot of the folks here, in the Coffee House, we're all ... old fashioned ... and trying to learn something new!
 
If you want to be Billy Joel, fine! ... but "composing" becomes a side effect of your ability, and comes when it comes. Maybe later in life Billy can say ... I put together many songs, but using the word "composing" might not be the right term for what he did!

 I would agree with Guitarhacker here. If your goal is to specifically make an income that will support you then the gate narrows. If you like helping other people then a degree in music education is probably the way to go. Keep in mind that with a profession like this there probably isn't as much room for self expression. Your days will be filled with teaching others the basics if in grade school and if at the adult level more advanced skills. In some respects that job might not be any more fulfilling than someone else doing a 9 to 5 in some other line of work and coming home to play what they want to play if your interests aren't in instructional music. And not to discourage you but the reality is universities graduate an enormous number of music majors every year, so you wouldn't be the only one out there competing for a job. IMO music education is one of the more lucrative music positions compared to some others depending on where you go.There is at least some stability in a job like that.
 
  The composition market for media can be tough to get into but there are several here who do just that and some of them are pretty good at it.There are also many more who would love to do it but can't break into it.
 
 If you have trouble hearing then that isn't good. You can probably get a hearing aid for the weak ear.
 
 I agree with UB that music is more of an inner part of who we are as opposed to "learning a trade" for an income. If the two meet that's great. If you are able to get higher education I wouldn't pass on that opportunity,even if it isn't a major in music. No matter what you end up doing you never need to give up playing and improvement.

Don't knock Billy Joel now!  He didn't get to marry those babes based on his looks you know.

thanks everyone well I'm already happy with what I do. "Piano and compose" And no matter what I do may always struggle but not giving up.
 
 
 

What test?
 
I have never heard of a recognized college university granting a masters degree on the basis of a test alone. Humanities departments stay in business by devouring their young. What possible job could there be for a PhD in music, except to drone on in lectures and sit on thesis committees for bachelor in music students trying to get their masters degree. It "they" will let you get a masters degree by taking a test, I doubt anyone else would recognized the degree anyway.

I don't know if there is a test I know if your a Lvn you can go ask RN test
without taking the course. My mother and old friend of mine did that. That what I was thinking about dong with the music theory degree
but again lot people won't recognize if I have one. If I'm being interview for music career as composer there going ask hear my work not ask for degree. To quote what lot people said before me in life  "Its how you use it not what you have!" lol
 

FWIW, there are reasons for the education, especially if you want to be a composer.
 
Theory will teach you a great deal about chords, and writing four part harmony (important for choral writing), and counterpoint could be of real use in terms of interweaving at least secondary melodies.
 
As for learning an instrument, the more instruments you at least know about, the better, especially if you are interested in writing music for live performance.  If you end up writing parts that are not playable, the net result will not be good.  OTOH, if you are writing strictly for samples, then live performance is not an issue.
 
Also, if you know at least one instrument well, it will help give you a better idea of what others - a possible key when writing orchestral music - are up against.

noldar12
If you end up writing parts that are not playable, the net result will be an auto-tuned turd of a video that goes viral and sells a million copies.

YouTubed.

marcus3
Okay here my problem and I don't understand. I've been playing piano sense 10th grade started classical last year and already composing. 
I can sight read, play and slowly composing. 
I heard I can go ask for the test but when I look it up says I've got go for 6-12 years 6 for education 6 for performing.
But I've got lot the education "taught lot myself" and understand lot it I've also started performing some.
 
So could I ask for the test or what?
Also is Ear training require I have problem with my left ear with hearing. I have always struggle playing by ear.
 
Thanks
Marcus 

I don't understand either...if I cut through all the BS I think you have one question, which is;
"Can I challenge a course?".
To find out you simply go to the Dean of the college and ask.
 
 
Here is a great place for you to start your inquiry.