Distance degree as a mature student - questions!

[YesItsMeYesItsMe]

Just idly musing at bedtime after logging into my OU account for the first time since 2011. I did one module and found it really difficult so gave up, and was only doing it for the sake of doing it, you know? I was only 21 so clueless really. I didn’t go to uni after school so this would be my first degree. If I did a degree, it would be in music.

Should I do a degree just for the sake of it? How would it benefit me? It’s a lot of money.

Distance learning is my only option - is that less valuable as a learner ie less/zero time with tutors, no group work etc? They all seem to take about 12 years by which time I’ll be 47 and knowing me, working as an upholsterer or estate agent or something.

Is it less valuable from an outside perspective - anyone can do an online course?? I assume I can’t teach in schools at the moment (do I want to??) as I don’t have a degree.

I’ve JUST last week finished my qualification for my new career which I started in September. So I should really let the dust settle for a bit, right?

Why can’t I just relax a bit, why do I always feel the need to move onto the next thing? In the last 10 years there has ALWAYS been a big event every year, it’s like I constantly have to have a big project on the go. (I’m talking wedding planning, house moves (3), babies (3), big extension, retraining etc). Gah!

ADHD?

But seriously, a distance degree isn't valued less.

I did a distance masters over 2.5yrs while working/having dc3 so it's doable if you're mental enough (someone who always needs a big project).

If you're concerned about value you shouldn't do a music degree. It reduces other options - you wouldn't be able to do a degree apprenticeship for example, which is a great way into a lot of well paid jobs. And you wouldn't get funding if there was a degree you wanted to do late which wasn't just for shits and giggles. And (I'm open to being corrected on this) that unless you want to be a music teacher there is nousic related job that actually requires you to have a degree. You could study it without the certificate at the end of its an interest.

Ha I have often wondered about ADHD as it all sounds very applicable to me but isn't that the same for everyone - I have about 6 friends who 'have ADHD' in the last couple of years - some diagnosed some not. I dunno. Maybe I'll look into it.

I already work as a singing teaching 3.5 days a week, that's the qual I've just finished.

What do you mean "If you're concerned about value you shouldn't do a music degree. It reduces other options" - sorry can you explain more? Will google 'degree apprenticeship'

Thanks!

If you're working as a singing teacher then a music degree could make sense as it could add depth to the knowledge you already have. But I'd try to get advice from people who know you as well.

(I relate to the "? ADHD?" comments. I managed - mainly due to being able to stay at home - to spend 9 years at uni. Partway through I remember thinking, if I could totally change what I'm doing every couple of years that would be about right)

Ironically I now work as a violin teacher. Didn't do any music at uni ... (nor for my equivalent of A levels ...)

@Pythonesque thats interesting, thank you. I think that’s what drawing me, the depth of knowledge - for various reasons I only did music GCSE, not A Level, then did a vocal performance diploma and then worked as a singer for years. So I missed a lot of the broader music study and am catching up now. My boss will probably say don’t bother with a degree but I’ll mention it again I think.

Just that if you can usually only get funding for the first degree you do, so of you do a music degree and then want to do something else you can't access student loans etc.

I don't have a diagnosis of ADHD but would also love to change what I do every couple of years or so. I haven't but manage by having other "big" projects/hobbies that I can change

I can’t say whether you should pursue a Music degree or not, but two things I can say:

The people I know who have actually used a first degree in Music have gone on to postgraduate study, often at a conservatoire, in Composition or some aspect of Performance.

Pretty much anyone with a first degree will be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Loan for an MA / MSc if you’re accepted onto a course. (You don’t have to have paid off the first student loan to get the second.) The difficulty is that Postgraduate Loans don’t cover maintenance, which can be a barrier if you want to study away from home.

I've got an OU degree (and a distance learning MA done elsewhere), and I've generally found employers really value them - shows you can commit to something, organise your time well etc. Mine's patched together from lots of different modules in subjects I found interesting - that was part of the appeal of the OU for me as I could never focus on just one thing I wanted to learn about!

I've also worked in music teaching and I found working towards a teaching diploma really useful when I was first starting out - made me think more deeply about my teaching approach and style.