A musician changes her tune – and her major

A backpacking enthusiast drawn to the outdoors, Misti Webster began her Cal Poly career as an earth science major. Freshman year, she changed her major to chemistry, but had to drag herself to labs, dreading the monotony of testing the same products every day.

Webster decided that chemistry wasn’t the major for her, and transferred into the music major her 4th year at Cal Poly. For the first time in a long time, she was happy.

“When I decided to switch, I was really struggling with whether I wanted to even keep going in college,” Webster said. “Even though I had one year left, I almost dropped out of school. Then I switched, and I’ve been on dean’s list every quarter since.”

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is an importer college, meaning more students transfer in than transfer out, according to CLA Dean for Student Success Penny Bennett.

Students are especially attracted to the music department because it’s small and well connected, Bennett said. As of 2017, there were only 61 undergraduate students enrolled in the music department, according to the Cal Poly Fact Book.

“The music department will call me on the phone, [and say,] ‘Hey, we haven’t seen Travis lately, can you reach out to him?’” Bennett said. “They’re that small and tight knit.”

Webster was immediately drawn to the intimate feel of the department. She described her classmates and teachers as “family.” Even before she switched, the music building felt like her home.

In class, Webster discovered Schubert’s symphony, The Great C Major no 9.

“I listened to it and I was like, oh my god, this is amazing,” Webster smiled at the memory. “I knew this is really what I wanted to do. It clicked.”

Webster loves music because it allows her to express herself.

“I love being able to play a slow piece and really just be able to pour your heart out into it,” Webster said.

“As human beings, it’s inside of us to express ourselves musically,” Cal Poly choir director Scott Glysson said. “To be able to tap into that is really important.”

Initially, Webster’s mother disagreed with the choice. She wanted Webster to remain in a more practical major.

Parents can be reluctant to allow their students to switch into liberal arts majors because they think career paths are limited, Bennett said.

Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of jobs available in music, Glysson said. Yes, it’s difficult to make a living as a performer, but there are multiple opportunities to work in studios, arts management and as teachers.

Eventually, Webster’s mother supported her decision.

Now, as a 23-year-old fifth year, she’s older than most students in the department, but she doesn’t mind at all, she explained.

“It’s interesting making friends with all the youngins, they’re like 19 years old and I’m 23 so I’m like grandma,” Webster laughed. “I got to experience a bunch of people through the major.”

The music major gave Webster’s life direction. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in conducting a college orchestra, and this year, she organized a chamber ensemble to practice conducting.

“There’s this stigma that chemistry is a practical major and music is not, where it’s the opposite for me, because I had no idea what I wanted to do with chemistry, but I do with music.”

Webster has found her place at Cal Poly in the music department, and when she graduates, she hopes to find her place in the world through music, too.