Should I listen to my parents about my major?

"Music" is too general. You are making a mistake if you pick a major without knowing exactly what job you are trying to attain.
Do you want to be a music teacher? an accompanist? marching band instructor? performer? arranger? composer? music therapist? conductor? church music leader/choir director? music librarian? sound engineer? The world is full of college graduates working as grocery checkers or call center clerks who studied "their passion" at college.
First, decide what JOB you want. If you don't know that, you shouldn't be going to college.

Here's one step-by-step plan that might help you zero in on a career in music -- or find something you hadn't considered:

1. Arrange to take two tests: an aptitude test and a career interest inventory. The first test suggests careers based on your strongest natural abilities. The second suggests careers based on your interests, as compared with the interests of people already working in those fields. What you are looking for are careers that appear on BOTH lists. Make a list of these careers.

2. Go to your local library and research the 5-15 year employment outlook for each of those jobs IN THE AREA OF THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU PLAN TO LIVE. (There will, for example, be more openings for oil rig operators in Texas and Oklahoma than there will be in Maine.) Then research the projected salary ranges for each of the jobs. Cross any jobs off your list that have a poor employment outlook, or that will not pay enough for you to support yourself/your family.

3. Research the requirements to become qualified for each of the remaining jobs: academic, licensure, credentialing, internship, etc. Some jobs may require apprenticeship instead of college; others may require a bachelors degree; still others may require a PhD. Some jobs may require a security clearance or background check, or US citizenship. Cross any jobs off your list that require more in terms of time and money than you are able/willing to invest, and cross off any jobs for which you cannot qualify.

4. Look at the schools that are financially and geographically available to you... Research which schools can prepare you for one or more of the careers on your list. Do not consider schools for which you cannot academically qualify, or for which you cannot afford the tuition. You may find that School A offers what is needed for one job, but not another. You may find that School B offers what is needed for two jobs... and so on. Cross any jobs off your list that have requirements you find impossible to fulfill.

5. Compare the projected costs at the schools you have researched, for each job you are still considering. Come up with the closest estimate you can to a bottom-line cost to prepare for each job.

6. With this information in hand, find at least one person who already holds the job you are considering, and ask their opinion about how to best prepare. Ask their recommendations for schools, majors, internships, etc. Be very polite and respectful during these conversations, and send a thank-you note afterward. One of these people may end up becoming your mentor!

7. Now you are, hopefully, ready to make a decision to pursue a career that will is available, affordable, and employable, that will afford you a decent living, and that you will enjoy. (If you choose the career path of someone you interviewed, send ANOTHER thank-you card and inform him/her of your choice!)

If things still seem unclear, consider joining the military before you go to college. This will give you time to sort things out, plus you will be independent from your family and will receive a paycheck. If you have any student loans, you will be eligible for deferment while you serve. You will attain the best physical condition of your life, and all your survival needs will be met: housing, food, work clothing, medical and dental and vision care, and work transportation. You will learn an employable skill, and you will be serving your country. When your enlistment is up, you may have a better idea of what you'd like to do... If so, the GI Bill will pay for whatever additional education you decide to pursue, and any previous student loans will be eligible for deferment while you attend school... AND you will have veterans hiring preference at many employers. Or, you may decide to make the military your career, in which case you can retire young and draw a military pension for the rest of your life, possibly while you pursue that education and/or second career.

Your parents just care about you and don't want to see you make a mistake. They've probably seen people or even know people first hand who have ruined their lives by chasing a dream. I've been around and I can tell you your parents are not just trying to scare you, it's true. Lot's of people don't succeed, you are not the first person who has a passion for something like this and you won't be the last. Now having said that, I'm say this. You can pursue your passion/dream of music just keep in mind the odds are not in your favor of becoming successful if you are attempting to be some type of performer. As far as a music degree goes, the most you can do with it is probably teach. Seriously, you won't get rich teaching, but if you love what you do then it doesn't matter. The bottom line here is you decide, but understand the consequences. Hope that helps,

If they are paying for it then a degree in science (try info technology) with a minor in music should work. If you are paying (via student loans and scholarships) then it is your call. Music does require you to "use your brain" but only pursue if you also have a talent, not just a passion for it.

Think about what you see yourself doing for a career. A few people "make it" in the arts, but many do not. Just because you do not major in music doesn't mean you will not have music in your life. In fact, it may be more enjoyable to "do music" if your living isn't based on it. I know a young man who double majored in music and biology. It obviously took him longer than four years to do that, but he feels it was worth it. Actually he does now make a living making music, but if that hadn't worked out, he had a Plan B.
So...to sum it up. How do you imagine your life? Make decisions based on that, not merely on your passion.

What do you plan to do in music? What may work to please your parents is to have a realistic plan for a field that's actually hiring (music education, teaching K-12 music, for example), which you can use as a backup should your dreams to (be a performer?) not work out. Another way to please them is to double major - major in music and in soemething that is in demand.

But know this - your parents are wrong re: what you should study, not only because your heart is actually in music, but also because there actually aren't jobs for many science grads right out of a bachelors program, and most of the jobs that exist tend to be low level lab tech, hourly pay, etc. As with any field, you must first do some research, and find out what's actually in demand that's related to subjects you like. You can't just blindly major in any old science and come out of college employable. So for example, mechanical engineering = YES! Biology = low paying hourly lab tech job.

So start now, and look into your options both within music and in things related to science. Assume nothing - don't assume there are no jobs in music, when there is demand for music K-12 teachers; and don't assume that there are jobs for science majors, when you may in fact be wrong. Do research. And perhaps start considering colleges that have good programs in both, so you have options once you're there.

There is no guarantee that you will be able to support yourself with a music degree, so your folks are right that you should study something that puts you in a better position to earn a living. They don't want to step on your creativity, they only want to make sure you will be able to earn a good living, so they have your best interests at heart. You will appreciate how important that is when you have to be an independent and financially responsible adult. You don't have to give up your passion for music. Music can be your minor. You should keep studying and practicing music, and learning about all kinds of music. Maybe you will eventually get a music-related job (music education, for example). But to be realistic, you should understand that not everyone gets to earn money from their passion and their wish to be a successful performer or composer. Science is a really good direction to take, especially since you do have some interest in it. There is no harm in starting out with science as your chosen major. You will have time to make other choices later on. It's not like some great iron gate will come down and prevent you from switching to music later on. That's why it's important to keep up your music learning. For now, give your parents the benefit of the doubt.

If you choose music as a major you will not find a job after college choose something in science so you could have good money and find a good job plus the science field is so broad you could be a nurse, biologist, biochemical scientist and etc. just minor in music