<p>UC2008, from my perspective you hold a number of misconceptions. </p>
<p>First, I agree with the others that have said that you do not need a music education degree to teach the violin in a private studio, non-public school, community music school, or other types of non publicly supported venue. You do need the skills thumper1 cites.</p>
<p>Secondly, you must realize that purpose of a music ed degree is to provide the level of training required to obtain teaching certification/licensure to allow you to teach music or a sub-specialty within a public (read as state regulated) k-12 school. Each state mandates their own parameters for certification, and typically a college/university within a particular state’s borders designs their specific curriculum to meet that state’s certification minimums. Having said that, it is usually not that difficult to re-certify in State B if a teacher is already holding credentials from State A. </p>
<p>Typically, the instrumental music ed curriculum will include music theory, history, aural skills training, piano/keyboard skills, studio work and private instruction, ensemble obligations; specific coursework in instructional methods for your primary, intro work and teaching methodologies for other instruments, some voice and choral methods, basic conducting skills. A good part of the curriculum will entail general and educational psychology, music cognition, general and music specific teaching philosophies and methodologies, observational site work and teaching practicums, and a culminating student teaching experience. Additionally, there are state mandated academic requirements for all educators which normally include intro courses in both world and US history, a selection from the other social sciences centered around women/minority issues, a lab science, a math and a health course.</p>
<p>A number will choose to go the combined performance/ed route, and the path has its pros and cons. Some are unsure of skill level, and use the experience to assess potential for achieving pro performing status, some see the ed as a safety in terms of job/financial stability, some find they are not cut out to be educators, and others are quite simply torn between the two. Some are steered to it by parents. The choice is personal, but should only be undertaken within an institution (and with an instructor and advisor) that actively supports this type of pursuit.</p>
<p>There are a number of previous discussions, most found within double major or music ed threads should you wish to read further. My son’s experioence is capsuled here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558603-what-can-i-do-music-ed-minor.html?highlight=minor[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558603-what-can-i-do-music-ed-minor.html?highlight=minor</a></p>
<p>You mention the differences in the BA versus BM. The BA is typically a 75% distribution in liberal arts coursework, 25 % in music areas; the percentages are normally reversed for the BM, 75% of coursework being music centered. Therein lies the rub. Some call the BM a technical or professional degree, much like a BS as opposed to the broader BA. Check UCLA’s undergrad handbook and compare the performance and ed BA course distribution with those of other institutions offering the degrees in the BM variant, and you will quickly see the differences.</p>
<p>You sound unhappy with the program for a number of reasons. Most institutions do allow a music ed admit to audition into the performance track. It may or may not be easy. If you feel the BA is not enough musically, by all means look for transfer opportunities, but do your homework. Your school selection is all over the board, and contains a few that do not even offer music ed as a degree track. The addition of the UC’s and CS’s may best serve you in credit transfer as most state programs readily accept within system credits. Make sure they will work in terms of both private instructor and overall program. Violin is extremely competitive, and the success rates for transfers into performance tracks is a function of both luck, skill level, and choosing the right instructor/institution. </p>
<p>As for music ed, think seriously about your reasons. If you have the desire to be an educator within a k-12 setting, by all means go for it; if your goal is to teach music privately, then consider pedagogy, rather than ed, which is geared to studio, instrument technique and repertoire instruction methodology rather than large group/classroom instruction. There are a number of BM programs offering dual tracks in performance/pedagogy, as well as MM programs.</p>