Berklee College of Music Performance vs Education

What is a wiser choice majoring in performance or music education?

“Wiser” in terms of? What kind of career does the student ultimately want to have?

Playing in a band but also teaching on the side

MusicMan12, almost all performers also have to teach in order to make a living. Very few musicians can make a living being just a performer or being in a band. Most have to have some other form of revenue to sustain their art. That being said there are many types of teaching. One can teach at the K-12 level, and if you choose that you can teach at a private school or you can teach at a public school or you can teach at a prep school/music school. One can also teach private lessons to adults and children. One can aim to teach instrumental music at a small liberal arts college or at a university or at a conservatory.

For almost all of those paths you will eventually need a masters. So the question is what do you want to focus on as an undergrad? Do you want to become the best musician you can be? Then probably majoring in performance is better than majoring in education. But if you are interested in K-12 education and you have a strong interest in the role of music education and child development and learning then majoring in education might be the right path. Or if you want to get certified to work in public schools immediately after getting your BFA.

Good Luck with your decision

Also, FWIW, many (if not most) performance degree programs include courses in pedagogy.

Thank you @StacJip that is very helpful. I’m concerned about my daughter being too overwhelmed doing a double degree in performance and music Ed (not to mention the expense of an additional year).