I am a current high school student struggling to see what music college is the best fit for me. I have been accepted to Eastman, New England Conservatory, Berklee, Frost schools of Music, and Rutgers. My primary instrument is Jazz Trumpet and I want to get a Music Ed degree. I’ve talked to a lot of music people and almost all of them said get a Music Ed degree first. However, NEC doesn’t have one, but I still wouldn’t mind getting a Jazz Performance degree. It’s not the end of the wolrd for me if I don’t get a Music Ed Degree. If anyone can help and give some advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You
I think only you ultimately can answer this question, and it comes with asking yourself questions. For example, are you getting a music ed degree, which is primarily to allow you to teach in a public k-12 music program, or are you getting a music ed degree as a hedge against the difficulties of being a professional performer? I suspect a lot of those music people who said get a music ed degree first were thinking that, that it was something to fall back on. The problem is if you don’t particularly see teaching as something you want to do, then that may not be a great choice, there are a lot of people out there who became music teachers for that reason and aren’t great teachers IME and also can be bitter people…
The thing about a music ed degree is it takes away from the goal of becoming a performer I suspect, because with a music ed degree you are doing a lot more than your primary instrument, you have courses in teaching, you have courses in other instruments, and high school band directing and student teaching, that will take you away from the performance on your own instrument. Yes, some people get music ed degrees and become performers, but I also from what I have seen and heard think that is a liability.
If you do want to be a teacher and see that as your primary avocation, with performing ‘on the side’, then I think it would come down to where do you want to teach. As others have pointed out here, it is generally easier to get a degree in the state where you would want to teach, given that they teach to that state’s standards. The schools you got accepted to have very strong jazz performance programs (I can’t talk about Rutgers, I know a little about their music program, but not with Jazz). That makes me think you primarily wouldn’t be interested in music ed (given the cost of the programs, unless you got really strong aid from the other programs, Rutgers for music ed may be better, given it is a state school, which cost less, depends on the finances).
My answer to you would depend on which you wanted to do more. If you really want to be a jazz performer, I would tell you not to go the Music Ed route and instead do performance at whichever of those programs looked like a fit, and you could afford, other than Rutgers, which I know little about, the others are very strong programs in Jazz. If you go for the performance degree, and then find you want to teach, you could always get a Med from a state program and teach. The other thing is there is some confusion about teaching credentials, a music ed degree is generally not required if you want to teach at a private music school, if you want to teach at a private school or at the college level, that is usually only for public schools , so if your goal is to teach music, you don’t necessarily need that degree, if not planning to do so in the schools.
If you have a strong interest in teaching in the public schools, if you think that is your calling, then by all means do an Music ed degree at one of the schools, and again do it on which may offer the best financial package, school music teaching isn’t all that lucrative, and having debt going into that isn’t too wise either.
Keep in mind these are just my opinions, see what others say and then make up your mind:)
Clearly you are a talented performer, since you got into some very competitive schools. I would say, at the undergrad level, it would be great if you could concentrate on jazz performance, and NEC has a great program for that (I don’t know as much about Eastman). The Boston area offers a pretty good music scene.
I agree with the poster above. Do you have a strong interest in public school teaching? If not, remember you can teach privately and also teach at a private school, with a BM in performance. You may also be able to go on to grad school and teach at the college level. If teaching is a strong interest.
If performance is what you really want to do, go for it! You can play gigs and teach lessons during undergrad. You can go on to play professionally, or go on to grad school, or have access to all the same opportunities any other bachelor’s degree graduate has, including jobs in and out of music, medical,law, business or nursing school, and so on.
If performance is what you love, it will be much better to do a BM in that and you can always do a master’s in music ed later.
I wonder why you are getting such strong advice to pursue the music ed. There are parents on this forum who worried a backup was needed for financial stability but have since changed their minds. And with your talent, the odds may be good.
Also, NEC and other conservatories now have classes in entrepreneurialism, you can work in outreach, you can volunteer, intern and work, and do gigs. Keep an eye toward developing a career by all means, while focousing on training and developing your talent 
I wish your thread was titled “trying to decide on jazz performance versus music ed.” Maybe you could repost or maybe those knowledgeable on both areas will respond to this thread. Good luck!
I know a young man who went to NEC for Jazz Trumpet. He was always interested in teaching and he became very involved with helping with the prep program and the youth wind ensemble. Next year he is going to Harvard, for a one year Master’s program in education and the arts. It does not certify you to teach in public schools but it does prepare you to do things like lead a prep-school orchestra or teach in a community.
Personally the best music teachers in K-12 are those who received performance degrees and then went back and got a one year Master’s so they can teach. In Massachusetts you need a masters anyways to get a decent teaching job so why not get your undergraduate degree in performance.
The programs you were admitted to are all different when it comes to Jazz. NEC does a lot of experimental and new Jazz. Eastman is a bit more conventional. Frost does a lot of Latin Jazz. Sorry I don’t know Rutgers but if you are in-state than it might be a very good financial choice. Berklee leans toward more popular music. But those are generalizations. At this level you need to know who you are going to study with and what specific course requirements there are before choosing.