<p>I'm a high school student, wanting to go into 5-12 instrumental music education. I was wondering if any current or past music ed majors had any ideas of the best schools to look at, or any to stay away from. I play French horn, mellophone, and piano, and sing anywhere from alto 2 to soprano 1 (but mostly mezzo soprano) if it makes a difference.
Any tips, answers, or advice would be great. Thanks!</p>
<p>The standard advice for music ed: It is best to do music ed in the state in which you want to teach because each state has different certification requirements; music ed programs in universities will ensure that you meet those certification requirements for the state in which they are located (whereas a university in a neighbouring state might leave you a few courses short of certification in the state in which you want to teach).</p>
<p>Teachers’ salaries do not permit the repayment of large loans, so minimize the cost of your education. Most states have at least one or two good music ed programs in public universities. Some of the best music ed programs are at public universities so there is usually little or no advantage to attending a private school for music ed. Instate tuition differential can be a big deal after four years of tuition.</p>
<p>Ask your music teachers which music ed programs they recommend in your state. If you know of some successful music educators in surrounding schools, ask around to find out where they went to school. </p>
<p>Those who hire music educators for schools rarely have much knowledge about the calibre of programs outside their own state (and often have limited knowledge of music ed programs even within their own state).</p>
<p>I “ditto” violindad’s advice. He is 100% correct.</p>
<p>My son is a music ed major and was accepted at a very expensive and somewhat prestigious private college. After a lot of long discussions, we agreed as a family that it may not work to his advantage to pay a huge tuition bill or for him to go into debt to go to the prestigious school to get a job teaching. Teacher salaries are not typically going to be any high for someone who graduates from a top college than someone who graduates from State U.</p>
<p>He ended up enrolling in a fairly typical state university and is loving it. I seriously doubt that he would have been any happer at the expensive private college, and I am not sure that he would have recieved a better education at the private college.</p>
<p>While some schools may certainly be better than others for music ed, there’s no real advantage for a future public school music teacher to venture outside his/her state or to go to an expensive college.</p>
<p>You may want to start your search by making a list of colleges in your state, or in the state that you want to teach in, which offer music ed degrees. It’s easy enough to do that first step research on the internet. I’ve met a few students who were applying at colleges that don’t even offer the degree they wanted - so don’t assume that every college offers music ed. My state has two major universities, one of them doesn’t offer ANY music degrees.</p>
<p>You could then present your list to your music teacher and ask them if there are any that you should strike off the list, and any good programs that you missed.</p>
<p>A couple of other thoughts: Because music ed majors usually take more non-music courses than a music performance students would, the overall calibre of your school is more important than it would be for a music performance major. As well, those hiring you as a school music teacher are much more likely to be aware of schools’ overall reputations than they are of the music reputation a school has. So consider the university’s reputation as a whole.</p>
<p>I would tend to avoid universities that have very small music ed programs–your experience will not be as rich (not nearly as many opportunities for ensembles that are appropriate for you–as a future music educator, I think it is important that you get many opportunities to not only participate in, but also regularly listen to, ensembles at a variety of levels). Small programs will not have many wind ensembs or choirs doing repertoire through a wide range. As well, small programs can be very heavily dependent on a handful of profs that may retire or find work elsewhere (particularly if they are good). In a large music ed department, there are bound to be some excellent profs and a few duds, but at least you will have choices.</p>
<p>I like imagep’s idea of taking a list to your music teacher: you will get much better more specific feedback this way than if you were just to go and ask a general question. They will be impressed with your research, and when it comes time to write a reference for you (many music ed programs require such a reference), there is more likelihood that you will get a good one–you have shown some initiative and will have had an opportunity to discuss your plans with your teacher.</p>
<p>Ditto, to everyone’s advice so far. Another way you can gauge the caliber of the music ed school is to read the biographies of the conductors at honors festivals ie all-county, region, state, etc. Over the years, it seems that 2 or 3 music ed schools kept being listed in the biographies of the conductors at these festivals. The last orchestra honors festival that son attended all of the conductors came from one of the instate schools. Also, look at the biographies for the directors of the various youth orchestras and choral ensembles in your area. Once again, in our area the same 3 or 4 colleges are represented. And if you attend any in state summer music camps see where their faculty and staff went to college and where they currently teach. This will help you see which music ed schools in your state or region are consistently turning out top educators for your instrument or voice.</p>
<p>Great advice above: A few points that haven’t been mentioned:</p>
<ol>
<li> Check out the teachers: You haven’t indicated which is your major instrument. I would encourage you to take sample lessons from the teachers on your instrument at the schools that interest you. Your teacher will be the person you are with for four years–you do want to find a fit. Also sit in on methods classes, studio classes and/or music ed classes.</li>
<li> Find out how music ed students are viewed within the music program. At some places, the ed (vs performance) students are treated as second class citizens. Do they have the same access to opportunities as the performance students for ensembles, etc? Do the performance faculty teach the studios for ed students, or will you be taught by grad students? That may make a big difference to you.</li>
<li>How extensive are the methods classes? Are you restricted to just a few, or do you have the option of taking extra methods courses if you choose?</li>
</ol>
<p>My D did find it preferable to go to a renowned conservatory for music ed. She got an excellent scholarship that brought the cost down to within a few thousand of our state U’s. Most states have reciprocity for teaching certification, with perhaps just a course or two needed to supplement (often that can be done while teaching).</p>
<p>IMO the best music teachers are also excellent musicians. Some of the music ed programs out there (not talking specifically about your area) aren’t producing excellent musicians.</p>
<p>Well I’m doing Piano Performance…but I do know that my school has like almost a perfect 100% placement rate into jobs for Music Ed majors if that sounds good to you…at Illinois Wesleyan U in Bloomington, IL…small LAC 2100 students and a School of Music, lots of music people here!</p>
<p>Glitter, my son is a freshman performance major but has also thought about music ed. He actually changed to performance after his college auditions. We live in Bettendorf. I’m sure you know about UNI-there are so many music ed majors from our area there. I’m a Hawkeye but S didn’t want anything to do with Iowa especially since their music college is temporary due to flooding. If you have a high ACT score and/or GPA do not let the “in state” rule keep you from finding the right school. S is actually at Northern Illinois University with plenty of scholarships, included guaranteed in-state tuition for 4 years. He picked his choice of 4 schools based on worth-of-mouth and research. Go to the schools’ websites and check out the credentials of the faculty. We went to football games at some schools to check out the marching bands (music ed majors are usually required to be in marching band). Good luck!</p>
<p>hawkrn brought up a good point about marching band. One of the first things we did to reduce the size of my sons list was to eleminate colleges that didn’t have serious marching band programs. That cut his list in half.</p>
<p>And, some schools will automatically give in-state tuition to students to do marching band. At least they do at my son’s college - thats abut a $12k/yr savings. Most colleges also offer stipends or scholarships for marching band.</p>
<p>Lawrence University period.</p>
<p>Great LAC with a Music Conservatory. Their music ed grads get 100% employment.
Town (Appleton, WI) is not bad too, plenty of bars, and a major airport a 5 minute drive from campus.</p>
<p>Way back, when D was applying to undergrad, the 100% placement rate was referenced by most music ed departments. Scanning a few current web sites I notice that elsewhere as well. I wonder what they are referring to? 100% are placed as student teachers? Do 100% get jobs in music education?<br>
to the OP—You have been given good advice by those who say you should consider your in state school for music ed.</p>
<p>I believe the Waltons were from Appleton weren’t they? I wonder if Johnboy still lives there.</p>
<p>Walton’s Mountain was in Virginia - Blue Ridge Mountains – remember Ben & Cindy’s daughter being named Virginia?</p>
<p>There are lots of Packer fans in Appleton. Plus the opposing NFL team stays in Appleton for Packer home games.</p>
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<p>That’s right. I just seem to remember that some tv series took place in a town called Appleton. It’s like a faint child hood memory. I know it doesn’t matter, but it is going to drive me crazy until I figure it out. Or maybe I already am crazy.</p>
<p>Didn’t the Care Bears live in Appleton? ;)</p>
<p>possibly That 70’s Show - at least it was in Wisconsin!</p>
<p>You’re thinking of “Apple’s Way”, which was written by the same guy who did the Walton’s - Earl Hamner, Jr.</p>