<p>My daughter is planning to pursue performance (classical voice) and music education in her career simultaneously, but in that orders if needs to be prioritized (her career plan includes sacred music too since her background includes that as well as piano). She is planning to pursue grad studies (including doctoral studies) at appropriate time after undergraduate degree (either right after UG or after few years of working if she lands a good opportunity). </p>
<p>In some places/conservatories, Music Education is not an option at all. In some schools (like FSU, DePauw), either you have to choose one of two options or the schools strongly discourage dual-major in performance and music education. In some schools you can pursue both (though may take five years in some of these schools). In schools where you can pursue both, some schools recommend pursuing just Music Ed for undergrad (if we are concerned about 5 years UG or if we are sure we are going to go to grad school) since the performance opportunities and the private/studio lessons are same for both while the Music Ed has additional requirements (due to certification process), hence hard to get it later (than vice versa).</p>
<p>So my question, for situations like ours, in schools where you have to choose one or in schools where there is no "major" differences, which one is better to choose for UG: Performance or Music Education?</p>
<p>Just my 2 cents, I’d encourage her to pursue performance as an undergrad if her goal is a Phd. She can always get a MM in music ed later. Son is a dual major and finding that the music ed requirements take up quite a bit of his time. If his goal was to be a top performer, then the performance major would be a better choice. He is enjoying the challenge of the higher expectations of the performance major keeping him from slacking on his primary instrument while working towards the ed degree.</p>
<p>If your D intends to teach in an elementary/middle/high school situtation- or is even considering it- then by all means, go for the Music Ed degree. And do it in the state in which she plans on teaching so that her certification is taken care of. Of course one doesn’t need the official education degree if planning on teaching in a college or university setting, but it’s much harder to go back and “make up” those ed courses and the student teaching requirements.
Where does the Sacred Music study come in here? Is she considering a concentration in that as part of her performance degree? I know that there are places where one can do that, and that there are a few schools where you can do the same while getting a Music Education degree too. My D has some friends who have their undergrad degrees in VP/Sacred Music who are now pursuing their Masters in VP. They’ve had to make up some of the courses they didn’t take before, but it’s been doable for them.
Is she a senior now, or will she be auditioning next year? If you are comfortable sharing her list of schools on here (or via PM), there are several of us with kids who are VP majors, or who have familiarity with schools, who can offer some advice.</p>
<p>Thanks four reply. My D is a senior now and she has been admitted into three programs so far (one BMEd program and the other two combined BM Perf. & Music Ed. program). She has received some scholarships from those and still waiting for decisions on more scholarships from these and waiting for admissions decisions from three more. I will provide more details in couple of days. On the sacred music, she is planning to pursue it simultaneously, but not as part of the UG. Thanks again.</p>