<p>I am looking for a nice college, NOT BIG( TOPS 20,000 STUDENTs) , that has a good marching band and a nice football stadium to play in to make it an even better experience. But It Has to offer a music education program. Thanks you Very much. NOTE: The Band does Not have to Be GIANT AND AMAZING. Just a nice size.</p>
<p>I believe that Baylor University has both. Lots of school spirit!</p>
<p>Any state flagship university should fit the bill.</p>
<p>Where do you live? What part of the country and/or type of climate is preferred? Aapalachian State in Boone NC has a very good music school and music Ed program. School is making move to BCS next year. A good bit of money has been poured into upgrading total fan football experience toward that end. </p>
<p>Or you could look at one of the smaller SEC schools, where football reigns and bands are big. Actually that might be a good approach, list the big football conferences, then check enrollment and music school options at schools in the conference. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Where you live (and where you want to end up) is very important for music ed. In the midwest, Western Michigan University is a smaller-sized school (around 25,000) with a great marching band and a very good music ed. program. If you’re from the south, then I agree with Lorelei about Appalachian State - great music program.</p>
<p>I am from New Jersey and would want to be anywhere BUT the west. EAST OR SOUTH would be the best. it would be nice if the college had special services because sometimes i need extra help… lol. with Academics/ finding a good career.</p>
<p>Consider James Madison University in VA. It is close to your limit on size but it has a good music ed and marching band with good support services.</p>
<p>Western Carolina University probably has the most amazing marching band in the country. I’ve seen them perform several times at their stadium (which is good size but nothing comparable to a major university stadium). They regularly perform at BOA events, I have seen them at BOA Nationals in Indianapolis and super regionals at Atlanta. they host what is possibly the best independent high school marching band competition every October.</p>
<p>Unlike some major universities, they do just one show per year. My son’s SEC college does 7 different shows each year. The thing about doing just one show is that it can be much more elaborate, and they get better with it every week. WCU does a rock and roll show every year, complete with pyrotecniks (I know I misspelled it) and whatnot. It’s totally amazing to watch and very unique. Huge band for such a small school, they don’t have a lot of success with football, but a heck of a lot of success with marching band.</p>
<p>The school is just a few thousand students, and it is somewhat isolated (absolutely nothing to do in that town). Asheville is an hour or so away, but it’s a happening place for a small city.</p>
<p>But honestly, megpmom’s advice is perfect. If you’re student isn’t to choosy, most any state flagship university will have a fine music ed program (which is why my kid is at his state flagship U).</p>
<p>The Rutgers marching band should improve as Rutgers develops it Big Ten chops, but it is a pretty big, complicated school. Appalachian is not that far away, and James Madison has a good music school, too. Western Carolina’s music school is not of the same caliber as Appalachian. Appalachian takes good care of its students, a very nurturing school.</p>
<p>UNH (New Hampshire) has a very good music ed program, good marching band - Division I (I believe), a great pep band because hockey is great at UNH. Enrollment is 12,500 undergrad and 15,000 including grad students. Check it out.</p>
<p>Jacksonville St. Univ. and Troy St. Univ. Both are in Alabama and have great music Ed. programs.</p>
<p>Syracuse… And although not south, you’re in the Dome so you’re not marching in the snow! Lots of students from Jersey. You can also join the Sour Citrus Society (the Pep Band for Basketball) and if you’d been a member this year you would have played at the Final Four! 
(Future looking good, to! )</p>
<p>I went to Bowling Green and I would highly recommend looking into it. They just built a brand new sports facility in 2007. The marching band is fantastic, and the music ed program is really great as well (I was music performance, so I don’t know many specific details.</p>
<p>We lived in Athens, OH and I believe Ohio University would fit the bill. (We used to live in married student housing across the street from where the marching band practiced. Lots of great memories).<br>
My impression is that OU doesn’t really feel like a university, but more like a LAC in a small town. Very rural. Absolutely gorgeous – particularly in the fall.</p>
<p>Off the top of my head - Towson University in Baltimore has a nicer stadium, Music Ed and a good jazz program. May be a tad large for your liking. </p>
<p>If you are willing to look as far as St. Louis, Lindenwood University has a nice program (private school). </p>
<p>In Kansas - Pitt State…great stadium for a D2 school.</p>
<p>Others that come to mind - James Madison and Youngstown State</p>
<p>Beware that virtually every state school with a music program touts its’ “great music ed program.” It’s a very, very regional field, and there are lots of schools with good programs, and it’s harder to compare music ed schools’ merits than it is for things like performance programs. Frankly, I’d be inclined to think about where I’d like to end up teaching, and then finding the best fit in that area. At the schools I’ve been to, the prevailing music ed process is that the majority of the ed students move right into whatever the “entry-level” schools are in the area that turn over a ton, and then move on within a few years to various other areas.</p>
<p>UMass Amherst. They have a big marching band program as well as music education. They also have Drum Major Academy for high school students during the summer and use music majors and band members as staff for the program. The school has a little over 21,000 to 22,000 undergrad students. (There really isn’t much difference between 21-22k and 20k.) And it isn’t that far from NJ.</p>
<p>JMU, and VTech in Virginia. WVU has a good music program and a HUGE Marching Band and competitive football program.</p>
<p>Look at a school in the state where you hope to teach unless you want to spend time and money taking more certification exams-states don’t always honor certification from others and those that do can capriciously change the rules with no notice. And don’t underestimate the connections you can make student teaching; those are important and can help you get a foot in the door of a district by subbing…</p>
<p>Michigan State, hands down. D1, giant MB</p>