<p>That’s a good point, to make sure music ed is something you can honestly see sometime in your future. Just because YOU may view it as a Plan B, the colleges you would be applying to certainly don’t view it that way!</p>
<p>I was floored, in a good way, at how seriously committed the college-level educators we met are about their mission. If a prospective student can’t communicate a similar level of commitment, they don’t belong in a music ed program. My D has had opportunities to act in a teaching capacity for different grade levels, and that has helped her gain some perspective on what she is interested, and what she is capable of. OP may want to explore similar options before committing to it as a college career.</p>