Definitely consider SUNY Potsdam (NY). I’ve seen it already mentioned a few times, but wanted to add my kudos as well. Potsdam’s Crane School of Music is terrific.
1 Like
Indiana has a great music school, and it is a lovely campus.
It is possible to find schools offering Music Ed with Teacher Certification in grad programs, but this option is not offered by all schools that have graduate Music Ed degrees. The grad programs that can result in certification are often longer than 2 years with an additional semester or a couple summers required to complete student teaching, observations, and all the methods courses that an undergrad would have taken in a typical music Ed program.
If a student knows they want or “might” want Music Ed, there are more options for schools at an undergrad level. These programs will include all requirements leading to a teacher license.
Graduate Music Ed degrees (unless specified as also including Licensure) are generally meant to support those currently teaching and/or those that already hold licensure/ certification.
Agree with Indiana University and with University of North Texas.
Northwestern University & Curtis Institute of Music.
Our local school music teacher did a one year grad program. He did not do undergrad music ed but did undergrad music BA I believe, at a “small liberal,” which is what the OP mentions as a target.
I am still a little confused by the original post but if the daughter doesn’t want a BM but wants a music BA at a “small liberal,” then grad school may be needed for music ed. If she wants undergrad music ed she will need a BM, which to me is a “conservatory approach” 
1 Like
Not sure why Northwestern University’s Bienin School of Music is not included on this list.
If you can determine the specific path taken and post specifics, that might be helpful to some readers.
Some districts do have special hiring criteria for teacher shortage situations including music. I know a couple young and not young people who were hired as teachers after multiple years as professional musicians. They had to pass certification tests, supply references from organizations that they had worked for, and pick up a couple courses. Criteria and availability of “alternate route” depends on state and district. This approach is different than gaining licensure via a graduate degree.
I get it - and there’s other schools - directional for example - that are low tuition for all - but I hypothesize (maybe incorrectly) when someone says we’re looking at privates, that they’re probably looking for name brands and while the SUNYs have terrific performing arts schools, some will say Purchase or Potsdam…what? We just don’t know what the OP is thinking til they give us more…
I know there’s many a fine school for music and I also know many will require an audition and for many schools you can apply but it’s too late for merit - but I was focusing on name brand schools that I know could work - until they said East Coast.
The first school I mentioned was IU - Indiana - but that’s not East Coast and not going to be cheap - but again, we don’t know what they define as affordable. If the privates are $80K, $50K might be affordable…
Obviously there’s great schools in the East and some like Maine will match in-state tuition.
But we just don’t know enough yet - including the state they are from and cost they are looking for.
Hopefully they provide that.
When someone gives a geography like the East Coast it’s tough - because NJ has no state ties to others but for example, the New England schools do, etc. In the South, we have the Academic Common Market but music is unlikely to be on it. But schools like W Carolina are dirt cheap for all. Murray State does great with music education in our district - but not the East Coast…has great merit.
As for UMASS waiving tuition - again, we don’t know if we’re dealing with a 2.5 student or a 4.0 student.
So hopefully we more descriptive info from OP.
Thanks
Temple and Florida State. Maybe UNC Wilmington?
The OP says in their first post that they are looking for state schools to add to their list. First sentence. First post.
Yes - I get it and I provided a lot - all public (none private).
All I’m saying is -and I said most don’t consider SUNY branches name schools - whereas an Indiana or UMASS or Alabama or Delaware are name brands.
I recommended W Carolina and S Illinois.
Not really name brands (maybe SIU).
I was commenting back when someone said the SUNY can be cheaper - as could SIU and West Carolina - hence I mentioned.
I’m simply saying - they might be looking for more notable names. We don’t know - they haven’t since responded.
We also don’t know the type of student nor what affordable means to them.
I get the public part - but there’s a difference to people between even Suny B and SUNY Cortland, etc.
Thanks
SUNY is very well respected in the northeast - moreso than many you mentioned. Which branch is “most” respected depends upon the major. Unless things have changed since I lived there, Potsdam wins for music.
1 Like
And the OP may very well agree (or not) with you - we don’t know where they are or what they think - that’s all I’m saying.
Hoping they provide more info - like state they live (is it NY, Rhode Island, Maryland, etc.). Do they want urban, suburban, or to live in an igloo (Potsdam is really cold).
What’s affordable - they want to be $30K or less. $60K or less, etc.
Not disagreeing with anyone at all - just hoping they provide more info so we have more context…
It’s all good. I’ll wait to see how they respond to everyone’s ideas.
PS - I just saw a new thread topic for Montclair State - maybe that’s another idea
Hello everyone, thank you for your informative comments. I will clarify some things. She is serious about music but also is interested in other subjects so we felt like the conservatory approach would limit her being able to take classes in other subjects, also was not sure if she wanted that level of pressure at this time.
We are in great financial need so we were targeting mainly need-met liberal arts schools with great music programs such as Oberlin.
This route worked for us well with our eldest daughter.
Because of the climate of admissions currently and so many schools being test optional etc. admissions offices are overwhelmed with applicants. More competitive than ever-
I’m just looking for a back up plan for her.
Thanks all!!
1 Like
What state do u live in ?
What are her stats…gpa. Test etc.
1 Like
Specifics about our music teacher? He got a grad degree in music ed.
Not what you asked, but we’re in a similar position (low EFC, looking mainly at music schools that meet demonstrated need), and we weren’t able to find any public schools outside of our home state that would be as affordable as the privates with good aid. So aside from an in-state public, my son’s less reach-y schools (again, aside from an in-state school) are a few privates where the NPC looked good even though they don’t meet demonstrated need: Lawrence and Baldwin Wallace are the two that come to mind that he ended up applying to (accepted EA to Lawrence with a great scholarship and enough need-based on top of it that it would be doable for us. I suspect Baldwin Wallace would be a stretch, financially, but still cheaper for us than most out of state publics). There were a few others that would have worked but that he didn’t end up applying to (St. Olaf, Hartt I think, etc).
Second West Chester (a PA State school)!
1 Like
You don’t need a high level conservatory to get certification to teach music. You can do this at an instate public university in your home state.
I too am a bit confused by the OP. Many conservatories do not have a path to music education.
Why is this student thinking about music education? Is it because she really wants to be a teacher inna school? Or is it because someone feels this is a better path to a job that earns more money?