<p>I'm currently getting my undergrad music ed degree and am interested in conducting collegiate wind ensembles. Would it be safe to say that a MM in wind conducting would be a better option for me than music education?</p>
<p>Also, I know there are several schools that allow you to receive a MM in music education over the course of 3 summers. This would allow me to teach while receiving the degree or get a different master's degree during the year and this one over the summer. Do any schools offer wind conducting degrees that can be done over the summer?</p>
<p>Yes, it would be safe to say that an MM in wind conducting would be better preparation for conducting college-level wind ensembles than an MM in music ed would be. </p>
<p>While there might be a wind conducting degree that can be done primarily through summer study, I think that it would not be viewed as seriously as one that requires a couple of years of full-time study, especially by any potential university to which you might apply for a conducting position. High schools are not as savvy as to distinguishing among degrees with the same name. Universities know that not all degrees are created equal.</p>
<p>I think that it is unlikely that you will find a decent summer conducting degree. You have to conduct to learn conducting and there are very few ensembles to conduct over the summer months. Very few schools maintain wind ensems or other substantial ensems over the summer.</p>
<p>I really don’t see a lot of advantage in getting a graduate degree in music ed if you already have an undergrad music ed degree. But there may a tremendous advantage in getting a grad music degree in a field other than music ed.</p>
<p>If you end up teaching in public schools, and I realize that’s not your goal, but as long as you have a Bachelors and a teaching certificate, having a masters in any field will up your salary just the same.</p>
<p>Maybe the one exception is if you wanted to teach music education classes at the college level, then maybe two music ed degrees would be better.</p>