<p>One of the schools my D applied to has a Bachelors in Music with a concentration in Music Ed. The other schools offer a Bachelors in Music Ed. Can someone explain the difference?</p>
<p>It could be just a difference in nomenclature, or it could be more substantive depending on the terminology used at each school. A comparison of the graduation requirements for each program should tell you if there are any major differences.</p>
<p>That was an interesting process. My best guess at this point is that it is simply the way the school looks at it. For the most part the required courses are the same. Of course there are differences between programs but that many.</p>
<p>The school where there is a BM and a concentration in music ed does the same thing for concentrations in composition and performance. So my guess it is the schools that look at it this way (and there are several) have decided that there are certain requirements for all BM (theory, ear training, ensembles, music history, etc…) and then past that they add courses specific to the concentration.</p>
<p>I would assume that schools with a under grad degree in music ed, or composition, or performance, etc. probably look at it much the same way, but they just don’t sell it that way.</p>
<p>Again, it depends on the school. Some treat the performance and music ed majors pretty much the same when it comes to lessons, ensemble participation, expected level of playing and amount of practice. Other schools treat the music ed majors much differently than the performance majors with different teachers, different ensembles, and perhaps even shorter lessons. That is why it is very important to do the research and, if at all possible, visit the schools of interest before deciding which to attend.</p>
<p>Thanks BassDad. I looked again (and will probably look again and again…). I am seeing some differences that I did not realize at first. The devil is in the detail.</p>
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<p>My son just recieved a conditional acceptance letter from his second choice school, with the condition that he is also accepted by the college (he should here back about that in another week or two). There is two different levels of “applied music” (individual music performance instruction) classes at that college, one is for performance majors, the other is for all other music majors. They approved him for the performance major level classes, but his intent is to be an ed major. This particular college offers a “performance certificate” which just basically states that the student can play as well as most performance majors. </p>
<p>Anyhow, just to entertain myself, I made a chart of all the classes that he would have to take to get a music ed degree with the performance certificate, and then I compared that curriculum to what is required of performance majors. There was only 9 credit hours of difference because there is a tremendous overlap in requirements. </p>
<p>Essentially, if he could exempt out of a few classes, or take an overload for a couple or three semesters, or go to summer school for one summer, he would be qualified for both degrees.</p>
<p>Well, just to entertain myself, I compared courses for the BM in music ed and BM with a concentration in music ed. I am glad I did. Like BassDad suggested one big difference is the lessons and ensembles. The BM with the concentration in music had longer lessons and more ensemble requirements. Interesting…I did not see that one coming. There of course is other differences, but those are all over the place and hard to describe in general terms.</p>
<p>One thing to check is whether both programs will lead to initial/provisional teacher certification. I have seen a few where this is the case. Several of the curriculum items missing may well be the student teaching, some practicul/observation coursework, or some of the specific state mandated general ed requirements for certification.</p>
<p>Yes, the devil IS in the details.</p>
<p>Well, I’m not sure I am understanding you (violadad) completely…</p>
<p>I think the certification will not be an issue since both school said the students will be able to get their certification upon graduation. Both schools have accreditation by NASM. </p>
<p>If I am not understanding could you please explain more.</p>
<p>Thanks for your time and thoughts…</p>
<p>mom2winds, sorry for the late reply but to clarify what I said:</p>
<p>There are a number of schools and I would be hard pressed to come up with an exact quantity, that will offer more than one track in music education. One may be a BA , and the alternate might be a BM, or a BS, but the actual degree conferred will matter not.</p>
<p>What does matter is the curriculum and structure of the program, and whether or not the program is designed to meet all of a specific state’s requirements that will allow a student that fulfills the degree requirements to obtain an initial or provisional teaching certification.</p>
<p>The important point is to compare the differing degree requirements within schools offering multiple music ed options, and to ask the pointed question “does the program insure all of the (specific) state licensing requirements are met”.</p>
<p>Hope that makes it a bit clearer.</p>