<p>New to CC - are there music ed programs that allow a student to come out with expertise in both vocal and instrumental? They all seem to say that you have to choose one or the other. What if a student is strong in both and hopes to be more marketable by being able to teach, say, orchestra or chorus equally well?</p>
<p>This has been one of my daughter’s key points in her search for the right school. As you noted, most schools make students choose between instrumental/general or choral/general. We did come across a few that offer certification for all areas:</p>
<p>• Butler University (Indianapolis) All Area Certification: 5 year program
• Ohio Univ (Athens) will let you do both, but again 5 years
• Belmont Univ (Nashville) certification for vocal music, instrumental music or both, grades K-12 (Four years plus a summer)
• Illinois Wesleyan Univ offers certification for all in 4 year program
• Morehead State Univ offers certification for general, instrumental and vocal music primary-12</p>
<p>And even at colleges where it was not listed as an option on the website, when my daughter asked about having a dual focus with instrumental and choral, she was mostly told it was possible, but would require being in school longer than 4 years.</p>
<p>Thanks for that list. I hope there are others that might have ways to do it. Belmont’s 4 years plus a summer doesn’t sound so bad.</p>
<p>Not sure how it works with the Music Ed piece, but Susquehanna encourages everyone to participate in multiple ensembles, and apparently almost everyone is in both a vocal ensemble and an instrument one (scholarships for the minor instrument also available).</p>
<p>This really is one of those you can’t take what the departmental websites say at face value scenarios.</p>
<p>It will require some indepth reading (typically in the undergrad handbook or music school/department supplemental handbook) as to what is, isn’t or may be possible.</p>
<p>The issue tends not to be discouraging a multi-discipline approach, but the strict sequencing and prereq nature of the music ed curriculum structure makes staying in sync with both paths a potential scheduling nightmare. Observation, practicum courses tend to conflict, as well might multiple performance ensemble obligations. These are the typical obstacles, but it may well be possible at most every music ed program given and extra semester or two, and maybe some summers.</p>
<p>The key will be knowing the major specific degree requirements for each, where they overlap, and what the departmental philosophies/mindsets are in terms of support.</p>
<p>You may find more flexibility and encouragement in smaller programs, but fewer class offerings and ensemble options. A larger program may offer more options there, but may also be more inclined to pigeon-hole and mainstream such a student.</p>
<p>Doing your homework and knowing the basics and pointed questions to the department once you get serious in narrowing programs will be the most effective strategy. Grizzy’s list is a good starting point. Perhaps a list of those that Grizzy examined and seemed not to work would also be useful.</p>
<p>In NH the certification is for both instrumental and vocal, I believe. I know people who have gone to Plymouth State University and continued to study both voice and an instrument while completing their music education degree.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone - this seems to be a complex situation. Its a shame for a kid to go through high school both as an instrumentalist and a singer, then having to choose between the 2 in college, in terms of what kind of teaching to pursue. I have to believe that there are some more schools that offer a way for students to come out of college ready and able to teach either or both. I appreciate everyone’s comments!</p>
<p>Another thing to check…if you do instrumental AND vocal music education…will you be required to do two terms of student teaching (one in each field) or will your state/school allow you to do the split between the two. If you are required to do a full term student teaching in each of vocal and instrumental, this would add at least at term onto your studies. And as Violadad pointed out…there is some overlap in course requirements…but you need to find out the differences in requirements and see how those will align with course scheduling.</p>
<p>I am unaware of any state that certifies music teachers separately for choral, general, or instrumental. Yes, the programs are usually divided either instrumental/general or vocal/general, or sometimes instrumental, vocal or general, but the final certification is typically Music K-12. In most cases, on the credential there is no indication of which track you studied. </p>
<p>Most student teaching experiences are divided in two: 1/2 the time at elementary level, 1/2 time at secondary. So it is quite conceivable that a student could do instrumental at one level, vocal at another. Also, there are observation requirements, and a student would do well to choose wisely there–observe some string teachers, band directors, show choir leaders, musical theater directors, woodwind specialists, general music teachers… Also, many big music programs hire section leaders to help in the program, so there is another opportunity to observe the master teacher. Add in working in music summer camps, teaching music at the Y or community rec centers, volunteering with the local community theater, children’s chorus, community youth symphony or band, and it’s not difficult for a music ed student to get lots of experiences working with both vocal and instrumental music. The musician who can do both vocal and instrumental music will always find work. I don’t see any problem at all for a music ed student who plays multiple instruments to carve out the right experiences to fulfill the goal of being prepared to work in either vocal or instrumental music.</p>
<p>DH teaches band, chorus and general music at his school. His student teaching, ages ago, was in vocal and general music. He is also a flute player, and his music ed program had all the different methods classes, including strings, woodwinds, etc. He says he learned the most about band directing on the job, by working with and observing other music teachers, and most especially, by taking his students to clinics and workshops.</p>
<p>You don’t need to student teach in every possible subject in order to effectively teach. If you’ve participated in bands, or orchestras, or choirs, etc., take the music methods classes, and love to work with kids, you’ll be fine. Once you know your subject, teaching at the K-12 level is more about teaching the student than about teaching the subject.</p>
<p>Very helpful info everyone, thanks. I understand about getting certification in music K-12. Colleges seem to require a student to choose either a vocal or an instrumental track. I understand the scheduling issues of taking classes specific to both, but I was wondering if there are schools that do allow both courses of study, even if it would require an extra year or semester.</p>
<p>Songold - I’m not sure where you are looking, but Montclair in NJ has a 5 year program where you come out with 2 Bachelor degrees. Looking at the graduation requirements, it looked like you actually had to study both instrumental and vocal pretty fully - which is what knocked it off my D’s list. Even for Music Ed/Vocal, one still has to take marching band, percussion, brass, or at least that’s how it looked in the curriculum guide.</p>
<p>I am currently attending University of Central Florida with a double major in Voice and Music ed. Its going to take me longer for a myriad of reasons, but they are allowing it. I transferred down here and I’m trying to get in state tuition, so I’m working full time while I go to school and teach as well! I’m not concerned with graduating in a timely fashion, there’s nothing magical waiting for me after I have my degrees. Just no school, and trying to get a job in my field…me and millions of other graduates.</p>
<p>To Beezmom -Thanks. On your suggestion I just looked at the Montclair program. Like other schools I’ve noticed, they seem to have expanded their program into a 5 year Bachelor’s in order to fit in all the music and education courses that are required for state certifications or licenses. I didn’t notice two Bachelor’s degrees, though. The website said that the 5 years offers a B.M. that also gives a student New Jersey licensure to teach. Their program looks pretty strong, and requires instrumental majors to study basic voice and vocal majors to take basic courses in woodwinds, brass and strings, which I’ve seen on music education programs in other schools too. </p>
<p>To xo…tinysing… that’s great that you can do both courses of study. Its nice to hear that a school is open to providing you with what you are truly interested in. Did you have to work that out specially? Were they helpful in advising you?</p>
<p>Check out Temple University (Boyer College of Music) in Philadelphia as well. We are also required to take methods classes in instrumental (brass 1/2, upper/lower strings, 4 sems of piano, woodwinds 1/2, percussion) as well as voice (2 credits worth) and various classes in general music, creativity/ improv classes, and teaching choral music and teaching instrumental music. It is a wonderful program and I have had nothing but wonderful experiences there and am so glad I chose the school I did. If you have any questions about Boyer, feel free to PM me! We aren’t allowed to do a double concentration (so you can’t do Music Ed w/ both an instrumental and choral track for example), but there are lots of options for taking extra classes and lessons if you want.</p>
<p>I’m going to be a Junior Music Ed. Flute Concentration this coming Fall and I adore it. Outside of flute I love to sing and have taken private lessons for years. I honestly am kind of leaning toward teaching choir when I graduate, so I understand what you’re saying! As a lot of people have said, most schools grant you certification in Music k-12, that includes instrumental, choral and general. But I have found that at Temple I have been able to stay in choir, I still take private lessons (there is a waitlist for faculty, but you can always find a grad student) and I’ve taken some musical theater courses as well. Yes. It is more difficult, because Music Education is a highly intense major (which is why you have to choose a concentration) but if you want to expand your knowledge, go for it. You might have to pay extra money for credits, or take a credit overload, but if it’s what you want, do it. College is about education, it’s never a bad idea to educate yourself in the field you love.</p>
<p>I did have to speak to several people to make the double major happen, but they have been very accommodating.</p>