My son is interested in a Music Education degree but doesn’t want to give up playing at a high level, primarily in jazz. Are there programs that offer both? He doesn’t necessarily want to double major but wants to continue developing as a player AND educator.
My younger D had the same dilemma as a visual artist. She chose to pursue her BFA in studio art and concentrate on developing as an artist before pursuing an education degree. She immersed herself in the art world and had amazing experiences and growth, graduating in May 2016 from NYU with a sculpture concentration. That fall she started an accelerated program at NYU in Art Education for students without an education background (initial certification.) She was able to complete the 33 credit MA program by the following July (less than a year—studying through January term and one summer session) and was working as a NYC art teacher by September 2017. She is completing her first year teaching sculpture in a Brooklyn public school, Pre-K to 8.
The 4 years she spent studying art allowed her to see herself as a working artist, with gallery showings and the opportunity to develop a body of work. The year spent studying art education gave her the basis to begin her career as a teacher and gain certification.
In NY, teachers need to get their masters within 5 years of teaching. So she is done with that requirement and can focus on creating art during summers and on weekends. She was hired for her position in early spring, and everyone in the program found positions by fall. I had been warned by some that being an inexperienced teacher with a masters might make it harder to find a position because of her higher salary step, but that was not an issue at all.
Good luck with your sin’s journey!
Thank you! My son definitively wants to do four years, at least at this point. He also wants to get in a classroom sooner rather than later so he can see if it’s for him. So far he’s interested in Ithaca, where the music ed program has student teaching the very first year (he figures he can stick with performance if he doesn’t like it). But he really needs other options.
Have you looked into Eastman’s music ed program?
Well, as a native New York stater who knows nothing about music programs, Ithaca was all I had in my arsenal. Good luck, though! Maybe there are schools in the South that could fit the bill? New Orleans, Nashville, Atlanta?
The music faculty at my S’s school stresses that they are both educators and musicians.
As part of his curriculum he has to participate in two ensembles and I am sure that this will continue to develop his talent.
He has applied voice and piano lessons, in addition to theory and aural and instrument lessons, education classes, and liberal arts requirements.
Look at Duquesne, IUP, Seton Hill and Messiah, they have good music education programs, I don’t know much about jazz though.
What about SUNY Fredonia?
The music education program there is highly thought of and the quality of the student musicians is top notch. The school live streams many concerts, so you can check out the productions. The students participate in ensembles and have many other opportunities (like the pit for the theater department shows and recitals).
If you are a NY’er, the price usually can’t be beat.
Thank you all! @indeestudios yes, he is going to a summer program there in July! @mommdc he is looking for a secular school.
UNT?
I guess you will have to get recommendations from others here about good jazz programs and then investigate about music education.
Thanks @mommdc . @techmom99 I will check out Fredonia (we are out of state tho).
Fred offers a $5K annual renewable scholarship for OOS students based on merit. It also offers a one time honors scholarship if you get into the program of $1500, as well as the opportunity of other money.
Often overlooked by Americans are McGill University and University of Toronto just across the border. McGill offers a dual degree BMus/BEd and a minor in music education in the BMus program. McGill is also very strong in jazz. International tuition there is US$17,000 for music.
http://www.mcgill.ca/music/programs/bmus/bmus-bed
http://www.mcgill.ca/music/programs/minor/music-education
Thanks @mommdc . @techmom99 I will check out Fredonia (we are out of state).
@TomSrOfBoston I think he would be quite interested in McGill, but I’m pretty sure they don’t do U.S. certification in music ed? Also this seems to be a minor, so he woul dneed at least another year to get certified if not longer…
My daughter is a freshman music education major at Ithaca. She absolutely loves it!! The performance majors and the music education majors are treated and thought of in the exact same way-“all educators are performers, and all performers are educators.” They also offer a
4 1/2 year combined music education/music performance degree which seems to be very popular. Just a note-they are not student teaching in freshman year-that doesn’t begin until junior year. (Which is, in fact, a year earlier than most programs). Freshman and junior year their classroom involvement consists of classroom observations. They are required to complete 100 hours of classroom observation before junior year, when they start student teaching. I’ll be happy to answer any questions about Ithaca!
This is great, @pab715 , Ithaca is at the top of his list! He visited in the fall and had lessons with both the jazz director and prof. Mauk. He loved it, so glad to hear she does too. What does she play? Did she always want to do music ed?
She plays clarinet as her primary instrument (and a few others as secondary instruments). Yes, she has always wanted to do music ed. She has always loved teachers, school and the whole school environment-she always knew she wanted to become a teacher. She started playing clarinet in 4th grade and instantly fell in love! Her love for music grew enormously with each passing year, and by freshman year of high school it became clear to her that the obvious path for her to follow would be as a music educator. For her, it’s the perfect marriage. She is so thrilled to be actively involved in fulfilling that dream.
That’s wonderful news. Perhaps she and my son will meet when she’s a junior! 
That would be nice.
I’d be happy to answer any questions that may come up along the way.