Music education for serious players

My daughter (violin) graduated from Ithaca last May. She was in the 4-1/2 year Music Ed./Performance program but switched to just music ed. halfway through her sophomore year. Just FYI, the dual program, even with the extra semester, is extremely demanding. A great deal depends on the studio teacher and how understanding they are with the music ed. commitments (which are many). I am a retired music teacher myself, so I know of what I speak. Many students who start off in the music ed./performance program end up switching to one or the other at some point. Not all, of course, there are many that stick it out. But just a heads up, it is VERY demanding, and gets more so in the second, third and fourth years. In fact, my daughter’s studio teacher told her the School of Music was discussing the possibility of making it a five year program because of all the issues. They haven’t done that yet, but the fact they are discussing it bears thinking about.

With that said, my daughter LOVED Ithaca. The playing is indeed of a high caliber there - not conservatory level, IMHO, but quite excellent. We were very impressed with the concerts. Btw, like Fredonia, Ithaca live-streams most of their concerts if you would like to check them out. The town is awesome too. A great place all around. The school is ridiculously expensive, but hopefully you would get some music merit $$.

I’d also be very happy to answer any questions you might have if I can. Best of luck to your son!

Re the above about Ithaca’s dual degree–Before I’d consider a 4 1/2 or 5 year dual program that grants an undergraduate BM degree only, I’d certainly look into options for 5 year programs that grant both a BM and MA in Music Ed over the same time frame.

My D attended NYU for the BFA/MA art education degrees she was awarded in 5 years (discussed in my earlier post.) The Music department at NYU offers a similar 5 year dual program in which you get a (jazz) performance BM and then continue on to receive the MA in music ed within one year. My older D was a BM VP at NYU and considered the program, but in the end decided she didn’t want to teach. But she knows several people who did the program, completed it on time, and are now working as music teachers.

https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/education/dual

While NYU is an expensive school, they do award merit money (even without need) for music (and art) students. My younger D applied ED for undergrad so did not get merit, but did get more than a half-tuition scholarship plus work study for her 5th year masters. My older D who got the BM in VP got $11K a year in merit money (no need.)

And pab715 is indeed correct about the student teaching and observation timetable. For what they call “junior student teaching” the students are driven in a van to nearby towns (in my daughter’s case, Cortland) twice a week to teach for about 2 hours each day. The senior year student teaching is a half of a semester somewhere. I strongly believe it should be a full semester, like most schools do, even given the fact that they had some teaching their junior year. The more the better. (And boy, does that ever screw up housing, to have to leave for half a semester, but don’t get me started on that!) But, it isn’t, so…ok.

Also, my daughter’s boyfriend was a clarinet performance major, who minored in Jazz Studies (he did sax stuff too). He loved it - outstanding jazz program, fyi!

Great info, @Momof2violinists! I will definitely have questions. @uskoolfish , totally agree about NYU — my daughter graduated last May. Baby bro wants to get away from the big city, though.

Another question: anyone know great places in Washington state or Oregon? Or Colorado? S is suddenly interested in these areas!

akapiratequeen

We just got back from McGill. Its music education program is unique and, for the right person, it could be great. First, while the program does not grant U.S. certification, most states will licence McGill grads (sometimes requiring a course or 2 (Virginia would licence without any additional courses). The McGill degree takes at least 5 years. You would only have lessons in the primary instrument during the first 2 years (additinoal lessons are possible but you have to pay extra). Students have two partial semesters of student teaching, followed by two full semesters of student teaching. They also spend a lot of teaching other instruments.

There are several classes that are required at McGill not required elsewhere. You have to take Philosophy of Education (a real philosophy class). education and social justice, indigenous studies, Quebec education and classroom measurement. All of these are, apparently challenging classes.

We talked to several of the applied studies teachers. Several said they would not even consider music education students. Others said they would be fine with them.

There are apparently very few teaching positions in Canada (even fewer in Quebec) and most grads wind up in either the U.S., Asia or Europe.

McGill seems like a great place and the education students seem like a very happy and close group.

Let me know if there is anything else you want to know.

P.S. Is your son doing the jazz Program at Eastman or Music Horizons?

Wow thanks for the McGill info! Will let S know.

He’ll be at the Jazz Workshop! Has your daughter done Eastman? He did the Berklee five-week last year.

My S has done Music Horizons (he loved it) and will be back this year (overlapping with your S by a week). Also, let us know if you want to know anything about Peabody (including where to eat), he has taken lessons there for year.

Your S, got it! How old is he?

We’re back from Peabody, he liked it a lot. He told me that of the schools he’s seen so far, it’s a “solid three” after Ithaca and Berklee (he hasn’t seen Eastman yet). He was a little put off by the fact that music ed is a five-year program and he would have to apply to both the performance and music ed programs and be admitted to both. That said, he definitely plans to audition there. He liked what I would call the “haunted mansion” vibe, and Baltimore was cool!

17 (Junior).