Music Education Major in CSULB

I’ve been looking for colleges in California with good music education major, and CSULB’s music education major seems pretty decent, with it being offered at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. I am going to be a senior in few months, and I have few questions about the audition process. I live overseas, and I know some schools accept recorded auditions if a student doesn’t live near the area. When I looked at the website, it did not say anything about recorded audition for those who live far. So my question is: do they accept recorded audition or do they require students the on campus audition? Also, even though it is the one thing that attracted me the most, I’m a little intimidated about the fact that the music education major is within the conservatory. I don’t think I’m a conservatory-level player, and that’s what worries me the most right now. Do they consider the fact that I want to major in music education not performance when they look at the audition? Or do they expect the same performance level as the prospective performance major students? By the way, I’m interested in music education in instrumental program. I would very much appreciate the answers from people who has experience in auditioning for CSULB music program or current students who are in music education major. Thanks in advance!

Since you’re international, how did you choose CSULB our of all the CSU’s for Music Education? I assume you’re interested in remaining in California after to teach? There are many good choices of CSU’s for Music Ed.

I looked through some threads here, and it seemed like a lot of people think CSULB’s music education is one of the best ones. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know! And yes, I do want to stay in California to teach after I graduate.

You have many choices within the CSU system. You may want to consider other aspects of the university and area as a way to narrow it down.

Here are just some:

Fullerton says it has a 100% placement rate. Can’t beat that. https://www.fullerton.edu/arts/music/programs/education.html
Northridge: http://www.csun.edu/mike-curb-arts-media-communication/music/music-education
http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/musictheatredance - Cal State LA
Lots of Bay Area teachers I know studied here: http://www20.csueastbay.edu/class/departments/music/degrees/education.html
http://www.fresnostate.edu/artshum/music/index.html
http://www.csuchico.edu/muta/music/undergraduate/music_education.shtml
http://catalog.csus.edu/12-14/programs/musc.html
http://www.sjsu.edu/music/
http://www.sonoma.edu/music/majors-programs/major.html

WOW thank you so much! Do you know about the performance level of people who get into music education major? I’m not so confident about my performance level, and I would really like to know about what the schools expect from aspiring music education students.

I’m afraid I cannot answer your questions about the expectations of these different programs. I suggest that you email the head of the music ed dept at each school and tell them a bit about yourself - your background and your aspirations. Ask them if they feel you would be a good fit for their program. Others on this Forum may know more than I about a particular department. Have you considered the financial aspect of these schools? There’s no aid, as far as I know, for international applicants to the public system in California. There might be, however, at some of the private universities, like University of Redlands http://www.redlands.edu/academics/school-of-music/undergraduate-music.aspx#.VZtjBSSaL8t

Haha I am an American citizen and have residency in Virginia. I just live overseas because of my parents work circumstance. Do you know if they offer any financial aid for non resident students?

General information about the CSU system is CSU Mentor. Here’s the financial aid page. You’ll qualify for federal loans: https://secure.csumentor.edu/FinAid/ and here’s the Net Price Calculator: https://secure.csumentor.edu/finaid/pais/

CSULB has a wonderful music program. Though the thing is that they accept only live auditions.