<p>Grabrams, my advice is offered on the premise of your initial post that the requirements for music ed outweigh the desire for strong (liberal arts) academics within the LAC environment. And my thoughts are also predicated that if your d is competitive for admission to Swarthmore, then she would be competitive for many honors levels options at a good number of the institutions I’ve mentioned or linked. I’m also of the mind that seeking a music ed degree should not be a fallback position. One needs to want to teach (music) in a k-12 environment. That is what a music ed degree provides the specific background and training for.</p>
<p>Without knowing your level of understanding of the music ed curriculum, it is a highly sequenced series of coursework beginning in the freshman year in music theory, history, basic piano/keyboard applied instrumental/vocal teaching methods, some basic conducting, composition, music specific and general ed teaching coursework and psychology, practicums and off-site observation classwork, and a student teaching semester. Add in the institution specific requirements of private instrument instruction, studio, and performance. Round it out with the general academic requirements for the bachelors, and specific state mandated coursework for initial certification and there is not a lot of “fat” in a four year path for in depth secondary pursuit particularly in the non-music upper division courses. The BM, BS variants are the most intensive, and the BA MAY allow a bit more time as there are usually less music specific degree requirements. There are previous threads on the differences between the degree types.</p>
<p>Let me also point out that a good music ed program admit process includes an interview/essay evaluation which helps to “weed out” potential applicants who are not committed to music education, regardless of musical ability or academic achievement. It is not unusual for a “weaker” candidate with a strong commitment to music teaching and the demonstrated skills to be admitted over a more academically qualified but uncommitted music ed candidate.</p>
<p>Having said that, I understand that some students need to explore other areas, or need a highly stimulating academic environment. Kids are unsure of what they want to do as a career, and many do change major paths, some multiple times. Just remember that it is easier to transfer out of a music degree pursuit than into one once matriculated. (For reference, mine was a dual perf/ed candidate, who found out very late in the game he did not want to teach in a k-12 environment, and opted out of the ed portion a few credits shy of completion, finishing with “just” the performance BM. (Plenty of specific detail in my past posts.)</p>
<p>Again, strong academic LAC’s and smaller universities with solid music ed options are Oberlin, Lawrence. Consider Temple, Shenandoah, St. Olaf, Gettysburg, Northwestern, NYU for starters. Examine your own state flagship for both the music ed/academic honors options. Don’t discount a program like Swarthmore, but take the time to fully understand the degree offerings and coursework that will comprise their music ed path if one exists. Compare it to the degree requirements at a couple of the options I’ve cited. You will see what may or may not be missing. Talk to faculty, department heads, and have them provide a list of students with music (ed) degrees who have gone on to teaching/masters level work in music ed. I would try and correspond directly with those students and gain from their experiences.</p>
<p>As for the MA/MM path, you will need to look at specific admissions parameters for each institution. They are varied. There are programs that will only accept BM/BS music degree holders with certified teaching licenses, those that will accept a BM/BA in a music discipline, those that will accept a degree holder in another discipline with an appropriate music or education background. The amount of time will vary based on the credentials the candidate brings into the program. It could be as little as three summers, as long as two (or more) years.</p>
<p>While this is not specific to your question, it may be worth a read <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/750560-help-finding-music-gradute-program-student-weaker-qualifications.html?highlight=Western+connecticut[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/750560-help-finding-music-gradute-program-student-weaker-qualifications.html?highlight=Western+connecticut</a></p>
<p>You may also want to look through the MENC and MTNA, maybe ASTA websites as they have links dedicated to prospective music ed students
[MENC</a> Forums / Masters in Ed vs. Music Ed](<a href=“http://www.menc.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2818]MENC”>http://www.menc.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2818)</p>
<p>And as you mention a possible dual major in Spanish, she may want to investigate the possibility of a dual spanish/music ed path resulting in teaching certifcation for both. There will be some overlapping requirements, and could very well be achieved in four years. It might be the best of two worlds, and expand potential employment options. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/697348-music-education-major.html?highlight=spanish[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/697348-music-education-major.html?highlight=spanish</a></p>
<p>Examine your options, but look deeply.</p>