Music Education transfer?

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I'm from Concord, MA, currently attending Case Western Reserve University as a music education major. I've only been here for a couple months, but I've been having serious thoughts that I've made a mistake in choosing my school. I feel like I need to be at a school with a much better program - Case students graduate with a B.S. in Music Education, and I don't think this is ideal, and would prefer a B.M. My high school had oustanding arts programs, in both music and theater, and I want to find a place where I can hopefully equal those.</p>

<p>I've been looking for other schools, mostly pretty big universities that have Schools of Music, not conservatories. I dislike the conservatory environment, another part of the reason I'm not doing so well at Case...they have a joint program with the Cleveland Institue of Music, which I originally thought would be ideal, but it turns out I'm still getting the part of the conservatory I don't like; having to study with the faculty, who are often very arrogant and disdainful of having to teach Case students in addition to their regular CIM kids. I'm not a performance major, and playing is not my strong suit, so I need a place that acknowledges that and teaches me at my level, not expecting me to be a professional-level player.</p>

<p>My requirements as of now:
- Fairly large school
- Separate school of music, offering the B.M. in Music Education
- Very diverse (socially and culturally)
- Lots of opportunity for students interested in the arts (including theater)
- Preferably located in or near a large city
- Located either in New England, Mid-Atlantic, or some Midwest areas (Ohio, maybe Indiana)
- PRICE IS IMPORTANT. I would like someplace not too expensive so I could afford to spend more time there.</p>

<p>Some schools considered include: Northwestern, UConn, Syracuse, Ohio State.</p>

<p>I really need help. I'm not sure if I would want to transfer as a freshman and start over or if I should go in as a sophomore. I also just don't know if the former is possibly, but I would rather do that and spend an extra year just for congruency. ANY HELP OR ADVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.</p>

2

<p>If you say price is important, then take Northwestern off your list. It’s around $45K per year!</p>

3

<p>Will do…thanks Zep. Any other suggestions?</p>

4

<p>Sorry, but I’m not good on Music Ed, D is performance major… </p>

<p>I’m in the Chciago area and most Music Ed majors here go to University of Illinois, with a smattering of Illinois State University, and a sprinkling of Northwestern, although as I mentioned before, this school is pricing itself out of Music Ed. How can someone live on a teacher’s salary if they’ve racked up significant school loans during their undergraduate years? </p>

<p>Other popular places are Indiana University and University of Iowa. </p>

<p>The schools I’ve mentioned cover all the band/orchestra directors my D had from grade school through HS…</p>

5

<p>Ohio State seems like a good choice. UNC-Greensboro has a good music ed department and you may want to consider Temple, George Mason, and the SUNYs are a great value- but you have to investigate which ones are accessible enough to NYC for you.</p>

6

<p>While I don’t recommend UMass for performance majors, it has a reasonable Music Ed program, and if you are in state, it is reasonably priced. Plus, if you have good scores from HS, and good GPA at Case, you could be in line for some nice merit money too.</p>

<p>Amherst isn’t a “large city” but it is a fun town, and only an hour+ from Boston (as you must know;!).</p>

<p>UConn’s music overall is probably a little better than UMass, but it will be a lot more expensive to attend as an out of state student.</p>

7

<p>I’m going to agree with -Allmusic- on UMass Amherst for music ed, but with a caveat… the program from what I hear is not to the former standard it once had; there have been a number of disgrunted music ed graduates.</p>

<p>Now, that being said, MOST state schools within your own state are the place to go for music ed, as they virtually will guarantee certification within your state, and they are the most cost effective financially.</p>

<p>UCONN is acceptable, and a better overall program, but Storrs is in the boonies. The only arts you’ll find is on campus, unless you want to drive to Hartford, Springfield, Worcester or Boston. Of the SUNY’s, Potsdam (Crane) is nationally recognized as a top producer of high quality music ed teachers.</p>

<p>Appalachian State is also a very strong music ed program, but I don’t think Boone is in the center of a cultural mecca.</p>

<p>For privates, look at Hartt (U/Hartford). A nationally recognized top program, but expensive without talent aid. This can be very generous. It’s a very active supportive program, with top notch faculty.</p>

<p>In the midwest, Ball State has a strong program.</p>

<p>Take a look at the thread here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=393307&highlight=music[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=393307&highlight=music&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I’m having a bit of trouble meeting all your requirements in one school - have done some random checking (see below). My S loves Ohio for music (even though he goes to school in NYC). He says that Ohio has so much opportunity that it attracts many top musicians, and even the small less known schools have good music teachers.</p>

<p>However, since you don’t want a conservatory program, you will probably not like Oberlin, Baldwin-Wallace, or CCM. </p>

<p>You want diversity and a big city, so you won’t like my D’s school, Miami University in tiny Oxford, OH. However, they do have a large student body, and offer a BM in Music Education. It is a pretty “white” preppy school, although they are making an effort to diversify. It is about an hour from Cincinnati or Dayton, where students go to concerts and such.</p>

<p>Ohio State, suggested above, might be worth a look. They offer a “Bachelor of Music Education” - not sure how that compares to a BM program. </p>

<p>Indiana University of Pennsylvania offers what you are getting now - a BS in Music Ed. However, they are an “All Steinway School.” :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Pitt doesn’t even offer any music ed programs, only a BA. (But they have the big city, the low cost, and the diversity!)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Oh, to answer your other question - each school will have different rules about which credits to accept. However, most schools will at least accept your credits, even if they won’t apply them toward your major, so you can still probably go in as a sophomore. As far as things like scholarships, you will probably be considered “second year” rather than sophomore or freshmen - You may not get 4 full years more of aid just because you decided to start over.</p>

9

<p>Have you looked at DePaul in Chicago? Though I am not sure how generous they are with financial aide for music-ed. The location is great, its a good music school and plenty of diversity.</p>

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<p>Regarding transfer credits within the education or music ed courses, the answer will be pretty school specific. Some will take all your courses/credits, some will take none. You really have to ask up front, and be prepared to submit course descriptions and a syllabus for each course.</p>

<p>You might want to add Penn State to your list as well.</p>

11

<p>James Madison University in Va meets all of your requirements except..</p>

<p>in or near a big city
diverse (very popular school for VA, MD, NJ DE) students… majority of other students from CT, MA. Not that there are not studetns from other parts of the country or abroad… just not a hugely diverse environment.</p>

<p>considered a good buy by most of the out of state students I have talked to.</p>

12

<p>You could also look at Wisconsin. They have a very good music department and offer a B.M. in Music Education. Madison is not a huge city but it does have quite a bit to offer including a new, beautiful performing arts center right near the capitol. Travel to Chicago is relatively easy. Otherwise, it meets most of your criteria reasonably well.</p>

13

<p>I’d suggest the University of Maryland - College Park. I think it meets your criteria and the music school building is very nice, too. I’m not sure how generous they are with aid to out of staters, but total costs should be less than most private universities.</p>

14

<p>Well…I’m a big fan of Duquesne. They have a GREAT Music Education program. Pittsburgh is a great city. The school is good. I don’t know about money for transfers…you’ll have to check.</p>

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<p>I second ImperialZeppelin’s suggestion of Indiana U (at Bloomington). I have a friend there who’s a music ed major and he’s happy as can be (he tries to talk me or anyone else that will listen into applying there :P).</p>