Hello- My son is looking at both music ed and music therapy. I realize that you don’t go for either degree with the expectation of easily landing a job but is one more marketable than the other? He thinks he could enjoy both so he’s not leaning one way or the other.
Thanks for your help.
Your son should pursue whichever one he is more interested in becoming. He can always add music therapy as a masters if he pursues music ed as an undergrad or vice versa. Son’s undergrad doesn’t offer music therapy but they do offer several courses that are prerequisites for music therapy. If he wants music ed, then pursuing it as an undergrad will give him more exposure than adding it in as a grad. Choose a music ed school with a good reputation in the state your son would like to teach. Alumni networks make a big difference with networking for jobs,gigs and referrals for students.
Thanks- I’m doing all the research I can- I appreciate the input!
Another option would be to add a special music ed minor or concentration. Most of these courses are useful for music therapy but also would make him more marketable since many music classes are inclusive in public schools.It will also give him more exposure and experience since he will have a practicum in special music education then he will be better prepared for today’s music ed classroom. At son’s first placement for student teaching, he had a special ed class and many student’s included in regular classes. During his second placement, he had a special ed class even with an orchestra placement. Fortunately, he had a special music ed practicum during his junior year and was complimented on his preparation and execution of these lesson plans.