<p>I have learned a lot by reading all the info in the forums. I am researching to find 5or6 schools to visit this year. i am a jr in hs. primary instrument is flute (8yrs), also study piano (8yrs),play sax in jazz band, and do a lot of accompanying for chorus and worship team bands. i consider myself a "generalist" in music since i love playing classical as well as broadway music in the school pit band,etc.. thinking i will major in music ed but my aspirations are to continue to grad school and eventually teach at college level. BIG question: if i look at smaller schools withgood music dept will i have enough opportunities to perform (esp with flute)...i am afraid to look at larger as the pool of musicians will be so much greater but my teacher suggests that there are tons more opportunities to get into performing ensembles. also, worried if i chose music ed that my opportunities will be more limited than if i go performance. any discussion to guide me will help so much. i live in pa so looking east coast to mid west.</p>
<p>For Music, it depends on the program, not the overall size of the university.</p>
<p>Realize that the performance world is extremely tough, and requires exceptional talent, tremendous dedication and quite a good deal of pure luck.</p>
<p>There are those often split between music ed and performance paths. It takes a certain mindset to do either. Please read through the thread here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/558202-question-student-parents-aren-t-her-own.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/558202-question-student-parents-aren-t-her-own.html</a> Edit: If nothing else, my post here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1060926187-post91.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1060926187-post91.html</a> summarizes my thoughts on the ed/perf route.</p>
<p>The performance opportunities are really a function of the program, your skill level, and the depth of peer quality. For a very strong performer at a "lesser" program, the overall peer quality may well not be up to what they are accustomed to.</p>
<p>It may take you a year or two to sort out your level of talent/potential to assess your chances for success at a performance career. </p>
<p>A music ed degree trains you to teach music within a public school classroom setting, and all that that entails. A certain mindset is needed to drive a successful teacher.</p>
<p>Music pedagogy provides the training to teach and instruct a specific instrument, or small group and is more geared to studio instruction and small groups.</p>
<p>Do not consider music ed as a means to teach at the college level. To teach college level performance on a tenture track is normally predicated on studio type instruction, and a strong history as a respected (professional) performer. In most cases, a Masters (MM),<br>
is required.</p>
<p>You might look at 5 year programs such as Oberlin, Hartt and others that offer a dual major performance/ed option, or a combined BM performance/MMusEd program such as Oberlin.</p>
<p>Search the music major forum for my posts. Son was a perf/ed candidate, whose first love was performance. He ended up dropping the ed with only a handful of credits remaining. He is performing professionally, yet teaches privately on a studio basis.</p>
<p>Remember it is easier to transfer out of a performance program than into one.</p>
<p>thanks violadad. any other programs at universities that you recommend, please guide me. i know that oberlin would be out of reach for me. don't know how competitive hartt is. do you know anything about the music program at james madison? thanks again everyone for helping me with this.</p>