<p>Our daughter is a junior and just starting the college search. She has decided to major in Music Education at this point. We have just visited SUNY Potsdam and really liked it. We have plans to visit The Hartt School at U of Hartford (CT) and she will probably apply at Meredith College in Raleigh NC (mainly because her grandmother (BMus - distinguished Alumnae), aunt (BM) and I (BA Poly Sci) graduated from there, not to mention they have a good music program but it's not getting the support it once did. She is a high achieving student in the top 20 of her class. She is a vocal student who taught herself to play the clarinet during this past year. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Maybe take a look at Ithaca College while you’re visiting Potsdam?</p>
<p>Converse College, a women’s college in Spartanville, SC has the Petrie School of Music. They offer both BA and BM degrees, which I know are not ‘music education’ degrees but thought I would throw it out there. I don’t know anything more about it, I only heard about the program because their violist used to contribute to NPR’s Performance Today.</p>
<p>Is she interested in large universities or smaller schools?</p>
<p>You might consider UMASS Amherst or Boston University. Also, just keep in mind, while Hartt is an outstanding music school, U of Hartford might not be what a “high achieving” student is looking for academically.</p>
<p>Was she torn at some point between music ed and vocal performance, or any other area of study? Has she been torn at all between conservatory and college? Are there academic areas that interest her besides music?</p>
<p>These decisions have a way of changing several times in junior and senior year- and even at the college level.</p>
<p>Music education is a career-oriented field of study, obviously, so there is also the option of doing it on the grad level after a BA or BM. This can further complicate choices.</p>
<p>She might want to apply to schools for any option that she might possibly be interested in, so that if changes do occur in the next year and a half, good choices will be in place. Just my two cents, from experience!</p>