<p>I don't want to be a music ed major because I don't want any more ed. classes distracting me from practicing and performing alone. That said, I would enjoy teaching after I graduate. Would a couple summers of work at getting a teaching certificate online make any sense? Would you suggest any particular online cert. programs? Also, would job preference be given to mus. ed majors and not someone with a cert. when hiring? Just kinda clueless. Thanks</p>
<p>A music ed degree is designed for the end result to be mastery of course work that will allow a successful student to obtain initial state licensure to teach k-12 students with a public school. Now by teaching, do you mean within a public school, or in another setting such as small studio, private schools (including faith based and other non public alternatives), a community music school? You only need licensure certification to teach in a public k-12 setting.</p>
<p>There are a few components to the curriculum, and usually comprise the required institution’s general academic and elective requirements, and the major specific requirements.</p>
<p>For music ed, the major specific requirements contain a good deal of theory and music history,initial conducting courses, piano skills, and studio and instruction on your primary, and performing ensemble obligations.</p>
<p>The music ed specific requirements include introductory and advanced coursework in various pedagogic methods, cross discipline instrumental instructional techniques, plus psychology coursework which would include an introductory basic, a level or three of educational psychology, and some coursework in more depth in music cognition and the teaching/learning of music, and the student teaching semester/seminar experience. A fair amount of the applied methodology coursework involves both practicum classes and observational classes.</p>
<p>On top of that there are some state mandated academic requirements for licensure, including typically a US history, a math, an English, a health course, and a science.</p>
<p>An online course may deliver all of the academic and basic requirements. Where they may be lacking is the actual hands on experience of both the practicums and observational courses. From an instrumental standpoint, the “hands-on” and live experiences of doing and interaction is lost. Personally, I feel that this is a good part of the meat of any good music ed program. I would be extremely curious and maybe a bit wary about how a student teaching experience is supervised, mentored, and managed. Another issue is the mix of coursework: are the academic aspects more geared to meet “education certification” or “music ed certification”. The proper mix, blend and emphasis is important.</p>
<p>Know the differences between pedagogy and music education as defined within the typical degree definition. Many musicians are instructors, teachers. Not all are educators. Where and how you plan to “teach” may well make a difference in the path you take.</p>
<p>My son’s choices have been detailed here numerous times. Perhaps this one <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558603-what-can-i-do-music-ed-minor.html?highlight=music+ed[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/558603-what-can-i-do-music-ed-minor.html?highlight=music+ed</a> (post 14) can shed some more light. He simply decided at the end he did not want to teach as an educator within a k-12 public environment. He currently provides music instruction in a variety of settings in addition to actively performing.</p>
<p>I would not begin to suggest an online program, other than to start by looking at the schools that have national reps for producing music educators and by digging deep into these certificate requirements. A masters in music ed can be had at some in as little as three summers, but at last look, they had to be done in whole or part “in residence”.</p>
<p>I would be vary wary of a music ed certificate program from any number of the private, for profit on-line institutions without doing a hefty amount of background research.</p>
<p>Thank you, violadad. I understand the need of real hands on teachers with experience. I do know that there are masters programs in three summers, but I am just unsure of the whole licensure process, and the fact that the licenses have to be renewed after a while.</p>
<p>The licensing/certifications are state specific and administered. The one common denominator is the Praxis I, II, and in some cases III tests. I’d suggest you look into certification within the state or states you might plan to teach.</p>
<p>Reciprocity between states tends to be fairly painless but note the “fairly”.</p>
<p>You may have issues with a Mississippi certification moving easily to CA or NY as an example.</p>
<p>The state.gov.ed sites will have the detail. Look at the ASTA, MENC, MTNA sites as well, as they may have direct links and one used to have a chart detailing the requirements across all states. I haven’t looked in a while.</p>
<p>Added: There are a few undergrad programs that would advertise their music ed path as resulting in meeting the standards of all states. These were some of the more noted institutions, but I could not begin to name the specific schools that did. It has been a while since I did some serious in depth comparison, and programs and certification requirements both do change.</p>
<p>Provisional licensure and then initial certification are the first hurdles. Subsequent recertification again is based on specific state standards but typically include additional continuing coursework, in service and workshop minimums, and in many jurisdictions at some point a masters, either in ed, mus ed, or potentially a music specialty area.</p>
<p>From your acceptances, I’m guessing you are from Ohio. All teaching certificates require student teaching, which, obviously cannot be done online. In Ohio, this can be done as an undergraduate. It can also be done as a graduate program, often combined with a master’s degree, example, Case Western Reserve M.A. IN MUSIC EDUCATION ~ TEACHER LICENSURE OPTION. However, it requires 65 credits, which will take you two or more years. Programs such as that one will allow you to start your teaching career with a masters, ie, higher pay. The summers only masters programs in music education are typically for certified teachers seeking an advanced degree: they do not have a certification component, ie, no student teaching. There may be ways to take some courses as an undergraduate–you’ve said you prefer not to have that distraction, but courses like Ed Psych could be taken in the summer. Check with the music and education departments at the schools your considering and get their feedback. Also contact your county or state board of education, they will be able to give you the correct info on teaching certificates in your state, including alternative routes to certification if they exist in your state. Another possibility could be a double major if your schools allow that. It might take five years, but you’d end up will a performance major AND a teaching certificate. Good luck in your research.</p>
<p>MusicMan - To highlight one of Sopranomoms points - Student teaching during the summer months is difficult to come by. Many schools (esp. here in NJ) are cancelling summer school for budgetary reasons. My husband was trying to do “alternate” route certification (designed for professionals in any field that wish to go into teaching) and finding any kind of student teaching situation was almost impossible - and what he did find wasn’t in a traditional classroom.</p>
<p>I can totally relate to your post. I studied Music Education for my undergrad, and was very frustrated with the lack of time I had left to practice… which is exactly why I am going to graduate school for vocal performance next year. However, I spent this past year teaching music in a middle school, and I have learned that the experiences that I had through my Education program were invaluable. It is possible to get a teaching certificate without having an education degree as others have explained, but if you know that you want to teach, particularly in a classroom setting, I strongly recommend taking the education classes that will help you become the best possible teacher you can be.</p>
<p>Just my two cents. ;)</p>
<p>My son is considering a program at U of Miami that offers a BM degree in music education with a jazz emphasis that takes maybe an extra summer to complete. It is described as allowing the student to have the key elements of the performance degree with the music ed. But my s is concerned he will not have as much time to practice as the straight performance students. He is also considering a program at USC where after you get your undergrad performance degree in 4 years, you can apply to a 13 month program that will allow you to get a “masters of arts in teaching music” and a teaching certificate. I understand a masters degree usually means more money. Any thoughts on which program is better?</p>
<p>It’s always a good idea for a teacher to get a masters degree, as it will make a big difference in pay. Also, some states (NY for one) require a masters for “permanent” certification. So, the question could boil down to whether or not the student wants a performance masters rather than a music ed masters. Also, in which state do you suppose your student would like to teach? If it’s California, the USC plan could have the edge, as I assume the master’s program includes the “English learner” requirements for California? </p>
<p>How do the costs compare? Has he had lessons with teachers? Would he prefer a performance degree for undergraduate? Is he anxious to begin teaching soon after college, or does he see teaching as something he’d like to do “sometime in the future?”</p>
<p>Check with the school for the actual costs. Oberlin Conservatory has a similar program for an MMT degree in 15 months (one academic year plus the summer before and after) and the tuition for the entire program is substantially less than the tuition for a single year of undergrad study there.</p>