<p>My son's friend has family in Arkansas and he (my son) was told to consider the U. of Arkansas for a music performance (trumpet and French horn) and/or theory major. Is that good advice?</p>
<p>boilerdad, welcome.</p>
<p>Most state flagships are the best choices for music ed degrees for instate students, both in terms of state teaching licensure requirements and cost effetiveness.</p>
<p>With a few exceptions like Indiana/Jacobs and UMich/Ann Arbor, SUNY/Purchase they are not necessarily the best place for one aspiring to a performance degree. Most performance candidates are drawn to an institution for specific faculty/instructor, or specific area expertise, and while there are MANY exceptional applied faculty at a broad range of state schools. Often, a high level student may find peer level across instruments to be lacking or inadequate for their needs.</p>
<p>I can't comment on the applied faculty listed at U/Arkansas, as my knowledge and experience is in strings. Perhaps those familiar with brass might comment. Another point to note is that I did not see a theory major detailed, but it may be available as a minor, or a student/advisor designed program.</p>
<p>My comments are not meant to denigrate Arkansas' program; I just don't know enough about it but wanted to bring those points to your attention in researching choices. </p>
<p>If you haven't already done so, I urge you to read the great thread here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html</a></p>
<p>Please don't apply there.</p>
<p>If your son's friends wants to do performance, he should first decide on which instrument he wants to play. You can't "double" in instruments, pick one, otherwise he's going to have a very hard time down the road, that is..in a couple of years. If you want to stay in the south for music, I suggest...</p>
<p>UTexas-Austin, UHouston, Vanderbilt (great program there), Florida State, or University of Central Florida.</p>