<p>I'm a Freshmen in High School and I wanted to know a few things before I think what to major in college. </p>
<p>1.I'm in Band so should I take Band as a Major or Music Education? </p>
<p>2.What work has to be done to pass these classes? </p>
<p>3.Do I have to take other academic classes to get my degree? </p>
<p>4.Are there any other Major(s) that I should be looking at?</p>
<p>P.S. I Live in Florida, So I'm looking at colleges in that area. I'm thinking FAMU.</p>
<p>Let me take a stab at your first question:</p>
<p>First, let’s get your terms straight and I’m going to write in generalizations here. One does not major in “band”. Aside from some related majors like music therapy, music production, and music business, the question normally comes down to whether to major in performance with a concentration on one instrument or to major in music education. </p>
<p>Performance majors plan to make their primary career that of a working musician with a possible side job as a private studio teacher. You would go this way if you feel you have the desire and talent to try to make a living performing and your skill level on your instrument is exceptionally high. It’s a non-standard career path but someone has to be there for all those gigs in the world and, if you have the chops, it could be you.</p>
<p>Music ed is a music degree but, since your objective is to be teaching music in schools, it also includes training to meet teacher certification standards. Assuming you land a position after college, the work is regular and includes benefits. It is also very rewarding to to right person.</p>
<p>Which way do you go? Only you can answer that but make sure you know what you’re getting into and that you can bring yourself to the necessary level of musicianship to get yourself where you want to go. A big factor here is to be sure to put yourself in a position to be measured against kids outside of your school by getting yourself into honors bands or orchestras and attending summer programs. Being a big fish in a small pond is fun, but you really need to see how you measure up to the larger population to know if you have what it takes.</p>
<p>Your other questions would be best answered by looking at the Web sites of the schools involved. Check out both the music and admissions departmental sites of schools that may interest you. Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and Florida State would probably be good places to start.</p>
<p>B.T.W. Props to you for thinking this far ahead. You’ll be able to better tailer your high school academics to meet the requirements of music schools that interest you by looking ahead now. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Also, bman94, keep an eye out for any and all “music school fairs” within driving distance. These are usually held in the fall- the ones we’ve gone to have been held right at a major conservatory, so as Don said, looking at Frost’s website might be a place to begin- and feature admissions reps from many conservatories or music schools within universities (Florida State?) or LACs, all gathered in one place. You wander around, picking up materials from ones that interest you, chatting with reps and generally getting a feeling for what’s out there. Dress properly and remember that anyone you meet at one of the tables could be in a position to have influence over your admission to a school. My D established contacts that really helped when audition time rolled around. Do post more questions or PM anyone whom you think might be able to help you or answer a question. Now’s the time to start, so you’re on your way!</p>
<p>Bman94, I see you mentioned having an interest in FAMU. I got confused at first when I read those initials until I realized that FAMU also is known as Florida A & M University. You probably know that they have one of the top marching bands in the country. By the way, FAMU has a summer marching band camp for high school students. If you have not heard of this camp, the band director at your school probably knows about it. Not sure if there still are openings or even if you would be interested in anything like that, but spending time at a school you might want to attend can also be a way to learn more about the music programs there.</p>
<p>bman94, welcome.</p>
<p>If you are thinking about a music major, please read this <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html</a> as it’s full of plenty of insight and need to know info for anyone contemplating this path.</p>
<p>don9992 answered your first question. While not all inclusive, the typical offerings of undergrad music degree paths are performance with an applied specific instrument (or voice), music education with a concentration in an area (instrumental, choral/vocal, or general), pedagogy (akin to education, but geared towards individual/studio/small ensemble ibstruction as opposed to k-12 public classroom teaching), composition, the academic disciplines of theory, music history, ethnomusicology; music therapy, music business and/or technology. There are many more and a number of permutations across discipline, style and genre.</p>
<p>Adding to comments already made, music education is geared to providing the skills necessary to meet mandated state requirements for teaching music within a public k-12 setting. The requirements normally mandate a US History, English, Math, Science, and Health course at the college level. In addition, passing the PRAXIS I, II, and III exams is a requisite for obtaining initial teaching certification and licensure, and full certification after a probationary period.</p>
<p>As to your third question, the degree requirements for F A&M’s BS in MusEd are here: [Catalog</a> - Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 2009](<a href=“http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?catalog&Music#Bachelor_of_Science_in_Music_Education_with_Concentration_in_Wind__Piano_and_Percussion]Catalog”>http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?catalog&Music#Bachelor_of_Science_in_Music_Education_with_Concentration_in_Wind__Piano_and_Percussion)</p>
<p>It’s a pretty typical set of coursework for a music ed curriculum, combining the academic aspects of theory, ear training, basic piano keyboard skills, music history with applied instrument lessons, studio work and ensemble participation with coursework in educational psychology and methodologies, as well as music specific instructional techniques and the required academic coursework in non-music academic areas.</p>
<p>Graduation requirements will be school specific, and will probably require a “B” or better in all major specific coursework, and will include a minimum acceptable grade in each of the mandated academic licensure requirements. There is no general rule, so it is best to check with each school. The info is usually found within the undergrad handbook or course catalog, normally a link off an academic website.</p>
<p>For a list of potential majors, you can look here [Navigating</a> Music Careers](<a href=“http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~navmusic/careerpaths/index.html]Navigating”>http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~navmusic/careerpaths/index.html). For music education resources, there are plenty of threads here, and your state music educator’s website often has a students/careers page. Your band director, private music teacher and other music professionals locally are often the best source for specific state programs that produce the best music educators.</p>
<p>Music ed is often most cost effective at an instate public. As others haves said, it pays to start thinking now, both musically and academically, as music ed admissions are normally a combined factor of academics, musical talent, and an interview process. Between FA&M, FSU and Miami/Frost there’s a wide range of parameters, so you’ll want to be in the best position for your range of actual choices.</p>
<p>You’ve got plenty of time, but you’ll need to work hard and you’re smart to start thinking now.</p>
<p>The summer program at F A&M (and others like it) are a great way to give you a leg up, and reinforce skills and experience. If you can’t get in for this year, I would urge you to consider something like it next summer.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replys, and trust me, I already know about the “100”. I’m planning on going to the summer camp this year. I asked what classes because I’m really not good in math, I found it a bit pointless. Im taking AP Human Geography Now, and I’m scheduled for AP Biology & AP World History for next year. A Band Director seems more plausable. I started thinking now because I feel left behind because everyone around me has already knows what their going to do in life.</p>
<p>Bman94, I figured you knew about the Marching 100. Glad you will be attending the FAMU band camp. Hope you enjoy it and learn a lot there.</p>