My S19 is a strong jazz player but really wants to do music ed. As we look at audition requirements, it seems like most schools don’t do jazz auditions for music ed students. (The exception is Berklee.) While he’s a decent classical player, he wouldn’t be able to compete with top players in a classical audition. Has anyone else dealt with this issue?
Check out SUNY Fredonia. My S17 is a theater tech student there, but the school is primarily known for its music education programs. It offers a BM degree with a jazz track. There are jazz ensembles, etc. I am not certain how that correlates with music ed, but you could call the departments and speak to someone.
I know a strong jazz kid who loved Oberlin. Not sure if he plans to teach, though.
They don’t have music ed!!
He might want to think about where he wants to teach and why music-ed appeals to him. My son had a friend at NEC who became interested in education and started working with a professor there on teaching methodologies. He published some papers and then went to Harvard’s Graduate School of Education for his Master’s degree. I am not sure what he is teaching now.
My own son graduated from NEC and then went to Berklee Global for his masters. He did not want to Gig/Perform for his income as he is interested in creating more than performing. He is teaching at a NYC private high school part time. He also teaches for a public-private program that provides music lessons to NYC students. He still gigs and performs but he doesn’t feel like he has to accept every gig that comes his way and he has time to work on his projects.
In other words your student might not need a Music-Ed specific degree if he is a strong Jazz player.
For some kids, choosing music ed as a criterion for undergrad choice can mean narrowing focus a little too early. I wonder if he would benefit more from going to undergrad for a BM in jazz performance and then seeing what he wants to do later. There are many grad options for music ed, though someone mentioned at some point that they are a little different in content form undergrad music ed- I don’t know if that is true or not.
Is your son passionate about teaching or is he trying to have a practical backup. And is he passionate about public school teaching? Is it possible he may want to do grad school and eventually teach at the college level?
I think a broader approach works well for undergrad, but that’s me, and many kids really are passionate about this, sometimes because a school teacher had a big effect on them 
He’s passionate about doing music but not being primarily a performer. He likes assistant teaching at his high school, and wants to learn multiple instruments and expand his knowledge of genres in addition to jazz. Although he loves jazz too. But definitely does not want a jazz studies or jazz performance BM.
UM (Michigan), has an Instrumental Music Education Dual Degree with Jazz Studies program.
Whoops, I just reread and saw that he doesn’t want a jazz studies or BM program.
But since they have this program I wonder if he did the music ed degree if he could still play in jazz ensembles and have jazz focused lessons on his instrument there?
I think akapiratequeen’s question is more about satisfying the audition requirements for a music ed degree. They do seem to be predominately classical instrument or voice.
Yes thanks! For instance, at Berklee he can audition as a jazz player and start the music ed track after one term. Nowhere else I know of offers that option.
I would just be cautious about centering a college search around music for a kid who doesn’t want to be a performer and may like assistant teaching -at the moment. How long has he talked about music ed?
If he was not thinking about future career, what would he be interested in studying?
There are many ways to remain involved in music, including through extracurriculars at liberal arts college or university. He could do a BA in music, which is more general than a BM and may include several genres in academic music classes- or he could do a BA or BS in virtually anything and still be very involved with music.
He would be studying music. He’s been a serious player for seven years. More recently, he has decided he doesn’t want to primarily be a performer. He’d also like to explore new instruments, conducting, and so on.
There are other ways to make your career in music than being a full time performer. He’s simply looking for a place where his impressive jazz background won’t suddenly be irrelevant.
PS I read your earlier post and do see the validity of not winnowing down your choices too early. Will speak with him about that. Maybe a double major…
I know that Peabody has a jazz track for music education. I believe that the audition for the program is the same as the regular jazz audition. Our tour guide at Eastman was also a Jazz/Music Education major. I don’t know about the audition process for jazz-but I think it is a jazz rather than a classical audition. I think you have been to both schools, so you know that the course load for these degrees is tough. At Eastman, our guide said that she was taking 26 credits (18 is normal) this term in a 4.5 year program. Peabody also requires 24+ credit terms if you want to graduate in 4 years.
I’ve heard that University of Michigan will adjust their music ed audition for jazz-oriented candidates. I’m guessing some classical repertoire is unavoidable, but the jazz audition will carry weight.
That is great advice! I believe Rutgers and Ithaca are the same. That helps!
Oberlin students do take pedagogy and many teach non-con students when they are seniors.
Also, be sure to talk to someone at Oberlin before giving it a pass. Theye have 5-year double degree and many times the second degree can be specialized to what the student wants to focus on.
Just to clarify, my post suggesting consideration of a BA in music meant a general music major, not a performance one. That major would mean 1/3-1/3 classes in music, and then any performance would be extracurricular. Chances are there would be opportunities to volunteer and do outreach with kids, at most colleges.
Check out the actual curriculum and course descriptions at a liberal arts college that he might like, such as Amherst, Williams or Tufts.
Oberlin, Ithaca, Rutgers and Michigan all have BM programs. If that is what he wants, those are great choices. But if he does not want a BM, he might consider avoiding schools with BM’s on campus.
Other schools that focus on Jazz and have Ed options that have not been mentioned include Loyola New Orleans, University of Denver, University of the Pacific, Lawrence U, University of Colorado - Denver, U Miami, Willamette and U of Redlands.