<p>I think the real question here isn’t so much whether performance or music education is more demanding, it is if trying to dual major in engineering and either one of those is going to be doable. </p>
<p>I could argue the music performance degrees are more demanding, in that the level of playing demanded is higher then a music ed degree, but then they can counter that the work on multiple instruments takes a lot of time and effort, and the other coursework, along with the teacher certification classes and the student teaching. With music performance you will probably be practicing a number of hours a day, added to orchestra and chamber, theory, and so forth, in music ed it is going to be the other instruments (and practice), band or orchestra, conducting, etc…in the end, I don’t think it matters, I think doing either one with an engineering program is going to be very, very difficult. </p>
<p>One question, are you thinking you may want to do music, but see engineering as the backup? Why were you thinking of music ed in the first place? I ask, because of lot of people post questions where music ed is seen as a more ‘bankable’ position if they cannot make it as a performer…</p>
<p>There are other options, you could study music with a a private teacher on your instrument, or you could rather then get a BM, get a BA degree in music on your instrument, that usually has less of a music load then a BM does…if you worked with a private teacher when in UG, you could get your skills sharp on your instrument, and if after getting your Engineering degree wish to pursue music, if your skills are they you could go to grad school for music…my point is you have options other then dual majoring in a BM or Music Ed degree…</p>