looking into colleges

[Stuart1283]

Right on with these comments. I would also add Florida State to the list. And I do not attend any schools that are on that list. Most of those schools would be considered top Music Education schools by college professors and top band directors.

I am also from Alabama (I go to UA) so some programs you should check out are: LSU isn't necessarily known for music education, but they have an awesome music program. Tennessee has a descent music program. UNC Greensboro also has a great music program. If you want to stay in Alabama; UNA, Troy, and JSU have ok music ed. programs (smaller schools). If you want to go to a larger school, UA is the place to go because Auburn's music program isn't good (they unfortunately aren't funded very well).

Do the research....find 5 schools that you like the best and go visit.

I'm going to take a second and tangentialize a little bit on this topic. Many people have given you school suggestions, which is great. However, I'm going to try giving you a list of criteria so you can judge for yourself what school is right for you.

1) First and foremost, what type of school do you want to go to? In an urban, suburban, or rural setting? College or university (generally universities offer graduate degrees, while colleges do not)? Private or State School? Conservatory or not?

2) Next, how far from home do you want to be? When you're a senior in high school, the idea of moving halfway across the globe can be incredibly appealing . . . until Thanksgiving comes and you're stuck in Timbuktu without mom's potatoes. For me, the 2.5 hour drive to school was perfect because I could come home on weekends, but I still knew that my parents weren't going to "drop in".

These top two might not sound like a huge deal, but unless you're happy in your basic environment, you won't be too keen on taking advantage of whatever musical/educational opportunities you've given yourself. Speaking of which . . .

3) Start looking into who you want to study with on your major instrument. If you don't like your applied music professor, you won't enjoy your lessons. If you don't enjoy your lessons, you won't max out your potential as a performer. When you visit schools, ask that professor specifically if you will be studying with them. At some larger schools and conservatories, music ed majors do not study with the primary professor, and are placed with a graduate assistant. While these GAs might be great, it can be a crapshoot from year to year. I cannot stress enough how important it is to max out your major instrument study. Doing anything less is cheating yourself and your future students. Being a better player will get you into better ensembles, and being in better ensembles will have you playing higher-caliber literature, and rehearsing under more experienced conductors.

4) Speaking of ensembles! What kind of ensembles do you want to be in? Almost all music ed programs have performing ensemble requirements. Do you only want to be in concert band? Or do you want to participate in jazz bands, orchestras, and chamber groups as well? Does the school you're looking at generally have undergraduates in these ensembles? Do you want to be in athletic bands? Some schools require it, for at least a year. On the marching band note - I came from a high-caliber BOA-type high school and absolutely loved my time in the Big Ten marching band. I also got to go to the Final Four with the basketball band. What do you want out of it?

5) If you plan on doing drum corps during your college career, how will your primary professors feel? Remember that if you don't play your major instrument in the corps, it is your primary professors JOB to not like it. College professors can be stodgy, and if you do something they don't like, you might take some heat. Also, how close are you going to be to camps? Will it hinder your ability to get there once a month? Transportation costs can turn your $1200 tour fee into $2000 or more for the whole shabang.

There are great books out there for prospective college students. One I like is "The Performing Arts Major's College Guide". It is more geared towards performance majors, but the up-to-date editions give great insight on school size, music school size, cost, scholarship info, and strength of individual instrument study.

I guess I'll give my biases, as well :)

The following schools have produced more than a few colleagues that I admire and respect:

University of Texas

University of Houston

James Madison University

Unversity of Massachusetts (UMass)

University of Illinois

University of Georgia

Northwestern University

University of North Texas

University of Michigan

Happy Hunting!

[mellodramatic]

Appalachian State has a great music program, and won the national championship in football the last 2 years in a row.

[Jared_mello]

Appalachian State has a great music program, and won the national championship in football the last 2 years in a row.

Hold on for a second, hope you don't mind that I make a little revision.

Appalachian State has a great music program, and won the national championship* in football the last 2 years in a row.

:)

(I like the range of topics in this thread as well, by the way)

[drummer5485]

LSU isn't necessarily known for music education, but they have an awesome music program. If you want to go to a larger school, UA is the place to go because Auburn's music program isn't good (they unfortunately aren't funded very well).

LSU is actually more known for its music education department than it's performance department, our music education faculty is some of the best and most published in the country. I LOVE it at LSU, the faculty is always willing to help and teach and the performance opportunities are varied and many in the Baton Rouge area, especially with New Orleans being so close. Also, while it is true that Auburn is not funded well at all (through no fault of their own) they have a good program. I know many many people that have come out of Auburn that are teaching in the schools and have very successful programs in Alabama and around the Southeast. They might not have the facilities but they have the faculty.

[Wildabeast]

Yes, I know that is home to Gordon Henderson. There is a reason I left him off though. I was thinking about the great conductors I have seen from those schools... I love Tom Lee and how he teaches, and he conducts with a great style. Last time I saw Gordon conduct the UCLA Wind Ensemble (CMEA 2005), it was just like watching the typical drum major conduct the marching band.

(/tangent)

However, because one's conducting style is different does not mean they cannot teach. My reference at least (since this is DCP) was to be able to "pick the brain" from one who has experience in writing/arranging music, especially if you would like to arrange for your own band(s).

I, too, have seen Tom Lee, but I've also seen (and have spoken with) Larry Sutherland, Gary Gilroy, Ed Harris, Eugene Corporon, Mallory Thompson, Jerry Junkin, the late Alfred Reed & Frederick Fennell, etc (and I do mean etc.). Each has their own distinctive style, but they are also involved in the education aspect.

Edited January 8, 2007 by Wildabeast

[euphguy]

Have you thought about TROY university in Troy, Alabama. I am currently in my sophomore year as a Music Education Major and I really love it here. I am in the Sound of the South marching band at TROY and loving every moment of it. Take a look at see if you like it. You might want to schedule a campus tour and visited the John M. Long School of Music. I am Trombone player so I really don't know much about the Trumpet Professors, but I strongly suggest you look into TROY.

www.troy.edu

www.soundofthesouth.org

I have listed above the university website along with the band website.

Sincerely,

David M. Smith

TROY univeristy

Sound of the South Member

Yep, Troy is for real! Their MB is on point. GO SBC!!

[randomnoise]

Some excellent answers on here. As a Californian, I would echo the plug for Fresno - they are cranking out some great teachers.

To the person a few pages back that said (or implied) that all the best bands are in Texas - I don't agree.

Yes, there are many many excellent groups in TX, but there are excellent groups all over. In my area, James Logan is an amazing program - they have won just about all the championships in Marching Band and in Color Guard, and would compare favorably to any group in the country. And I attended the championships in Syracuse, NY a few years ago - there were excellent bands there as well.

I wish there was a truly National circuit or ranking system. BOA is the closest we have, but it is just too difficult for all HS bands to make the journey. Much easier for bands in the middle of the country. Those bands are not the best bands in the country - they are the best bands that can afford to go to BOA.

Probably many differences that have to do with different sheets, but no need to go into that.

To the original poster - do your homework, visit the schools, and don't forget to wear sunscreen.

[shrinkingclarinet1991]

New York

Ithaca, NY. If you're looking to pursue music and something else, doesn't Ithaca offer a major called Music in Combination with Another Field?

[TickleMeElmo]

Illinois

(no particular order)

Northwestern University

Elmhurst College

Northern Illinois University

University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign

[Tom Brace]

I believe anyone looking into music education has to at least consider VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, my alma mater. Not only do they do music education in a very practical nuts and bolts way, music education is the ONLY thing they do. You can only get two degrees there...a Bachelors of Music Education and a Masters of Music Education.

My son's about to graduate from Vandercook. Talk about placement. They have had an ABOVE 100% placement of their undergraduate students seeking music educator jobs for the past 5 years. How can this be? They have more opportunities available then they have undergrads. Many students have their picks for jobs.

And if you are paying a pile of dough for a college degree...isn't a guaranteed job a good thing?

Check out Vandercook. Hard curriculum, exhausting hours. All music education...and home of the World Renowned Midwest Clinic!