[Jaye Smith]

Tweet

One of my options is Music Education for college.
Does anyone know if you can do General/Vocal/Instrumental Music Ed? I know the general is always in there, but I love singing, and I want to master percussion. Could I do both?

[Bluejay]

Yes you can.  My license/degree is Instrumental/General Music/Choral K-12.  Indiana State University was wonderful in getting the music majors prepared.  I wish I did more choral activities though.  Check with universities that interest you and get the specifics.  I'm sure you'll find the right college for you!

[Jaye Smith]

Yes you can.  My license/degree is Instrumental/General Music/Choral K-12.  Indiana State University was wonderful in getting the music majors prepared.  I wish I did more choral activities though.  Check with universities that interest you and get the specifics.  I'm sure you'll find the right college for you!

If I go to college for education, I'm gonna go to Ball State. Also, can you get an Elementary Ed diploma along with Music Ed, like if you go another year? Or be able to obtain licensing for music teaching if I major in another part of education if I take some music classes? Or double major?

[Kelly Walton]

At Anderson University the degree covers all, but it's very easy to create an emphasis in either vocal or instrumental, just depending on how involved you get with the ensembles and activities (like opera, musical, etc.).  There are some schools that will tell you all about their MuEd department, and the vocal and instrumental parts, and all that jazz.  However, make sure you ask them if the vocal/instrumental part comes together or if they're separate.  It's always good to know for sure.

Hope that helped!  

[Bluejay]

Ball State is also good.  I have an M.A. there and a B.S. from Indiana State.  The best of both worlds for me    

If you chose the elementary ed. route and the music ed. route, you'll probably be a double major.  These tracks will keep you busy.  Check with Ball State for their specifics.  They'll steer you in the right direction.

[liz james]

You can do all at Michigan State! Including early childhood! Go Spartans!

[Kelly Walton]

Getting an "all around" music degree is great for some, but I talked to a director once who hated it because it meant that the school administration where he was could call him and tell him that although he had been teaching middle and  high school band, he now has to teach middle and high school choir, middle school general music, theory, and elementary music.  It sounds like a terrible idea for the teacher, but the school can call hom out and say, "you're licensed for that, right?". In another case, a choir director and vocal primary had been teaching in a school t for around thirty years when they asked him to teach a middle school band class. I know I wouldn't remember all those fingerings after thirty years!

While it may help you get a job, it can also technically qualify you to teach something you don't want to, in my case orchestra.  I could figure my way around a choir and I would like to think I'd do a good job with a band ensemble, but orchestra?  I can hardly remember what strings are what note in which instrument! I think that if I end up teaching orchestra that I'll be calling my friends and referring to my string tech binder!

It's just an aspect of that type degree that's worth thinking about.  

[RyanAkers]

While it may help you get a job, it can also technically qualify you to teach something you don't want to, in my case orchestra.    

However, in the current climate, it could mean the difference between keeping a job and losing a job. I have the K-12 Music licence. If it is a music class, I'm able to teach it (according to license). I would encourage any teacher to try to have more than one area of certification. I'm actually planning on adding Social Studies to my license, if I can pass the Praxis. I consider it insurance against population changes and school whims- and if I get late in my carreer and need to not be teaching marching band forever (like my Dad, who just retired after 40 years of teaching, 32 with marching band), I have options.

Just a thought.

[Kelly Walton]

Great input, Ryan. My husband is thinking about going back to get licensed for Phys. Ed, and I want to eventually be licensed to teach special Ed.

[Joshua Huff]

The other thing about licensing that needs to be stated is that in Indiana an instrumental license qualifies you for both K-12 general music, band, and orchestra. My wife has an all-area license and is now a college professor directing a Women's Chorus (that will make an appearance at IMEA). Her first job was a K-12 general music/assistant band director/elementary choir.

Right now, I am looking at adding several different areas including social studies and special ed. I am hesistant to add anything because I have a fear my prinicipal will have me teach 1/2 day band, 1/2 day special ed/social studies. So I am proceeding with caution at this point. But additional licensing seems to be the way to keep your job as a music teacher and makes you versatile within the school you teach!

[Michael McGlothlin]

Ken Snoeck syndrome.  He had to teach typing and computer classes to fill his schedule, and that was even in the "Glory Days" of the Lake Park program.  I've decided to go back to teach social studies, and still freelance.

My problem/question is something slightly different.  I was 3 semesters from graduation before leaving college several years ago, and unfortunately, nobody bothered to tell me that credits from VanderCook College of Music wouldn't really transfer anywhere.  My "BEST" offer so far has been to make me a 1st semester sophomore..yay for theory and piano not counting.  Anyone have any ideas about schools that take "questionable" credits?   Mary Ann Krupa is a great teacher and I learned a lot, it would be nice if that was worth something to other colleges though.

Ouch.

Moral of my story...Unless you just have too much money, Don't go Private for music ed...why pay 35K a year for a job that doesn't even pay that to start?  VCM is a great school, you're just paying a lot for location.

~Michael

PS: Kelly, you should do great with all of your experience in Special Ed.  I've really been impressed with how far Jeremy has come  I kid, I kid...