Florida State University College of Music (Tallahassee, FL)
One of the top colleges in the country for music education, Florida State University’s strength lies within the teaching experience students receive.
Prior to graduation, FSU’s students are provided significant opportunity in the classroom to demonstrate their teaching ability.
This practical foundation to education lends itself to excellence in obtaining job positions upon graduation.
Additionally, the school’s performance faculty are among the best in any public music school.
Crane School of Music at SUNY Postdam (Potsdam, NY)
A remarkable music education program, the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam houses one of the world’s oldest music education programs.
Founded by Julia Etta Crane over 100 years ago, the Crane School of Music has had an unusually large influence in the world of Music Education.
Alumni teach in many of the nation’s top high schools, marching bands, youth choirs, and other major ensembles.
One example of the school’s distinct commitment to K-12 education is its Opera Ensemble. This unique program, which produces two full-scale operas each year, also has a remarkable outreach program bringing in children to participate in the school’s operas.
Four thousand children have been a part of this incredible program.
Like many top music education programs, Crane School of Music offers four distinct music education specializations. These include Band, Choral, Orchestral, or General Music.
Partnering with New York public schools, students have the opportunity to become experienced educators themselves prior to their licensure.
Ithaca College School of Music (Ithaca, NY)
Few can dispute the legendary status Ithaca has achieved in the world of Music Education.
Nearly half the students in the music school are education majors.
Nearly 100% of the alumni get jobs in music education immediately upon graduation.
The power of this program lies within the warmly collaborative environment between students and teachers.
Consistently, I see students rate the environment at Ithaca as warm, non-competitive, and fostering positively for musical and personal growth.
One of the advantages of the Ithaca education is the emphasis on performance.
A student can opt for a traditional music ed degree at Ithaca, or they can combine a performance track with a music ed track and be completely finished within 4.5 years of schools.
The faculty themselves are, as Ithaca College says it, educator practitioners (ie researchers at the collegiate level as well as educators in public schools).
Students at the school focus on either a choral or instrumental track.
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The BEST music education program is the one that fits you best. One of the schools on this list may fit you well; perhaps another school would fit you well.
What other excellent music education programs deserve to be on this list? Let us know in the comments.