Music Education Major

[AndreyR]

Hi everyone, I am a student currently in Brooklyn College studying music education. It doesn't matter how I got here, but what matters to me is that I have a deep-rooted passion for teaching. I have been playing electric bass for over 3 years, and I consider myself between intermediate-advanced level: I have a strict practice routine, I am able to make a bass line to any song in almost any style, be satisfied what I'm doing while jamming alone and with other musicians, able to improvise, read music, keep time, and know quite a few composition techniques, as I was intensively tutored by a successful guitar player. Anyway, I am LOOKING FOR ADVICE from any bass player/music teacher who have gotten or at least close to a bachelors degree in music education, concerning being a music teacher. I know I have to pick up an upright bass and be very proficient at it to go to most other colleges with upright bass as the main instrument, but I don't know if its worth it because I've been through so much with my electric. Are there any colleges that have a masters/doctorate music education major with a student's main instrument as electric bass ?
Also, I feel confined with classical and jazz. In classical, you can't improvise and can only play whats written (thats the whole idea of it). In most jazz, you are confined to a 4/4 or 3/4 pulse (the whole idea), where do the odd time signatures come in? I'm not talking about 6/8, more like 5/4 and 7/8 and 19/16 etc. There is definitely a good amount of grooving in contemporary and experimental jazz, but I don't like jazzy grooving to begin with. Any colleges that offer classes in funk/prog/rock other than berklee and musicians institute? I live in Brooklyn, New York. Any advice is appreciated

[Jim Carr]

You didn't say what grades you are thinking of teaching. That would affect my advice a lot, but here are some things I'd recommend, no matter what you do with music or teaching in the future.

1) Learn double bass. You are quite young and your tastes will change, but you will never be 20 again. Don't waste your chance to start getting a skill while still young that will be useful as a bassist and a teacher. Double bass takes years to learn, but it is truly worth it.

2) Learn piano well enough to sight read simple accompaniments to songs, choral pieces, Bach Chorales, etc.

3) Sing in the chorus!

4) Play in as many ensembles as possible.

5) Take a lot of choral and instrumental conducting.

6) Take ALL the methods courses (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, voice/chorus).

If you miss out on these things, why bother with music school at all?

I don't think you need to worry about a doctorate or even a masters at
this point. Get a B. MusEd (or what every CUNY has these days), and get a teaching job.

Find out if you like it ASAP.

[Bassist4Life]

I want to respond to your post but I'm a little confused and I'm not sure where to begin. You seem to have a wide range of questions and concerns.

Playing double bass (classical or jazz) is a requirement in most schools. Playing double bass allows you to participate in an ensemble like orchestra or wind ensemble. I am not certain, but I believe there are schools where you can major on electric bass and be in a jazz ensemble. My experience is more traditional.

In graduate school you don't have to do performance when you're in education. This is looking way into the future for you. I wouldn't worry much about graduate school at this point.

"Classical" study does require you to read music from the page. I wouldn't consider it restricting though. There is room for some improvisation in Baroque performance. Artistic expression comes in the form of interpretation. You'll have to learn to play and read music on every major instrument. This will keep you very busy. There's piano, voice, theory, orchestration, instrumental conducting, choral conducting, history, aural skills, brass methods, woodwind methods, string methods, percussion methods, private lessons, secondary instrument... You'll be very busy. You'll have your own recitals. You'll play in recitals for other people.

Jazz. I can't speak very much about jazz studies. I had to take one jazz class and be in a lab band with some required performances. Again, I don't think you'll feel restricted. I wouldn't worry about looking for odd time signatures to fuel your desire to study jazz.

You seem to be interested in Funk/Prog/Rock. That's wonderful, but most traditional music schools aren't going to have these styles as their central focus for music education majors. These styles are relatively new in the scope of music history.

In public school music programs you will need to know classical and jazz repertoire. Students will need to learn solos for county and state competitions and festivals. You'll need to be familiar with many of these and be able to teach them. You'll also be expected to take your ensembles to county and state competitions and festivals. You'll need to become familiar with the graded repertoire for ensembles in New York State. You'll consult your NYSSMA Manual on a regular basis. I'm sure you'll have a class close to the time of your student teaching where you go through a bunch of scores and learn how to select appropriate music for your ensemble. There are 6 levels in New York State graded repertoire. There are also sight-reading requirements for students (also in 6 levels).

You can learn a lot from music education journals. Your MENC membership will allow you access to valuable resources.

What is your goal? What age group are you looking to teach? Which ensemble are you in at school playing electric bass?

Peace,
Joe

[McHaven]

As a music education major, you need to be absolutely sure you love playing music and teaching music enough to make it your life. Be prepared to have playing lose all its fun.

I was a music major on tuba my first semester at college, and I lost any sort of enjoyment in music. I just couldn't see myself continuing to study music formally like that.

[BassChuck]

Music Education major here... and taught for 30 years. IMHO the following must be true:

1.) Love of music... well, beyond that. Music has to be a part of you like its part of your body. Living without it is unthinkable.

2.) Be the best musician you can possibly be. This means, of course, playing well... but way beyond that. You need to be involved emotionally with all kinds of music and play as much of it as you can on whatever instrument you can deal with. In your case DO learn double bass, not only because it makes you a better bass player, but because it opens the door to all kinds of music that you will not easily be a part of if you only play electric. (and learning an instrument that can vary its pitch is essential to having a good ear). You MUST be confident of your musical abilities.

3.) Understand that music does make a difference in peoples lives and that helping children (or anyone) make music a bigger part of their lives makes them a better person.

4.) Flexibility in understanding concepts. When I was an undergraduate there was only one computer on campus, some big thing that took the entire basement of a science building only computer science majors were even allowed in to see it (think: Wizard of Oz). Now I teach music in a computer lab with 26 computers. As an undergraduate the first thing to get for "Instrumentation and Orchestration" class was a bottle of India ink and a set of Speedball pen tips. Now its Sibelius (or Finale). You get the picture, you have no idea now what teaching music will be like in 25 years. Keep an open mind.

Good luck its a wonderful job.

[AndreyR]

wow thank you so much for your generous replies so far. I plan to teach college-level music education, and also high school, because I believe in teaching music to someone that wants to learn; unlike the violin/recorder music class I had back in high school. Freshmans would lay the violin on their leg and play it guitar style. Others would whistle on recorders out of control. Based on the generous replies, I now see I must learn upright as well; I already feel the load of keyboard, voice, the two jazz ensembles I play in, and other instruments (cello & bass string class) that I'm learning to play for my major. Thank you so much for the replies guys, please give me some more info if you can. And yes, I am emotionally involved in all music I hear (except whats on the radio these days). Are there any huge drawbacks in this major except lots of homework and self study?

[crackalackin]

Being in college at the moment, I have a couple of Music Ed. friends. That degree plan starts out at five years so expect to be in there a while. Most, if not all, music majors pick up a secondary instrument whether or not it is closely related to their primary instrument. If you've noticed, a lot of band directors can pick up a majority of the instruments in their band and be somewhat proficient at it.

As far as classical music goes, much of the fun comes in interpreting the music as already said. While there might not be bars upon bars of improv, you have to learn to pour your heart and soul into what you are playing. There is a difference between simply playing the notes on the page and giving them life. No doubt you can play the notes but giving them life takes a deeper level of commitment to the whole piece and hearing the rest of the band. Good luck though and don't let recital attendance drag you down

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by AndreyR

......because I believe in teaching music to someone that wants to learn.....

I totally understand this, but I'll tell you one of the greatest thrills you can have in teaching is reaching those student who think they don't want to learn, and show them the power of your subject.

"Wanting to learn" means that you are curious about the subject AND you are willing to have someone tell you something. Teaching is more than just dispersing information, its a very interesting and complex interplay of emotions and personalities.

Anyway, work your a$$ off with your studies, all that other stuff will come in time.