09-17-2013, 07:21 PM
As an adult musician without the music degree, I hoped to use a portfolio to document my learning and experience. I decided to finish my degree through Thomas Edison. I transferred the credits I already had, CLEPed a few more, and was left with the concentration. Specifically, I needed upper-level music courses. After discovering LearningCounts.org and confirming that TESC does accept their recommendations, I decided to go through the portfolio process with them.
I completed their $129 self-paced instructional course, which was extremely unhelpful, but necessary in order to utilize their services.
Since I was applying for four courses that were all similar (Applied Music III, IV, V and VI), I decided to write one narrative, which was a history of my musical life and then specific accomplishments and things I've learned during my musical career. I then divided up the musical history section by course levels (specific pieces appropriate for various college semesters). I also collected the documentation requested: several videotapes of me playing various styles of music, letters of attestation from my coworker and superior, a bulletin with my name in my professional position, etc.
It ended up being 44 double-spaced pages, not including documentation. I submitted it (paid $250) and heard back from them in 12 days. I received the highest grade- outstanding or 4.0 in each aspect of each course.
It was a lot of work but so worth it, both in terms of credit AND financially- total of $379 for 12 credits!
**A huge thank you to Johnny Heck for his advice!!
Now: to see if TESC will definitely accept it. Since the Applied Music courses are listed in their PLA database, I see no reason why they won't. However, my next PLA is on Contemporary Worship Music- something they do not have listed in their courses. I'm a little bit more hesitant about that one, but I'm going to give it a try anyway.
I completed their $129 self-paced instructional course, which was extremely unhelpful, but necessary in order to utilize their services.
Since I was applying for four courses that were all similar (Applied Music III, IV, V and VI), I decided to write one narrative, which was a history of my musical life and then specific accomplishments and things I've learned during my musical career. I then divided up the musical history section by course levels (specific pieces appropriate for various college semesters). I also collected the documentation requested: several videotapes of me playing various styles of music, letters of attestation from my coworker and superior, a bulletin with my name in my professional position, etc.
It ended up being 44 double-spaced pages, not including documentation. I submitted it (paid $250) and heard back from them in 12 days. I received the highest grade- outstanding or 4.0 in each aspect of each course.
It was a lot of work but so worth it, both in terms of credit AND financially- total of $379 for 12 credits!
**A huge thank you to Johnny Heck for his advice!!
Now: to see if TESC will definitely accept it. Since the Applied Music courses are listed in their PLA database, I see no reason why they won't. However, my next PLA is on Contemporary Worship Music- something they do not have listed in their courses. I'm a little bit more hesitant about that one, but I'm going to give it a try anyway.
CLEP's and DSST's passed: Fund. of Counseling, Tech Writing, Here's to your Health, Intro to Computers, Analyzing and Interpreting Lit, Human Growth and Devel, Intro to Soc., Crim Just, Law Enforcement, Env. and Humanity, Astronomy.
Completed 2 PLA's through LearningCounts.org.
Completed Capstone at TESC.
Completed 2 PLA's through LearningCounts.org.
Completed Capstone at TESC.
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