Goal: Music Teacher

[cookderosa]

My son's very good friend asked me tonight about becoming a music teacher. My brother is a music teacher, but he did it the hard (and long and expensive) way, and knows nothing about alternative credits. Off the top of your head, can anyone think of a school that is alternative-credit-friendly and or via distance learning that would work for a degree in music ed? We are in North Carolina, so I'm sure he'll want to teach here. Our UNC programs are pretty cut and dry, so those I can help him with- but I'll take other suggestions to him as well.

[cannoda]

Valley City State University is the only regionally and NASM (national association of schools of music) accredited program I could find besides the hyper-expensive Berklee:

http://www.vcsu.edu/academics/music/onli...ic-program

While this would not get you music ed, one could then complete  rio salado's post-baccaulaureate teacher education program in music: http://www.riosalado.edu/programs/educat...music.aspx

[davewill]

TESU has a BA in Music, which should work for for a music teacher. I don't know where you'd find the credits, though.

[dfrecore]

How about WGU to become a licensed teacher, and then a MA in Music somewhere (maybe the Rio Salado program after he's done?)?

[mysonx3]

TESU has a BA in Music, which should work for for a music teacher. I don't know where you'd find the credits, though.

There is a TECEP for Music History 2, and music courses are pretty common at community colleges from what I've seen. I'm taking Music Theory as an elective at a CC right now, for example.

Not saying that's how they should go, just throwing out some credit options for the TESU BA in Music.

[dfrecore]

TESU has a BA in Music, which should work for for a music teacher. I don't know where you'd find the credits, though.

I think that would be a hard one.  You need specific courses, and then electives for a total of 30cr, 15cr of which would have to be UL.

The only inexpensive option (and that's relative) for UL music courses is BYU - but only if he plays the organ (or wants to learn)!  $3,467 for 6 courses UL (about $182/cr x 19cr).  And the 1st level prereq is "basic piano skills."

And not even kidding, I just found a used organ on Craigslist in my area for $1!

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A few more courses:

SecularCourses.com, $150/course last time I checked
- The Music of the Orthodox Jew from Antiquity through the 20th Century (MUS-301) - UL

CSU-Pueblo, $555/course last time I checked
- MUS 491: Special Topics: World Music (UL) -

U of Idaho IS, $510/course last I checked
- MusH 101: Survey of Music
- MusH 201: History of Rock and Roll

[natshar]

It's in Michigan and isn't exactly the cheapest option. But Spring Arbor University offers a BA in music education. They also allow up to 90 college credits to be allowed transfer for a Bachelors degree. They are listed on both the ACE and NCCRS website of partner schools.

On the ACE website it says this:

Prior Learning Options:
- ACE Military Occupational Specialties
- ACE Military Training
- ACE Workforce/Corporate
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- Challenge Exams - CLEP
- GED College + Credit
- GED College Ready
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Online Education Provider
- Portfolio Evaluations


To give you an idea TESU doesn't even say all of those things on their ACE page. I have yet to find a college list this many things as accepted.

https://www.arbor.edu/program/secondary-...education/

They also give really good financial aid.

I do not attend this school, but I have applied and been accepted there. I asked about alternative credit and they said you would have to talk to a counselor.

[sanantone]

TESU accepts all of those; they just simplify things by saying they accept ACE-evaluated credits.

People normally finish the BA in Music at TESU by portfolio assessment.

Berklee's online tuition isn't terrible. You can always test out of as many credits as possible for the TESU program and take music courses at Berklee or some other school to transfer in whatever else you need. You can also take Berklee's MOOCs and possibly use those for PLAs.

[natshar]

You can't be a music teacher (at least a public school) without a teaching certificate. A degree in music alone won't cut it most places. However, there are lots of alternative route to certification programs or you could do a post-baccalaureate teaching certificate. There is always WGU for a post bach. teaching cert. I just suggested Spring Arbor because they offered a music education degree.

[sanantone]

You can't be a music teacher (at least a public school) without a teaching certificate. A degree in music alone won't cut it most places. However, there are lots of alternative route to certification programs or you could do a post-baccalaureate teaching certificate. There is always WGU for a post bach. teaching cert. I just suggested Spring Arbor because they offered a music education degree.

I was more thinking about alternative teacher certification programs. However, an undergraduate program or a post-baccalaureate program that leads to certification would be best if someone can afford to quit their job during the student teaching period. It can be hard to find schools that will accept applicants with temporary license, especially if they're not STEM, ESL, or special education teachers.