Goal: Music Teacher

[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.

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.

Good points.

[cookderosa]

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

a good idea EXCEPT that a masters is risky for k12 teachers out of the gate. He'd have a hard time getting hired, especially in NC. If he were already a teacher, I think this would work because he'd have a job and they'd have to give him a raise.
My next door neighbor spent 7 academic years as a licensed teacher with a master's degree (she held a BA in something else and her license was integrated in her master's) and after 7 straight years of subbing and no contracts, she finally went into office work. My brother's master's was carefully planned (he is a high school music teacher/band director) but only started after he'd earned tenure at his high school.

[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?)?

a good idea EXCEPT that a masters is risky for k12 teachers out of the gate.  He'd have a hard time getting hired, especially in NC.  If he were already a teacher, I think this would work because he'd have a job and they'd have to give him a raise.  
My next door neighbor spent 7 academic years as a licensed teacher with a master's degree (she held a BA in something else and her license was integrated in her master's) and after 7 straight years of subbing and no contracts, she finally went into office work.  My brother's master's was carefully planned (he is a high school music teacher/band director) but only started after he'd earned tenure at his high school.

I should have said "or maybe the Rio Salado program after he's done."  The post-bac program.

So either:
1) the WGU BA/teaching credential, with a second bachelor's at TESU in music
2) a BA in Music from TESU and then the WGU post-bac teaching credential

I'm guessing either one will be the same price and timeline, but you could do spreadsheets for both to see which would be cheaper/faster.  But either way, he probably wants to do the teaching credential program when he's young and still living at home if possible, because it's 6 months of no pay - much easier to do when living at home with your parents than when you're out on your own.  If that's a possibility.

[cookderosa]

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

a good idea EXCEPT that a masters is risky for k12 teachers out of the gate.  He'd have a hard time getting hired, especially in NC.  If he were already a teacher, I think this would work because he'd have a job and they'd have to give him a raise.  
My next door neighbor spent 7 academic years as a licensed teacher with a master's degree (she held a BA in something else and her license was integrated in her master's) and after 7 straight years of subbing and no contracts, she finally went into office work.  My brother's master's was carefully planned (he is a high school music teacher/band director) but only started after he'd earned tenure at his high school.

I should have said "or maybe the Rio Salado program after he's done."  The post-bac program.

So either:
1) the WGU BA/teaching credential, with a second bachelor's at TESU in music
2) a BA in Music from TESU and then the WGU post-bac teaching credential

I'm guessing either one will be the same price and timeline, but you could do spreadsheets for both to see which would be cheaper/faster.  But either way, he probably wants to do the teaching credential program when he's young and still living at home if possible, because it's 6 months of no pay - much easier to do when living at home with your parents than when you're out on your own.  If that's a possibility.

Thank you!