Klarinet Archive - Posting 000749.txt from 1997/07

From: "David S. Naden" <dnaden@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Major decisions
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 01:25:00 -0400

Sarah--

First, if you live in Texas, seriously consider the University of Texas
at Austin. It has an outstanding music department, and from what I've
been told is one of the best values in higher education.

As far as choice of major...

If you are eventually going to teach, music education is an obvious
choice. However, the performance option is also good. I suggest doing
a performance major, AND complete the music education major
requirements. Why?... Because majors in music education still have
performance requirements to meet, but usually stop after approximately
completeing the junior level requirements of a performance major.
Anotherwords, more lesson time, and obviously more recital requirements
for a performance major.

If you are not comfortable with the idea of a double major in music,
then I would suggest going with your gut choice as to what's right. In
reality, you have to make the choice, and be comfortable with it, and
any area in music can be augmented with courses from another area.

David S. Naden

Sarah B. Horney wrote:

> I want to apologize for the quantity (not to mention the
> quality)
> of my mail to this list. If you can stand it, I have another
> question.
> I want to be a high school band director when I get out of
> school, and have some questions regarding not only specific major
> options, but also general decisions. I have received many suggestions
> of
> what my major should be. My Music Theory (and choir) teacher says
> that
> "Performance is the way to go." My own band directors seem to have
> differences of opinion- some say performance, some others say music
> education (another says that I should forget music altogether and go
> for
> the political science degree, only half-jokingly). I was just
> wondering
> if anyone had any suggestions. Also, if there are specific schools
> that
> you would recommend, I would be open to anything. I live near Fort
> Worth, Texas, so University of North Texas is sounding nice, but I am
> just so confused now.
> Thank you so much for your time.
>
> Have fun!
>
> Sarah
> benevolent1@-----.com