Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm doing education because 1, you don't need a degree to play in amazing symphonies or orchestras, you just need to be AMAZING 2, it's the same thing as a performance degree just with a few extra education classes and less private lesson hours required(but if you're a music major, practicing should not be an issue anyway) 3, if you end your education after 4 years it is easier to get jobs at high schools as staff or a director compared to people who get the performance degree because you would be a "teacher" and you weren't required to take the education classes as a "performance" major(you can still be a private teacher w/ a performance degree and teach at private schools/elementary schools/jr high probably but it's risky 4. you can major in music ed for your 4 years of college if you are furthering your education after that and can eventually get a doctoral degree in "Performance" which means you would have Music ed AND Performance(best of both worlds!)


I know these things because I was actually going to be a performance major because I didn't even think about the doctoral degree in performance. I asked myself, which one to major in and I got all of those answers as to WHY I should do music ed now.
I eventually want to have my doctoral degrees in double reeds and performance, be a double reeds professor at a college, be in a well reknown symphony/ensembles, and teach privately.
That is what I'm pursuing now!

Hope I helped someone because I had the same delimma a few months ago! wink

Whoah, I did not know you needed a PhD to teach at university level. My instructor has at most her masters and just a stellar rapport (having been one of those child prodigy thingies), and even my adviser said that what most expected of teacher/performer (which I think she was referring to those at the school) is a Master's degree.

In any case I'm SURE the op has come to a decision by now,or this would be the most tragic case of prolonged indecision. In any route I say if you have to go for advance degrees get it in Admin or something. All the notable universities with respectable music programs offer special performance certificates (you don't need a Master's in it...that part should show once you start playing) wink