Music Ed/Percussion Performance Major NEEDS HELP!

xylophoneguy5 · 05-04-2007, 04:37 PM

I live in Pennsylvania and I plan on majoring in music ed and performance. I need help finding a good school. I have practically started back at square one. I want to stay in PA, but would be willing to go to a state nearby. I am very confused and I NEED HELP! thank to all who help

ImperialZeppelin · 05-04-2007, 05:16 PM

PA is a big state...

Lot's of the small LACs in PA have programs so check them out. If you're one of the best in the country, there's the Curtis Institute in Philly.

As far as "close" out of state schools...

If you live in southern PA, Peabody in Baltimore is not too far away. You can add Towson University and University of Maryland to that Maryland list.

If you're in Northeast PA, then the NYC schools are definitely "in range".

If you're in Western PA, then there's the Cleveland Institute of Music.

The first step is talking with your private teacher and band/orchestra director(s) to find out where they feel you may fit in...

thumper1 · 05-04-2007, 05:38 PM

Duquesne University in Pittsburgh has a VERY highly regarded music education program.

lorelei2702 · 05-04-2007, 06:02 PM

Rutgers has outstanding percussion faculty, and its music ed graduates are easily placed in teaching jobs.

hkstrpd · 05-04-2007, 06:27 PM

Temple in Philadelphia

BassDad · 05-04-2007, 10:50 PM

If you are not quite up to the level of the top conservatories, Susquehanna University has a good music ed department and a fairly new music building with a very nice concert hall.

violamandad · 05-05-2007, 12:45 AM

Try West Chester University - great location near Philadelphia and a good quality music ed program

librarian377 · 05-06-2007, 11:11 AM

Gettysburg College (Gettysburg) and Moravian College (Bethlehem)

xylophoneguy5 · 05-08-2007, 06:59 AM

i think i have decided psu, im just scared my gpa is 4.1 weighted (3.9 not weighted) but sat's 1040, involved in everything. I just think my sat score is holding me back. I am taking them again but what happens if I dont break 1100, do i have a chance of getting into psu?

ImperialZeppelin · 05-08-2007, 07:15 AM

The question of whether or not your 1040 SAT score is going to get you in to Penn State is best addressed by a visit to the Penn State Admissions Office... At face value, it isn't in the classic 50% profile posted on the web site.

BassDad · 05-08-2007, 08:06 AM

Penn State University Park appears to require that you be admitted first to the University before you can audition for the music department. While your GPA is fine, even an 1100 SAT is going to be on the low end. As Zep says, you need to talk to them directly.

It would certainly be a good idea to find some safeties that you like. (You might consider Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an hour west of the main PSU campus with good music and music ed departments. Also, West Chester as violamandad mentioned.)

If you are really set on PSU, you could try applying to one or more of the satellite locations as safeties. Your SAT's would be above average at most of them and your GPA well above average. If you do well in the general music curriculum at one of those, you will be able to transfer to the University Park campus to finish up. You will need to be very careful in finding out whether it would be possible to complete a music ed or performance major in four years if you start out in a satellite campus.

binx · 05-08-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

i have decided psu

I think this is a dangerous statement. It is fine if you have decided to give psu your best shot, but please don't fall in love with only one school! Apply to psu with the understanding that it will be a reach, then get busy finding matches and safeties. There are a lot of good suggestions here. Don't "settle" for your safeties - work hard at finding one you really, really like, so you have at least one exciting option next spring (or whenever you apply, since you didn't say what year you are).

The other advantage to having a "happy safety" in your pocket is that you can retake your SATs with a lot less pressure on yourself.

thumper1 · 05-08-2007, 06:30 PM

RE: Penn State....I know residents of the state of PA with SAT scores WELL in excess of 1100 (CR/math) who were not admitted to the main campus for this coming fall. So I would say that admission to Penn State might not be a guarantee. The students I know also had decent GPA's (above 3.2). In fact, I was quite surprised that they didn't get accepted to the main campus. Both were accepted to regional campuses.

rglick · 05-08-2007, 10:38 PM

Look at Kutztown, I have a newphew in percussion, a senior and is doing extremely well for himself. Already has filled in with big name bands. I think it is what you make of the school. I know he is very talented. Apply early to Penn State, like August or you may forget it. My D was accepted but not for her program, they take so few. Susquehanna was great and she would have gone there but did not get her program. Shenandoah was also great and she was accepted but not enough financial aid, so she had to say no.

Singersmom07 · 05-09-2007, 06:53 AM

One other thing to consider if you really want Penn State University Park, accept the offer to start in the summer instead of fall. DS has less than stellar grades, although excellent SATs. They accepted him for summer but would not have if he had insisted on fall only. He enjoyed the summer term.