Non-Degree Music in North Carolina?

College Majors Music Majors
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I have two pen pals who live outside the US. One of them has attended and graduated from the university in the country of their origin with a Music degree but wants to attend some classes in the US, not for credit, but to learn something new and get some experience with both Music and English for a year, the latter mostly so they can pass the TOEFL test (they can understand written words but the person on the tape speaks to fast).</p>

<p>My pen pal has already made arrangements to live with an old relative in NC and wants to know if there are any good Music schools there willing to take Non-Degree students and if there are any restrictions or requirements necessary to apply for the school (i.e. TOEFL test).</p>

<p>Their interests lies in cello, violin, and piano though they also enjoy teaching those instruments. Does anyone have school suggestions?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>What part of NC? I’m not sure why someone would want to go to college for a non-degree. Why not just study privately? I suspect most colleges will make you apply as if you are heading for a degree. Nothing bad happens if you drop out before getting one.</p>

3

<p>I don’t think they have a preference of where in NC. They did mention in one of their past letters that they have a relative somewhere in the Raleigh-Durham area. So maybe there?</p>

<p>They’re going for a non-degree because their major reason for coming is to better their English and their secondary is to learn something new in their field and what better way than being in the environment of students? Kind of like exchange students without moving another student. It’s hard for them to understand spoken English very well and they want to learn something new without the added pressure of having to pass the exams, they already have a degree after all. They want music because it’s sort of a “language” they’re familiar with and thus have a bases to compare what is spoken to what they’ve learned before.</p>

<p>I’m not familiar with the music major in general so what do you mean by studying privately? As in doing independent research?</p>

4

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<p>Private study typically is defined as instruction on an instrument (which would include voice), or in composition, or music theory. There can conceivably be some independent study or research within that instruction, but it is typically not self-study. </p>

<p>I suggest you have your friend read the following or have it explained to them by someone fluent both in English or his native tongue.</p>

<p>This is an overview of what is involved in music college admissions within the US
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>These are two prior threads asking similar questions to your own.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/354634-options-adult-students.html?highlight=options[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/354634-options-adult-students.html?highlight=options&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/775492-options-those-non-music-degree.html?highlight=options[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/775492-options-those-non-music-degree.html?highlight=options&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There may be options, but many institutions do not offer music classes and instruction in the depth that many academic subjects are offered to part-time or non-matriculated students. Alternative options are discussed within the thread links above.</p>

<p>The list here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/781204-just-list.html?highlight=list[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/781204-just-list.html?highlight=list&lt;/a&gt; shows a good number of the colleges offering music programs.</p>

5

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<p>I’m still a little confused, is finding an instruction on an instrument that much different from attending classes at a school/university/collage?</p>

<p>Thanks for the links Violadad.</p>

<p>My friend already has a music degree, so despite the link title <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/354634-options-adult-students.html?highlight=options[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/354634-options-adult-students.html?highlight=options&lt;/a&gt; doesn’t seem to fit the situation very well. However, the link <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/775492-options-those-non-music-degree.html?highlight=options[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/775492-options-those-non-music-degree.html?highlight=options&lt;/a&gt; is really similar to what I’m looking for but no answer has been given to the original poster. Also, is being

mean getting a degree in Music or getting a degree for Teaching Music?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/781204-just-list-3.html?highlight=list[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/781204-just-list-3.html?highlight=list&lt;/a&gt; also gives me some NC schools I can research.</p>

<p>I did see this link: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/764582-music-programs-outside-degree-programs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/764582-music-programs-outside-degree-programs.html&lt;/a&gt; where in one of your post you mentioned that </p>

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</p>

<p>How do I know if the school has a larger/well known music program? Is there some sort of search criteria I can use?</p>

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<p>It sounds as if a community college might fill the bill. Your friend could potentially take an ESL class as well as music. I suggest starting with the community colleges in NC to see if there are any that have a music program, then checking on the strength of the music (there are some that are quite good) and the availability of ESL. Community colleges will be more open to nondegree students.</p>

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<p>Instrumental instruction is often done on a one to one basis, engaging a private instructor who may be an active or retired professional or semi-professional musician, college faculty, or public or private music school teacher. These lessons are normally in the instructor’s home, the student’s home, a retail music store that sells instruments and offers instruction as well, or a community music school.</p>

<p>Many community music schools and programs MAY be affiliated with a college program, but they often use different instructors than the college faculty, but there can be overlap. In many cases Masters and above level students in degree seeking programs at that college serve as the instructors within the affiliated community school.</p>

<p>There are few, if any college programs that allow non matriculated or part-time students to partake of the offerings available to degree seeking music students or students pursuing a music “minor” (a less rigorous course of study that does not result in a degree). </p>

<p>“certified in music education” means having the credentials (having the degree), PLUS certification and license to teach music within a publically funded k-12 school. The licensure is regulated by each of the fifty states. The requirements are similar, but not identical.</p>

<p>This thread is really what your friend is looking for.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/764582-music-programs-outside-degree-programs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/764582-music-programs-outside-degree-programs.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you are unfamiliar with US music programs, the list here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/817953-master-list-acceptances-fall-2010-a-52.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/817953-master-list-acceptances-fall-2010-a-52.html&lt;/a&gt; is a very good cross section of many of the major US colleges with very good music degree reputations. Some have attached community schools, many do not. There is no comprehensive list.</p>

<p>The best way to identify a community program is by speaking with music students, music teachers and educators from the locality or region that the program serves.</p>

<p>Hope that helps.</p>

<p>Edit: AsterMom makes an excellent suggestion, one that I did not think of. Look into North Carolina School of the Arts as well. They should have a community music program, but the location may not be feasible. Appalchian State U/Hayes might, as the NC public colleges and universities.</p>