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So, this topic was brought up to me in the last week or so. Is it physically possible to learn to play an instrument and get into a music education program in about a year and a half?

I like to think anything is possible, but I didn't really know what to say to the person who asked.

Well, I actually started studying music/tuba late (Junior in H.S.), and auditioned, and was accepted as a music major the following year.

As far as a practicing standpoint, how often and how much did you practice?

Given the embarrassingly low performance standards for music education majors at many universities, I'd say it's completely possible.

Can of worms: opened.

my suggestion, only half joking:

take up bassoon, oboe, or viola. All but guaranteed scholarship.

I would not have thought so. However, I taught at an international school and over a five year period I encountered two fine musicians from Denmark.

They were not from the same town but shared this experience: they had both begun the study of their instrument after age 18; they both had mature, characteristic sounds, could read music well and could improvise with fluency and in different styles. One had played barely a year and a half before coming to me, the other about three years.

Physically possible? Yes. Motivation and dedication was absolutely essential.

Yes - but as others have said, motivation and work ethic is the key.

I started playing tuba the summer inbetween 11th and 12th grade, 1 full year before getting into college for Music Education.
You can do it dude!

As long as you work towards the audition process for many months (preferably with a professional... In my opinion it would have been impossible without) before the date and choose an instrument that gives you a decent sound... It is very possible...

Adam C. wrote:Given the embarrassingly low performance standards for music education majors at many universities, I'd say it's completely possible.

Can of worms: opened.

Please keep in mind the emphasis in a Mus Ed program is education not performance, so yes the performance standard is going to be lower. The person is training to become an professional music educator--not an easy task, especially here in TX (a mus ed degree plan typically take 5 years to complete).

So I too agree it's possible as long as the person is prepared to work HARD.

JJ

I think it is possible as long as the person already knows some basic music theory and has some ability on some other instrument (preferably something like piano).

eupher61 wrote:my suggestion, only half joking:

take up bassoon, oboe, or viola. All but guaranteed scholarship.

Why do you mention these instruments? I thought the oboe was a rather popular instrument?

I taught myself tuba out of a book the summer preceding my Junior year of high school. 6 months later, a one at state solo and ensemble. Year and half later, All-State Band and acceptance to a major music program. Yes, it's possible... if you work hard enough!

A music "teacher" here wasn't smart enough to get into the local University for Music Ed so she applied for performance. Her only previous experience was singing (not well) in the HS choir but at the time they weren't accepting vocal as a major, only a minor. So she applied on what she thought was a clarinet (It was a flute) and got in! She eventually transferred to mus ed and graduated. She then got a job at a local High school and called me to do some repair/maintenance stuff. When I got to the school I found her there with every case opened and she asked me to go through them with her and tell her what each instrument was, one by one (trumpet, flute, clarinet, etc). Some time later she emailed me to have a flute (she wrote "floot") looked at, it was a trumpet and it wasn't broken.

If the standard is low enough I think a monkey could get into music in less than a year. (Don't freak out. I said IF THE STANDARD IS LOW ENOUGH).

Mike-ICR wrote: If the standard is low enough I think a monkey could get into music in less than a year. (Don't freak out. I said IF THE STANDARD IS LOW ENOUGH).

I absolutely agree...in fact, that can be applied to ANY profession--I have lost count of how many morons I've run into over the years who have MDs, JDs, or PhDs behind their names--it really comes down to if you have the time and, most importantly, the $$$ to bu...errr, obtain one.

JJ

Adam C. wrote:Given the embarrassingly low performance standards for music education majors at many universities, I'd say it's completely possible.

Can of worms: opened.

Agreed

TUBAD83 wrote:

Adam C. wrote:Same quote as above.

Please keep in mind the emphasis in a Mus Ed program is education not performance, so yes the performance standard is going to be lower. The person is training to become an professional music educator--not an easy task, especially here in TX (a mus ed degree plan typically take 5 years to complete).

So I too agree it's possible as long as the person is prepared to work HARD.

JJ

I hate to be a nasty nancy, but I have to disagree with you on one point. Yes, the performance standards are going to be fudged a bit for Ed. majors. But I think that, in many places, the level to which the standards have been lowered is completely unacceptable. Yes, I realize that some people can be great teachers without playing the horn. And I do know that sometimes, teachers don't get enough time to play their horn. But they should at least get put through a program that tries to make them into the best musician they can be.

Being one of the recording techs at my school, I get to record quite a few recitals. And plenty of those were Music Ed. seniors who were giving what is probably the last recital they'll ever play. To be quite honest, the level of playing ability showed by many of them was appalling. This is even at a school that prides itself on its music Ed. program.

Again, sorry to be a disagreeing danny, (I love thinking of those type of lines,) but this is an issue on which I feel strongly.

Aaron H.

tubafatness wrote:
I hate to be a nasty nancy, but I have to disagree with you on one point. Yes, the performance standards are going to be fudged a bit for Ed. majors. But I think that, in many places, the level to which the standards have been lowered is completely unacceptable. Yes, I realize that some people can be great teachers without playing the horn. And I do know that sometimes, teachers don't get enough time to play their horn. But they should at least get put through a program that tries to make them into the best musician they can be.

Being one of the recording techs at my school, I get to record quite a few recitals. And plenty of those were Music Ed. seniors who were giving what is probably the last recital they'll ever play. To be quite honest, the level of playing ability showed by many of them was appalling. This is even at a school that prides itself on its music Ed. program.

Again, sorry to be a disagreeing danny, (I love thinking of those type of lines,) but this is an issue on which I feel strongly.

Aaron H.

I am a sponsor of the local music festival and attended the solo winds performances with high hopes. The High school students played better than the University students. There were even HS kids in higher categories than the University seniors.

Yes, there are unacceptable levels of music teacher proficiency and acceptance in many universities.

HOWEVER

I dare say there is what many could consider low/'unacceptable' levels of ANY degree program anywhere to be found in the country.

There are "good" schools for particular degrees, and there are "bad" schools for particular degrees.

There as just as many schools that grant performance degrees or computer engineering degrees to students who are very unaccomplished in his or her field. Yet the schools still offer the degrees. And within these programs, even poor programs, some students still become highly accomplished.

I would have to say that there are many schools who have VERY high level music education students in the mix with very low level performance majors.

This is all really a moot point because there are students everywhere who are either succeeding or failing (whether passing or failing not withstanding).

So really, there are way too many generalizations to be made about this subject.