Every college I've looked at up around here (in PA, so including NY and OH) have had 4 year music education degree programs...

Well like I said, you can do it in four years, but you would be taking the maximum number of hours every semester for all four years, which any college student can tell you is a tough feat.

Hats off to Trimen, your post was very helpful!

How much do colleges care about academic grades (math, science, history..) if you're applying to a music school?

This is a very helpful topic. Thanks to anyone who contributed!

If you go to a music school (In other words you're a very strong concert percussionist) then they don't seem to care much about grades (At least from what I've heard).

I believe that any other place you go (Once again out of the schools I looked at) you must first get into the university, then you go to your audition for the music department.

You'll be looked at like any other applicant for the college itself (unless you're just so outstanding that the music faculty pulls some strings) for admission generally.

That's if you're talking about a school with a music department. If you're thinking of a conservatory, it generally changes from place to place.

As far as instruments . . . just go in with what you know, and if you have time, familiarize yourself with a piano if you never have before. There are generally intro courses to brass, percussion, woodwinds, and strings, so you'll get all the basics you need to be a director as long as you make sure to sign up for the proper classes.

I just got my schedule set for my first semester at Mississippi State University. I'm taking a bunch of music courses like, Theory, Ear Training, Voice, Piano, History, 3 ensembles, private lesson, applied instrument(woodwinds, brass,etc...), recital classes. That's all the music classes. And I'll be taking En Comp and Gen Psych...so that's like 12 or so hours of music, and 6 hrs of non-music class.

I figure that Psych is for working with the kids, how they think and how to deal with them. Math, you'll just need that cause it's Math...some science course/w labs, and World Civ. Those are some other things that I'll have to take later on and whatnot.

From talking with other band directors, some things to look forward to are knowing all major/minor scales, harmonic scales, triad, chords, intervals, conducting, orchestration/composing, student teaching, listening to some old guy with a monotone voice teaching music history/theory, and not having much of a life outside of music. Not sure bout that last part, but if you really want it that much, then I guess it shouldn't be a problem.

All I can say to you is, start expanding your horizon now...learn every scale you can, instrument, anything to make it that much easier on yourself. Good luck though man.

Let me put you one step ahead of your theory classmates...

The modes of the scale...

Ionian
Dorian
Phyrgian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian
Ionian

and here's how you remember it...
I
Don't
Punch
Like
Muhammad
ALI

It's the best trick I've ever learned.

I am currently a senior Music Education Major (Instrumental/Choral and General Music) and I think the best way for you to prepare to be a future band/orch. director is to become a better musician. Someone previously said that you do not need to be the best player to be a band/orch. director...this is true to a point. You do not have to be the best technical player, but you need to be a good musician. Some things that will help you be a better musician are:

1. Keep working your piano skills (lessons are preferred)
2. If you haven't already, start studying musical theory.
3. If you haven't already, start studying musical history.
4. Continue to sing in choirs (This will develop your ear training, which will make you better at tuning chords in ensembles....and also good at tuning timpani!)
5. I know it sounds cheesy...but have a passion for teaching..so many directors are just wannabe performance majors who go into education "to fall back on something". Just because you're not a good performer means you are going to be a good educator.

I hope this gives you some direction. Also, someone previously mentioned that you need a Ph.D. to teach music in college. That isn't necessarily true. If you want to teach percussion lessons in college or even direct bands, you can get a job with just a masters (Doctorate is recommended though). However if you want to teach Music Education in a University, you will need a Ph.D.

Good luck in the future!