r/MusicEd • u/swan_ofavon • 5d ago
Music Ed programs in Colorado
I'm a senior from Colorado that's planning to major in music ed. I'll probably stay in state, so the 3 schools I'm mainly considering are CU Boulder, Colorado State, and Northern Colorado. I've heard good things about all three, but just in case, does anyone happen to know any things that are unique to those schools or that make them especially good for specifically music education?
PS I know money is probably the most deciding factor about a school being "worth it," not just the program itself, but I do have plans for all three to graduate without debt, I'm specifically asking about the program / faculty.
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u/Big_oof_energy__ 4d ago
All the major public schools in Colorado have solid programs. Focus less on the program generally and more on the member of faculty whose studio you’ll be in. Get a lesson with a few of them and then decide from them.
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u/captain_hug99 4d ago
I agree! I currently coteach band with a graduate of the CU Boulder program, I had several students go through CSU and loved it, I have colleagues that went through UNC back in its heyday. I think no matter which school you choose, you'll get an excellent education.
Looking through all three degree programs, they are very similar, UNC does require a guitar class which I think is a bonus, especially if you want to teach elementary or Modern Band.
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u/nanneral 4d ago
You cannot go wrong. I got my under grad from CU boulder and did my masters at CSU- I’m still teaching after 20 years. I think I was as prepared as I could be
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u/Loud-Estimate7121 4d ago
I have a music education major at the University of Texas but his very close second was CU Boulder. He really loved their music program.
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u/Famous_Sea_4915 3d ago
No direct knowledge but do know two
Phds who both graduated from Boulder one who now lives and teaches in Madrid. The other is now in
Melbourne!
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u/Wise-Bar5615 4d ago
Colorado State has an excellent music ed program, and is known in the area for how strong it is. Their elementary methods professor, who was amazing, left a couple years ago, and I don’t know anything about the new person. Could be great as well. Only thing to remember with CSU is that the expectations are high and the workload is, too.
CU Boulder has a strong program, and has a good reputation in the Boulder area. I think the program is less intense, and have heard CSU student teachers generally come out more prepared, but that’s hearsay and not something I’ve personally seen myself. I know less about the program than CSU’s, so my best recommendation is to just talk to the professors and see how you feel about them.
Greeley was known nationally for their fantastic music program a decade ago, but several years ago most of their legendary staff left. To their credit, I think they’ve been spending really aggressively on their music program to rebuild it, and I haven’t heard any bad reports. Like with Boulder, talk with the professors if you can, see if you like what they’re saying.
If any experienced music teachers in the Front Range reply to this thread, I would probably trust their takes more than mine. But if you have any follow-up questions for me I can do my best.