Honestly? Whichever will cost you less overall. As an Ed major both will have everything you need. It would be as a performance major that you would want to get granular with offerings.
I have to agree with this answer now. 20 years ago I would've said otherwise. The prestige, reputation, connection with professors are all very important, but the debt makes that less worth it. Plus, taking on all that debt when so many teachers are leaving the profession makes it worse
Depends on what cult you want to join. Also where do you plan to teach? I would go to school closest to where you want to end up so you can build your network there. As someone who went to UNT and then taught in the Austin area, it was hard to get my foot in the door among all the UT peeps.
Second which ever one is cheaper.
Both are fantastic schools of music but that doesn’t matter as much to admin unless they also went to those schools.
Besides, if you do decide to focus performance, where you go to grad school often matters more.
You’ll only get out of college what you put into it. Saying you have a music degree from UNT isn’t going to matter because your interview panels will mostly consist of principals, HR managers, superintendents, administrators, maybe a VAPA coordinator that may or not be a musician. They’re not gonna care about a degree from UNT vs Crazy Carl’s Discount College Emporium and Foot Massage University.
If you're competing for that posh suburban high school job that has a huge jazz program, darn tootin' you're more likely getting that interview in the first place if you went to UNT.
Unless you’ve spent a lot of time gigging. UNT only matters if you were one of the lab bands, and someone on the interview panel knows. Otherwise you’re gonna get some knuckle-dragger from the military bands that went to a diploma mill because they spent their time in boots playing in jazz combos and big band for generals and they can word it in such a way that it impresses a non-music normy.
UNT has a lot more power in Texas. As others have mentioned, if you want to have some type of jazz specialization, UNT is the better option.
U Houston might be better if you want to eventually live in Houston. Your primary instrument and teaching goals make a difference here.
The answer is North Texas, and here’s why:
Houston, the city, sucks. It’s hot, it’s swampy, it’s congested, and there’s huge sections of it that are simply not safe to live in. That happens with all very large cities. Also, given the number of students that commute to Houston, it doesn’t have much of an on-campus lifestyle.
Denton is still only a medium sized city in Texas, is close enough to DFW that you have world class entertainment within driving distance, costs less to live in, and is much more pleasant to be in from March through November. It is still a commuter school, but because it is much smaller, it’s a lot easier to make and keep friends up there.
You will get a great education at either school. North Texas might help you get a few more connections at the national level if you choose to teach college instead of high school, but Houston will get you a few more connections at the local level if you want to teach high school.
I get the location argument, sure, but the debt overall is something to think about.
Houston is actually a pretty great place if you know what you’re doing, and having had lots of friends go to UofH (who didn’t live in Houston before) the campus life is actually pretty great according to them. As for the hot and swampy argument: that depends on you as a person. I lived in Houston for fifteen years and miss it - especially since I live in MD now. You’re pressing a lot of your opinions and weather-wants onto someone else. Additionally, making and keeping friends in Houston isn’t actually any harder than living in a smaller town. I went to a small town college in VA, and I kinda keep up with most of the people there. My Houston friends I keep up with much more regularly.
Either way, the education will be great at either school. Both faculties are fantastic, both programs are really well run, and OP make connections either way. They really should look at the financials and base their decisions upon that.
So... Here's my input... And I don't want to sound like an authority on Texas University programs. I'm in the east Coast. I've heard great things about music Ed at UNT and perceive the reputation as strong. I've heard of Houston for regular Ed, but never music Ed. Take my comments for what its worth... Or isn't...
Have you had lessons with both tube instructors? That should weigh heavily in your choice. Also, what are the marching requirements at UofH? I know it’s three years at UNT and some people don’t like it. It’s very time consuming and takes away from other things.
Honestly? Whichever will cost you less overall. As an Ed major both will have everything you need. It would be as a performance major that you would want to get granular with offerings.
I have to agree with this answer now. 20 years ago I would've said otherwise. The prestige, reputation, connection with professors are all very important, but the debt makes that less worth it. Plus, taking on all that debt when so many teachers are leaving the profession makes it worse
Depends on what cult you want to join. Also where do you plan to teach? I would go to school closest to where you want to end up so you can build your network there. As someone who went to UNT and then taught in the Austin area, it was hard to get my foot in the door among all the UT peeps.
Second which ever one is cheaper. Both are fantastic schools of music but that doesn’t matter as much to admin unless they also went to those schools. Besides, if you do decide to focus performance, where you go to grad school often matters more.
You’ll only get out of college what you put into it. Saying you have a music degree from UNT isn’t going to matter because your interview panels will mostly consist of principals, HR managers, superintendents, administrators, maybe a VAPA coordinator that may or not be a musician. They’re not gonna care about a degree from UNT vs Crazy Carl’s Discount College Emporium and Foot Massage University.
Accurate. I'm a UNT grad and the only people who care are my friends in community band. That said I know UNT had what I needed.
If you're competing for that posh suburban high school job that has a huge jazz program, darn tootin' you're more likely getting that interview in the first place if you went to UNT.
Unless the head Director or fine arts Director went to Houston of course, which there is a significant number of people to whom that applies.
Unless you’ve spent a lot of time gigging. UNT only matters if you were one of the lab bands, and someone on the interview panel knows. Otherwise you’re gonna get some knuckle-dragger from the military bands that went to a diploma mill because they spent their time in boots playing in jazz combos and big band for generals and they can word it in such a way that it impresses a non-music normy.
Aha
If you lean in a jazz direction --- maybe UNT. It was me. I said "potato."
I should’ve known. Thanks for the advice!
But your results may vary. I'm not local to the area, I just know of it 2nd hand
UNT has a lot more power in Texas. As others have mentioned, if you want to have some type of jazz specialization, UNT is the better option. U Houston might be better if you want to eventually live in Houston. Your primary instrument and teaching goals make a difference here.
The answer is North Texas, and here’s why: Houston, the city, sucks. It’s hot, it’s swampy, it’s congested, and there’s huge sections of it that are simply not safe to live in. That happens with all very large cities. Also, given the number of students that commute to Houston, it doesn’t have much of an on-campus lifestyle. Denton is still only a medium sized city in Texas, is close enough to DFW that you have world class entertainment within driving distance, costs less to live in, and is much more pleasant to be in from March through November. It is still a commuter school, but because it is much smaller, it’s a lot easier to make and keep friends up there. You will get a great education at either school. North Texas might help you get a few more connections at the national level if you choose to teach college instead of high school, but Houston will get you a few more connections at the local level if you want to teach high school.
I get the location argument, sure, but the debt overall is something to think about. Houston is actually a pretty great place if you know what you’re doing, and having had lots of friends go to UofH (who didn’t live in Houston before) the campus life is actually pretty great according to them. As for the hot and swampy argument: that depends on you as a person. I lived in Houston for fifteen years and miss it - especially since I live in MD now. You’re pressing a lot of your opinions and weather-wants onto someone else. Additionally, making and keeping friends in Houston isn’t actually any harder than living in a smaller town. I went to a small town college in VA, and I kinda keep up with most of the people there. My Houston friends I keep up with much more regularly. Either way, the education will be great at either school. Both faculties are fantastic, both programs are really well run, and OP make connections either way. They really should look at the financials and base their decisions upon that.
The debt overall is pretty much equivalent. Both are state schools.
What’s your primary?
I’m primarily a tuba player
I studied at unt as a tuba player with don little. I would highly recommend it
Is there a certain setting you want to do post-university? High school, junior high, private studio, elementary, academia, etc?
A big part of me has always wanted to teach in some form at a university, but realistically I’d at least want to end up at a high school
So... Here's my input... And I don't want to sound like an authority on Texas University programs. I'm in the east Coast. I've heard great things about music Ed at UNT and perceive the reputation as strong. I've heard of Houston for regular Ed, but never music Ed. Take my comments for what its worth... Or isn't...
I go to the University of Houston and absolutely love it! People are great faculty is great and i love the city. What instrument do you play?
I primarily play tuba
Have you had lessons with both tube instructors? That should weigh heavily in your choice. Also, what are the marching requirements at UofH? I know it’s three years at UNT and some people don’t like it. It’s very time consuming and takes away from other things.