I am a 53 yr young college grad who desires to go back to college and get a Music Educ. degree and to have a private music studio. My question is: How do I prepare for entrance into a music program? What should I be doing now to prepare myself? I am at least 1 1/2 yrs away from entering. Can anyone lead and guide me with some suggestions?

How long have you been playing? How many instruments (groups) can you play with moderate ease? How much theory and composition background do you have? Any certificates? Previous experience teaching? Where does your practical ability fall against your pedagogy? What school are you trying to get into--is this school "easy" to get into or more difficult? Is there another path you can take?

I think you need to provide a lot more details if you want some feedback.

You may have a problem getting into a first-class music school. I just spent a fair amount of time considering the same situation (except I'm 71). As I take lessons privately with a teacher who is on the faculty of a college with a well regarded music program, I asked for her opinion. As a result, I'm now enrolled at the local community college. It has a really good music program, with 5 piano teachers, 3 (soon to be 4) of whom have their doctors degrees. I intend to get an AA from there, then decide if I'm up to the rigors of getting a degree. There are considerable cost savings with this approach as well.

Have you checked with any schools in the area. Berklee has a list of exactly what you need to do for their auditions.

If you can find that out you will have a guide as to what to practice/prepare for.
Good luck.

Music Education is the degree for those who want to teach band and choral music in public (or private) school systems. It is a combined music and education degree. Much of a music ed degree is no use whatsoever for those who want to have a private studio which focuses on a particular instrument.

If you want to have a private music studio, what you should be looking for is a piano (or whatever instrument) *pedagogy* degree. (pedagogy is teaching an instrument)

Prodigal, what if the school I'm looking at does not have a piano pedagogy degree? Then what?

I didn't realize you are from Phoenix. I will be relocating to the Tucson area next winter. What do you think about Chandler-Gilbert's Comm. College music program to start, there in the Phoenix area?

Sorry. To give a little background about myself:
I have been playing since I was 10yrs old, but I taught myself almost all I know as my parents could not finance my music educ. I only play the piano with relative ease. I have had one yr of college theory, the rest self-taught. No certif. When I was stationed over in Turkey with the Air Force, I taught beginning piano to children and adults. Primarily, because I was the only one willing.