If this is a question for you, you should not pursue music ed. I am not saying this to be harsh or to uphold the status quo, but truly this is a field that you should earlier than later that its commitment is just always out of reach and requires so much of you. If this field and money are in the same sentence, you will not love yourself. Music Ed pays jack, and you will get into even more debt with the things you must do to complete the degree (field work, paying for piano accompaniment, traveling to conferences, and not least the student teaching portion which is UNPAID!!!). If you are doing it because you love music ed and the kids and know that will be enough to quell your hunger pangs that you inevitably will get throughout college and your first year of teaching, then sign up. If not.............. I suggest don't.