Department of Music Education

The Department of Music Education aspires to prepare talented individuals to meet the challenges of teaching choral, instrumental and general music in the 21st Century, and encourages growth in its students in the areas of teaching, musicianship and critical thinking. Widely recognized for its long-standing commitment to a quality music teacher education program, the department employs 12 full-time faculty with expertise in all phases of contemporary music education and research.

Additional Features of the Music Education Program

• One of the nation’s largest undergraduate music education programs
• Modern facilities and an outstanding faculty dedicated to the personal and professional development of its students
• A program of study that provides active observation and participation in public and private schools beginning at the sophomore level
• A comprehensive curriculum that is responsive to educational change as well as to student needs and interests
• Music education majors who continually distinguish themselves as the University’s top scholars and performers
• The availability of current technology and electronics for teaching, performing and accompanying
• A Collegiate Music Education Association chapter whose members have attained statewide office as future leaders in the profession
• A program recognized nationally for the quality of its instruction and the professional contributions of its graduates

Members of the music education faculty possess varied backgrounds and areas of specialization that are important in providing a quality program. For example, the faculty consists of former successful public school teachers who are conductors of major performing ensembles and researchers. They have attained recognition as master teachers at state, national and international levels as a result of their accomplishments.

The department has established an enviable record of cooperative efforts with area public and private schools. Faculty members have developed unique music laboratory programs that are integrated with the department’s methods courses. Direct involvement in the teaching of school-age children in area schools provides music education majors with early, practical teaching experience under the direct guidance of members of the music education department.

Undergraduate Music Education Degree Options

The music education program is designed to prepare students to become licensed to teach music in the pre-K through secondary levels.

Three options are offered within the music education major. They are as follows:

Choral Option

For those who wish to teach choral music at the elementary, junior and senior high school levels

General Music Option

For those interested in teaching elementary and junior high school general music

Instrumental Option

For those who wish to teach instrumental music at the elementary, junior and senior high school levels

All options include concentration in the following areas:

• Music Performance and Comprehensive Musicianship

  • Music History and Theory
  • Sight-singing
  • Keyboard Skills
  • Large and Small Ensembles
  • Applied Study
  • Conducting
  • Arranging

• General Studies

  • Communication Skills
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Mathematics and Natural Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Multicultural Studies

• Professional Preparation

  • Music Education Methods Courses
  • Techniques of Playing and Teaching Instruments
  • Sophomore and Junior Level Field Experiences
  • Professional Education Courses
  • Music Technology
  • Multicultural Music Education
  • Integration of the Arts
  • Music Student Teaching Internship

Areas of Preparation for Incoming Undergraduate Music Education Majors

The Department of Music Education recommends that prospective students enhance the following skills prior to entering the music education program:

Keyboard Skills

A piano skills test is administered to all incoming freshmen and transfer students. Based on the results of this test, students are placed in an appropriate piano class. The program of study requires that students pass three proficiency levels.

Singing Skills

Students are required to take four semesters of aural skills. This component includes pitch, interval and harmonic recognition, as well as sight-singing proficiency.

Performance Skills - Entrance Audition

Students are required to present an entrance audition in their principal medium prior to enrollment as a pre-music education major.

Music Theory

All students are required to take a theory placement examination prior to enrollment as a pre-music education major. The results of this examination are critical in determining if the student will be required to take MuCT 113 (Basic Musicianship I - a review course), MuCT 115 (Accelerated Fundamentals of Music) or MuCT 151 (Theory I). Because of the importance of the results of this placement examination, prospective students are encouraged to increase their understanding of scales, chords and intervals in preparation for it.