Music Education, B.M.

The music education major is designed to prepare students to become elementary and secondary school music teachers. The faculty of the Department of Music Education has identified three primary learning outcomes: effective teaching, musicianship, and critical thinking.

Music Education Learning Outcomes

1. Teaching Effectiveness:
   • Students will integrate effective teaching practices in K-12 areas of music through construction and implementation of appropriate music lesson plans and valid assessment of student musical learning.
2. Musicianship:
   • Students will perform a varied repertoire of music on their primary instruments in public recitals and ensemble performances.
   • Students will demonstrate effective aural skills, keyboard skills, and proficiency on secondary instruments necessary for effective modeling and instruction.
3. Critical Thinking Skills:
   • Students will critically observe and analyze music education field experiences.
   • Students will reflect critically upon and evaluate their own teaching in varied music learning contexts.    

Admission as a Music Education Major

While all music education majors should begin the program of study as entering freshmen (pre-music education), formal admission does not occur until after enrollment in MUED 2400 , which is generally taken in the sophomore year. Enrollment in MUED 2400  is based on the student’s academic standing and performance achievement. Specifically, these include:

• GPA of 2.5;
• GPA of 3.00 for all courses with a MUED prefix;
• GPA of 2.5 in MUCT 1410 - Aural Skills I  and MUCT 1420 - Aural Skills II ;
• GPA of 2.5 for all Music Core courses taken prior to MUED 2400 ;
• Satisfactory progress in applied study (through regularly scheduled applied juries, which determine performance achievement).

Formal Admission as a Music Education Major

An admission interview to assess the academic progress and readiness of the student to enter the music education program occurs through the Music Education Sophomore Review process completed during MUED 2400 . The music education faculty will review a portfolio submitted by each student, which documents evidence of skill development in the areas of teaching effectiveness, musicianship, critical thinking, and professional dispositions.

Specialization in Music Education

All bachelor of music degree specializations in music education prepare students for licensure to teach music in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Three degree specializations include:

Choral  - For those who wish to teach junior and senior high school choral ensembles

Instrumental  - For those who wish to teach bands and/or orchestras at elementary and secondary levels

Classroom/General Music  - For those who wish to teach elementary and secondary school general music

To graduate in four years, a student must take approximately 34 hours of required coursework each year. Music education majors usually take between 16 and 18 credit hours per semester. The total number of hours for each specialization varies from a minimum of 122 semester hours depending on the specialization area. 

Selecting a Degree Specialization

Students are required to select a degree specialization (i.e., choral, instrumental, or classroom/general) as entering freshmen. Selection is determined in consultation with an advisor and is based upon the student’s teaching interests and the proficiency or level of achievement in a specific area of instrumental or vocal performance as determined by the entrance audition.

Students who decide to change from one specialization to another must first consult with the department chair. In addition, they may be required to meet additional professional and performance requirements. Any student changing a specialization must complete at least 10 credit hours in one performance area.

To remain in a degree specialization, students must exhibit teaching competency as judged by the music education faculty.

Degree Requirements

All music education degree candidates are subject to the general requirements listed under Academic Policies, as well as general requirements listed under bachelor of music degree, none of which is superseded by individual degree requirements.

Performance Jury Examinations

Students in music education must have a major performance emphasis and must pass an examination in that area at jury examination times. Jury examinations are scheduled at selected times and are posted for each academic year. Students wishing to change their area of performance emphasis must do so with the approval of the chair of music education and the appropriate performance faculty.

Sophomore Performance Review

At the end of the fourth semester of applied lessons, students are evaluated during the jury exam for advancement to upper division applied study (4000 level). If a student does not pass this Sophomore Performance Review, the student may enroll again in 2000 level applied study the following semester and may take the Sophomore Performance Review again. Written comments describing issues that need to be addressed and a remediation plan will be provided to the student. A student who fails the Sophomore Performance Review a second time will be denied future registration in applied instruction. However, students may re-audition for entrance into applied study by submitting a request for audition during one of the scheduled College of Musical Arts audition days. Students should consult their applied instructor for any specific performance requirements for the Sophomore Performance Review.

Recital

A half recital (or its equivalent) is required of all music education majors. Students must be enrolled for applied study during the semester the recital is presented. The recital may not be given while student teaching. Permission to perform a recital is given by the appropriate performance faculty and is based on the student’s performance at a recital jury examination. Students are encouraged to give a full recital; however, a full recital may only be given with the consent of the performance area faculty.

Ensemble Participation

All music majors are required to audition and enroll in a major ensemble each semester they are enrolled for applied lessons. Music education majors are required to participate in ensembles throughout their undergraduate program, except during the student teaching semester. Students must include a minimum of one semester in a small ensemble (courses numbered MUCT 4210E -MUCT 4250E  and MUSP 3200E -MUSP 3260E  and MUSP 3300E -MUSP 3410E ). 

Music Education majors are encouraged to explore ensemble offerings beyond their degree plan when appropriate, however the degree specialization selected by each student will determine the ensemble requirements. 

Instrumental Band: Wind Symphony, Concert Band
Instrumental Strings: Philharmonia
Choral: UCS, Collegiate Choral, A Cappella Choir
Classroom/General: Determined by applied studio

Any exception to this policy must be approved by the Chair of Music Education. 

Jazz Studio: Students enrolled in a jazz studio as the primary instrument of study must complete two semesters of secondary lessons in an approved traditional classical studio aligned with the area of degree specialization prior to enrollment in 3000 level methods courses.

Piano and Harp: Students enrolled with piano or harp as a primary instrument may be required to complete two semesters of secondary lessons in an approved traditional classical studio if the primary instrument is not aligned with the area of degree specialization. This must be completed prior to enrollment in 3000 level methods courses.  

Functional Keyboard Requirements

Music education majors are required to pass three functional piano proficiency examinations. Proficiency examinations must be passed to fulfill the requirements of the corresponding piano class course. The following skills are required for each proficiency examination:

Proficiency I: (freshman level) scales, chord progressions, beginning harmonization, and sight reading.

Proficiency II: (sophomore level) improvisation of keyboard accompanying styles, harmonization, score reading, and instrument transposition.

Proficiency III: (sophomore level) classroom, ensemble, and solo accompanying.

All entering freshmen are placed according to their keyboard skills. Students with no keyboard background are placed in the introductory class piano, MUED 1500 . Students with sufficient keyboard experience are placed in either MUED 1510  or MUED 1540  depending upon their level of proficiency.

All freshmen are expected to pass Proficiency I by the end of the second semester. Sophomore-level piano course requirements are unique to each specialization in music education. They are specified in the music education handbook and are designed to prepare students for the second and third functional proficiency examinations.

Any of these proficiency examinations may be passed ahead of schedule. Proficiency I must be completed prior to entry into any of the 3000-level methods courses. All proficiencies must be passed by the semester prior to student teaching. Summer session is considered equivalent to one semester.

All piano classes must be passed with a grade of “C” or better. This is indicated in the course descriptions. Additional information about functional piano requirements is available from the group piano coordinator. Students are responsible for knowing and meeting all proficiency requirements.

Additional Requirements

Second major - Ordinarily, students in music education do not pursue a second major; however, a second major can be pursued provided the student is willing to take additional credits beyond the minimum required for graduation. Students with this interest should consult the departmental advisor.

Field experiences - Field-based experiences are an essential part of professional teacher preparation. In compliance with state and learned society requirements, students are required to participate in such experiences as a part of certain music education courses beginning in the sophomore year.

Techniques Classes - Music education majors are required to take the following techniques classes: MUED 1310 , MUED 1410 , MUED 1450 , MUED 1710 , MUED 1720  and MUED 1800 . It is strongly recommended that these courses be taken beginning in the freshman year. 

Conducting requirements - All music education majors must pass second semester conducting (MUSP 3060 ) with at least a grade of “C.” Those students receiving a grade of “D” or less will be required to repeat the course.

Methods requirements - Music education majors must pass all required methods courses (MUED 2400  and applicable music methods courses) with at least a grade of “C.” Those students receiving a grade of “D” or less will be required to repeat the course(s) in question.

Student teaching - The requirements for student teaching in music are established by the State of Ohio, the College of Education and Human Development, and the Department of Music Education. To be eligible for an assignment in student teaching, the student must meet the general requirements of the College of Education and Human Development and those prerequisites established by the Department of Music Education. An overall GPA of 2.5 is required.

• Departmental prerequisites - Music requirements for student teaching include the successful completion of all Techniques classes, MUED 2400  and either MUED 3420 , MUED 3440 , MUED 3460 , or MUED 3480  (with a “C” or better appropriate to the specialization); MUED 3430 , MUED 3450 , MUED 3470  or MUED 3490  (with an “S” as appropriate to the specialization); MUSP 3060  (“C” or better); and the required functional piano proficiency examinations (with a “C” or better). (Refer to course descriptions for additional details.)
• College of Education and Human Development prerequisites - The requirements, a minimum of six semester hours, include COMM 1020  (3) with a grade of “C” or better and at least one of the following mathematics courses: MATH 1120, MATH 1150 , MATH 1160 , MATH 1220 , MATH 1260 , MATH 1280 , MATH 1300, MATH 1310 , MATH 1340 , MATH 1350 , MATH 2320 . In addition, students must have completed 90 hours of University credit, including EDFI 3020 .
• Registration - Each student teacher must register in two places: with the University’s Office of Student Teaching in the College of Education and Human Development and with the coordinator of student teaching in the College of Musical Arts. Students must provide their own transportation to assigned schools. Students without transportation are expected to live in the assigned community. Requests for stations close to the campus because of apartment leases, etc., may not be honored.
• Station assignment - Students will be assigned to teaching stations and supervisors at the discretion of the coordinator of student teaching. Requested stations or supervisors cannot be guaranteed.
• Pre-teaching interview - Any school system has the right to interview a prospective student teacher. If the student is not accepted, the coordinator reserves the right to designate a reassignment. If necessary, the coordinator may request that the student seek an interview with school authorities.
• Radius - The radius for student teacher placement is not more than 50 miles from campus.
• Withdrawal from student teaching - Once an assignment has been accepted by a school system, a student teacher may not withdraw except in cases of emergency (e.g., extended illness with documentation).
• Changing semester of teaching - Students requesting to change their assigned semester of student teaching may have to wait one or more semesters if no opening in the semester requested exists.
• Time requirement - All students must complete the time requirement for student teaching.
• Written requirements - Student teachers must complete all written requirements connected with their final evaluations.
• On-campus activities - For a student to be effective, total commitment to teaching is necessary. Students may not take an academic course, present recitals, participate in ensembles, or take private lessons during student teaching.
• Graduate students - Graduate students seeking teaching licensure must meet all undergraduate teaching requirements.
• Summer student teaching - Student teaching during summer term is not permitted.