There's Still Time to Apply for Spring Admission.

Submit your application by January 1 for undergraduate programs! Apply Now

Music Degree (B.A.), Music Education Concentration

Music student in green striped sweater singing.

The music education program prepares students to obtain a Massachusetts K-12 initial music teaching license, which allows students to seek employment as a public school music teacher. This comprehensive program is designed to develop students’ musicianship skills, pedagogical expertise, and theoretical knowledge of music education in order to become successful classroom music educators.

Requirements

Requirements for Music Major - 54 Credits

General Requirements - 29 Credits

Note:

(Jazz Studies concentration students can substitute MUSC 0267 and MUSC 0268 for MUSC 0355 and MUSC 0253)

One of the Following - 3 Credits

Ensemble Requirements - 7 Credits

Eight semesters of participation in one of the following ensembles, as assigned by the department, to run concurrently with eight semesters of applied lessons:

Note:

All music majors must enroll in Festival Chorus for a minimum of two semesters.

Six semesters of Participation in Second Ensemble

Six semesters of participation in a second ensemble from the following list, to run concurrently with six semesters of applied lessons:

Note:

The music department also offers elective ensembles on a regular basis. These ensembles include, but are not limited to: Clarinet Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Jazz Quartet, Low Brass Ensemble, Saxophone Quartet, Trumpet Ensemble, Woodwind Quintet, and various mixed chamber ensembles.

All instrumental must students are required to have a minimum of three chamber ensemble experiences (standard repertoire) in varied formats throughout the course of completing their program requirements (each approved by the academic advisor and the applied music instructor). Music Education students are encouraged, but not required, to participate in ensembles during the semester of their practicum. All pianists with a major emphasis in piano are required to enroll in MUSC 0240 - Chamber Ensembles, each semester they are enrolled in applied piano lessons.

Applied Music Requirements - 12 Credits

Music majors are required to complete eight semesters of applied lessons. Applied music study requires a jury examination every semester for music majors and for music minors, as well as for those students enrolled in a required secondary applied lesson. Students taking applied music must also register each semester for MUSC 0280 - Music Studio.  

Students who present a curricular recital are not required to present a jury during the semester of the recital. All students who wish to present a recital (degree or elective) must pass a pre-recital hearing during studio class a minimum of three weeks prior to the recital (three applied faculty members must be present at the hearing).

Note:

Music Education students are exempt from their eighth semester of applied lessons and ensemble if enrolled in MUSC 0328 - Practicum: Music K-12.

Performing Requirements - 3 Credits

All Music majors are required to complete six semesters of MUSC 0279 - Recital Attendance and Performance, (required attendance and performance at weekly studio classes and departmental recitals). Students are required to perform regularly in studio classes, and are required to perform at least once each year in a public departmental recital. Music minors may perform in a departmental recital at the discretion of the applied instructor.

Additional Requirements - 3 Credits

Instrumental Students

  • Non-ensemble Music Electives

Vocal Students

Optional Music Concentrations

Music majors may choose to declare one of the 6 concentrations. Students may not declare more than two concentrations. Note: each of the required 300-level music history seminars listed in the concentrations are in addition to the seminar required of all music majors in the General Requirements.

Music Education - 43.5-44 Credits

Admission to the Music Education concentration is dependent upon: completion of the piano proficiency requirement, and successful completion of a comprehensive entrance examination, which includes an assessment of the candidate's understanding of music education philosophy, as well as an assessment of his or her skills in the following areas:music theory, music history, basic musicianship, and piano.

All Music Education students must pass a pre-practicum jury examination in the semester preceding the practicum. The examination will demonstrate proficiency in conducting, score reading, piano, sight singing, and the major applied area.

All Music Education students preparing for a practicum experience in instrumental music normally take a traditional concert band or orchestral instrument for applied major. Students preparing for a practicum experience in vocal music normally take voice for the applied major. Students planning a practicum experience outside their usual performing area must demonstrate performance experience and proficiency equivalent to MUSC 0172, or complete three semesters of secondary applied study and ensemble experience in voice, percussion, winds or orchestral strings, as appropriate.

Note:Admission and retention in the Music Education program is dependent on: an overall GPA of 2.8, a 2.8 GPA in applied music, and a 3.0 GPA in pedagogy coursework.

In order to be eligible for student teaching, a student must have completed all required course and field work, have an overall GPA of 2.8 (including transfer work), and have a passing grade in the appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (i.e., Communication and Literacy and subject matter tests). See Licensure for Teaching in Academic Policies for more information.

Placements for student teaching (practicum) are limited to within a 30-mile radius of the University.

Pedagogical Coursework:

 

Required College Core Coursework

 

Practicum
One of the following tracks:

 

Vocal Music Education Track:

 

(Choose 4 classes under advisement at 0.5 credits each)

 

Instrumental Music Education Track:

 

(Choose 8 classes under advisement at 0.5 credits each)

 

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements and complete a general education or common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in General Education: WISE or Common Core.

Learning Outcomes

  • To provide opportunities and resources for students to develop technical and expressive musical proficiency in their primary applied performance area
  • To work with material and conceptual tools to facilitate advanced study in music
  • To demonstrate a reflexive understanding of music’s embeddedness in culture and history
  • To foster social connection through shared musical experiences
  • To develop intellectual and practical skills through in-depth study of music, including: 1. Critical, analytical, and creative thinking, 2. Written and oral communication, 3. Teamwork and problem solving
A Westfield State guitar instructor with guitar student