Music Education, Voice/Piano/Guitar Concentration, Mus.B.

Inventory of Registered Program Code: 24559

Program Overview

The Music Education Program is designed for students interested in a career as a music teacher in a public or private school. The program leads to New York State Initial Certification in Music K-12 (pending passing of the NYS certification exams). The program also includes required New York State Field and Clinical experiences.

Music Education candidates learn the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to become certified music teachers, starting with our conceptual framework; Teaching Is Prepared Performance. Learning goals for students focus on mastering content knowledge, knowledge of the learner, diversity, instructional methodology, communication skills, reflective-assessment strategies, collaboration and shared inquiry.

The carefully crafted coursework includes a mix of classes in liberal arts, science, music history, music theory, ear training, keyboard labs, private instruction, performance ensembles, conducting and education courses. Although NYS certification in music is K-12 in all areas of music, there are two concentrations that candidates choose from; Instrumental or Vocal/Piano.

Admission Standards

Students admitted into the program pursuing a Music Education degree will be designated as Music Education candidates. They must successfully complete a Sophomore Evaluation to continue the course of study as a Music Education major. This evaluation will take place at the end of the student’s sophomore year. Each candidate must have completed 64 credits and have achieved a 3.0 (or higher) overall G.P.A. with a minimum of 24 credits of Liberal Arts courses and 40 credits of music skills courses.

In addition, all Music Education students are required to have a 3.0 (or higher) G.P.A. in the required core curriculum areas of harmony (Harmony 1, Four Part Harmony 1 and 2 and Form and Analysis), Sight-Singing 1-4, Ear Training 1-4 and Keyboard Skills 1-4. For Keyboard Skills 4 (MUE286), students must earn a “B” or better in order to sit for the required Piano Qualifying Exam. All Music Education students must take and pass this exam in order to be permitted to student teach.

Sophomore Evaluation

The Sophomore Evaluation will be conducted by the Director of Music Education, the Music Division Chair and other members of the Education faculty. The committee will evaluate the student’s dispositions and progress in relation to academic and musical growth and the feasibility of successful completion of the Music Education degree. Dispositions evaluated include, but are not limited to, communication skills (oral and written), ability to work with all students, ability to be collaborative, ability to be a reflective practitioner/accept suggestions and constructive criticism, ability to use instructional technology and more.

To become a matriculated Music Education candidate, students must also show evidence of quality work and satisfactory progress. Other personal characteristics such as attendance, punctuality and professionalism will be considered as well.  Students who do not successfully demonstrate these dispositions, academic requirements and other professional characteristics will not be permitted to continue in the Music Education program. Other program options will be explored at that time.

For more information, please see the Director of Music Education or Music Division Chairperson. Prospective teachers are required to complete approved workshops dealing with the Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, School Violence Prevention and Intervention and Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention in accordance with Part 52 of the Commissioner’s Regulations and New York State Education Law.

Concentration Component 

Students in the Music Education Program select one of the following concentrations. The 6 credits in the selected concentration, together with the 38 credits in Liberal Arts/Common Core, 23 Professional Education Courses, 21 credits of Applied Music Lessons and Ensembles, 33 credits of Music Content Specialty courses, and 12 credits of Music Education Specialty courses constitute the 133-credit requirement for the Bachelor of Music in Music Education. 

Vocal/Piano/Guitar Concentration Overview