How To Get a Degree in Music Education?

I'm looking for a way to get a degree in Music Education... I would like to teach music in a school. Does anyone know of a good online college that offers this?

Thanks!

 

ECU does at the Masters level. I don't think you will find a bachelors level music program that is DL.

Duff

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/options/programs/

 

COSC has concentration in music historywww.cosc.edu
They only offer I think one actual course so credits would have to be either portfolio or from elsewhere.

 

The University of Hawaii Manoa offers an NASM accredited MA in Music with a concentration in music education. Unfortunately they only offer 18 units of it (out of 30 total) on-line. You have to do the remaining 12 units in two six week summer sessions on campus in Honolulu. (I imagine that's where the hands-on stuff like music teaching practice and conducting youth orchestras takes place.)

Of course, there are probably worse things that could happen to you than having to spend two six week vacations in Hawaii.

 

Boston University is introducing two music education degrees this fall. One at the master's level & the other at the doctorate level.

Pricey? You bet. Prestige? Almost uncomparable.

IMHO

 

DL MUSIC DEGREES

ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES:

Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu (BG15, 104) Music, Music History
Southwest Assemblies of God University www.sagu.edu/sde (BG15, 173) Music, Music Ministries
Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu (BG15, 133) Music

BACHELOR'S DEGREES:

Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu (BG15, 104) Music, Music History
Judson College www.judson.edu/academic/external/external.html (BG15, 117) Music, Music Education
Mary Baldwin College www.mbc.edu/adp (BG15, 162) Music
University of New England www.une.edu.au (BG15, 141) Ethnomusicology, Music
Queens University www.queensu.ca (BG15, 128) Music
University of Saskatchewan www.usask.ca (BG15, 144) Music
University of South Africa www.unisa.ac.za (BG15, 144) Music
Southwest Assemblies of God University www.sagu.edu/sde (BG15, 173) Music, Music Ministries
Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu (BG15, 133) Music
Weber State University www.weber.edu (BG15, 184) Music

MASTER'S DEGREES:

California State University Dominguez Hills www.csudh.edu (BG15, 101) Humanities/Music
Duquesne University www.duq.edu (BG15, 159) Music Education
University of Melbourne www.unimelb.edu.au (BG15, 140) Music
Monash University www.monash.edu.au (BG15, 122) Music Education
University of New England www.une.edu.au (BG15, 141) Ethnomusicology, Music
University of Pretoria www.up.ac.za (BG15, 143) Music Education
University of South Africa www.unisa.ac.za (BG15, 144) Music
Southwest Assemblies of God University www.sagu.edu/sde (BG15, 173) Music, Music Ministries
University of Tasmania www.international.utas.edu.au (BG15, 146) Music

DOCTORAL DEGREES:

University of Melbourne www.unimelb.edu.au (BG15, 140) Music
University of New England www.une.edu.au (BG15, 141) Music
University of South Africa www.unisa.ac.za (BG15, 144) Music
University of Tasmania www.international.utas.edu.au (BG15, 146) Music

NB: While I can't confirm it in BG15, I seem to recall that UNISA (www.unisa.ac.za) and University of Melbourne (www.unimelb.edu.au) offer music ed docs by diss.-only. Check other AUS & SA unis. And check their ed docs, too, as this may be where AUS & SA unis house their music ed docs.

 

If you're looking for an undergraduate degree, please consider this:

Besides being RA, also check that the music department itself is accredited by NASM (National Association of Schools of Music). They set the guidelines what what each different specialization requires (Music ed, performance, composition, technology, etc.) A college or university may be accredited, but the music department may not have this additional accreditation. Most employing schools will want to hire someone who attended a school where the music department also has NASM accreditation.The school I teach at just underwent re-accreditation. The NASM handbook is quite large and VERY detailed! Music ed degrees require a certain amount of private lessons, juries, recitals, and participation in ensembles for an undergraduate degree, which you would have to do on campus. Usually the only NASM accredited distance degrees are graduate degrees. I could be wrong on that as I haven't researched all of them, but wanted to at least get the thought out to you. I'd hate to see you attend an RA school only to find out a school won't hire you because the music dept. wasn't NASM accredited. Even if you're looking at a graduate degree, go for a school with NASM accreditation, otherwise schools don't value the degree when hiring.
Good luck!
Lori
(just applied to Boston U's doctorate in music ed which I read about right here! Wish me luck! and thanks for the lead, otherwise I wouldn't have known about it.

 

Just out of curiosity, would NASM even consider accrediting foreign docs? If not, would US schools refuse to hire a foreign dissertation-only music doc? Just wondering.

 

I wish I could answer you, Ted, but I don't know the answer - I'm fairly new to all this. I just completed my first year of teaching at a university(and you can only imagine what it felt like as a new teacher to have the accrediting team sitting in on classes!) I've read parts of the NASM handbook, and have copies of what applied to what I was responsible for, but don't have a complete copy of it (the department has one, but I can't take it out of the office - otherwise I'd look it up for you.) Here's the link to the NASM website. There's quite a bit of info to be found there.

http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp

I know universities hire foreign docs (another university near here just hired one from England for their music dept), and private K-12 schools can do as they please, but as for public schools, they're quite strict. The music praxis would have to be passed in addition to the regular praxis exam. A person without a music education degree can be hired if they have a music degree, but they then have only so much time in which to take courses to become certified to teach. Although there is a shortage of teachers, music is one field where there isn't a shortage! It would be best to go with a music ed degree in the first place. I'm sure each state and school districts have their own rules, so I can't speak for everyone, only what I know is true in my area.
Hope that helps. Sorry I can't directly answer your question, but maybe the website will help.

 

As one in the field, NASM accred. is not generally required in preparation of K-12 music educators. It's nice but not nearly as essential as accred. is in some other fields.

In most states, the certification of music teachers is K-12 (not by grade level) and the area of concentration is music and not a specialty area.

Getting a K-12 certificate requires that you meet the requirements of the state you reside in for the certification of teachers. A TESC or Excelsior BA/BSc in Music is not going to meet that requirement by itself any more than my BA (flute performance) from Coastal Carolina University will.

The BA/BSc will qualify you to teach private studio and for some church music gigs without question. The degree needed for K-12 employability is the BME (Bachelor of Music Education) or a BA (Music Education) with specific state approved teacher education.

The number of music teachers with a graduate degree is very high when compared to many other subject. An MM, MME or MEd is not at all uncommon even in middle grades. To be competetive, you will need to at least match those standards.

The ECU and UH Minoa programs are well respected. They each require that the student already hold a teaching certificate in music though.

Now, if you want to teach at the post-secondary level, that MME/MEd or an MAT could work to your disadvantage. Most music departments don't consider an MME or MEd to be a degree in "music" but in "education". In fact, I know of more than a few MAT programs in music education that don't include 18 hours of music coursework.

One alternative that you might explore (depending on your state) is the "alternative route". It is often possible to get a probationary teaching certificate if you have a BA/BSc/BM in the content area and are willing to take some more coursework over time. There are still some jurisdictions out there where music is a critical shortage area.

Remember, a degree in "music" doesn't automatically imply that you know anything at all about how to direct a band or choir. It doesn't specify that you can compose/arrange music. It doesn't specify that you can play the flute and clarinet and sax and trumpet and trombone and tuba and percussion....

A degree in "music education" implies all of these things and that you can teach. One with a BME may not be a great concert pianist but she can accompany the choir. The music ed grad is often the "jack of all trades" while the BM/BA grad is the "master of one".

One with a BA or BM may or may not be able to play a piano beyond a few scales and simple pieces but can play their major instrument (or sing opera, or compose or conduct or whatever it is they do) very very well.

Make sure then that the degree you go after is going to meet your needs as a musician or an educator.

Just a few thoughts...

 

Most university music faculty at that level hold a DMA and not a PhD. The DMA is a performance degree in most cases so the "dissertation" is often a major performance (or series of recitals/public concerts/recordings), a major composition (Coach's Cacophonal Symphony Number 1.2 in A minor for Orchestra and Swim Team), or a "book length" in the case of historians/theorists.

Foreign musicians are generally well received in schools of music in the United States. The music faculty often knows exactly how to interpret a former Soviet Union degree in music in relation to a US degree.

Music, like athletics, is one of those areas where it pretty easy to judge success by the performance of the players. A Director of Bands isn't judged based on his ability to "teach music" as much as on "does the band sound good?" Same deal with the choir director -- does the choir sound good? Can they make a decent recording? Can they fill the house for a concert.

Some would argue that this isn't entirely fair, afterall, I may know the entire history of the great composers from memory and still not be a very good flute player. Some music history teacher can be credited with my knowledge -- but as a musician, I'm judged on my ability to play or not and the credit for that goes to the applied teacher.

In many ways though - music faculty are hired about the same way that athletics faculty are hired. What has he/she accomplished in the past? What is the potential to offer here...

just a few thoughts and observations...

 

Hi Coach!
Nice to meet another flutist! I'm one also.

 

Hypothetically, if one was just starting out (or starting over) but was unsure as to whether one wanted teach music in high school or college, would it be acceptable to get a bachelor's with double major in music and education (certification track)? Would that leave open possibilities of: (a) taking a position as high school music teacher; (b) going straight to grad school full-time; or (c) taking a position as a music teacher and doing grad school part-time? Or would a double major in music and education be an altogether different animal than a music education degree?

 

A double major in music and education would be a stronger music degree than music education. The problem would be that some schools don't do education as a second major. They have slightly pared down their subject area classes to get in the education classes. At other schools, going into education is a five year program so that students do get a full major in their field.

I like getting the undergrad in the field and the education courses in grad school. You do have the option of teaching at the secondary level while getting your degree -- if you can find a job. That's what I did. If you don't like teaching secondary school, you'll know pretty quick and you can take those hours to another program. Most schools will transfer in 6 - 9 hours, some more. DO make sure that you get 18 hours in your field though if you get a graduate degree in education.

 

In many schools, the degree in music alone averages over 4 years. Particularly if you're thinking of music with a concentration in performance. You have issues like juries, recitals, ensembles... just takes ALOT of time outside the classroom.

Also, many undergrad education departments don't have an "education" major -- they have a major leading to certification in a subject area. You'll have a semester or two of student teaching to do at the same time as recital preparations are due if you try both.

I've known people to do multiple certification tracks -- and that's a valid decision in many cases. Imagine hitting the job market certified to teach K-12 Music and secondary math or science! You'd likely be a popular candidate in many districts.

I know a young lady who double majored in music (flute performance) and business administration (marketing) -- the job offers she got were nothing short of amazing to we music performance only folk.

It's important to remember that "music" and "music education" are not the same fields in many colleges. While there is obviously some overlap of material -- the content of the two degrees are very different. For that reason, having a BA/BM in cello performance will not get you a job as a HS Orchestra Director or open the door to an MME/MEd grad program. Having a BA/BEd/BME in music ed. will set you up to teach K-12 and can open the door to an MA/MM grad program (though you'd likely find yourself underprepared, it is done).