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Program Overview

Becoming a music teacher in school settings is a very rewarding career path for many musicians. If you love music and want to facilitate meaningful musical experiences with learners, music education is the profession for you. Our graduates become school and community music teachers, private music instructors, ensemble directors, and performers. 

Our cross-college partnership between the School of Arts and the Department of Education gives you a pathway to gain licensure to teach music in grades PreK-12.  We have an active presence on campus, across Vermont, and throughout the northeast. 

We enjoy an active presence on campus as well as within Vermont and the northeast. You will learn the musical and pedagogical knowledge and skills for success in today's classrooms. Our graduates become music teachers, private music instructors, band/orchestra conductors, and performers. 

Activate Your Learing in a Vibrant Community

Music Education majors engage in local schools as early as their first semester of study. Some students act as assistants for school festivals, after school programs, or the nationally acclaimed . 

As a senior, you will complete a full-time teaching internship under the mentorship of an experienced music educator.

You also have opportunities to interact with state and national organizations at regional conferences, such as:

Exceptional Faculty

Our faculty are published, recorded, and nationally and internationally acclaimed. They serve as touring musicians, and work with exceptional local groups such as Vermont Youth Orchestra, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and Vermont Jazz Ensemble.

Commitment to Your Success

Your success is our highest priority. Enjoy ongoing mentoring and support your advisor, award-winning faculty, and our student services team. You will also develop close and enduring connections with classmates in your cohort and mentors in the field.

Alumni Success

Teaching is a rewarding profession in high demand. Our graduates find career success in Vermont, throughout the country, and around the world. ¶¶Òõ̽̽'s nationally accredited teacher education programs lead to an endorsement for Vermont licensure. While we hope you will stay and teach here in Vermont, our Director of Licensure will help you navigate acquisition of licensure no matter where you land. 

Music Education graduates enjoy high job placement rates and are active as performers, conductors, gigging musicians, music directors of local theater productions, and studio teachers. 

Funding Your Degree

Explore generous financial assistance opportunities: ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Financial Aid and Scholarships

Admissions

Apply, Visit, or Request Information

Contact Us

Reach out to our Student Services Office. We would love to hear from you!

• Email: cessstsv@uvm.edu
• Call: 802-656-3468

Curriculum

In your first two years in the program, you will take Introduction to Music Education and five specific techniques courses (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Strings, and Voice) to prepare for teaching technique and performance practice in these areas. 

You will then move on to the three comprehensive pedagogy courses: General Music Methods, Vocal Music Methods, and Instrumental Music Methods. Each of these three course has an associated practicum that represents the students' first teaching experiences in a public school classroom. 

In addition to general education courses and education courses, you will take two semesters of conducting and music history, four semesters of music theory. You will also engage in private studio lessons and performance ensembles.

Admissions

All students interested in majoring in music must pass an entrance audition on an instrument or voice and be admitted to the university. 

In addition, prospective music education students are encouraged to speak with Music Education Director  Andrea Maas either on their audition day or via email before joining the program.

Outcomes

Graduates of the B.S. in Music Education:

• Demonstrate advanced music education skills, knowledge, and understandings
• Demonstrate advanced skill on a single instrument or voice
• Describe and apply intermediate music theory knowledge and skills
• Describe and apply intermediate music history and literature knowledge
• Demonstrate intermediate proficiency on the piano
• Demonstrate professional success in music education