BM in Music Education

Music teaching positions are available in many areas of the country, and dozens of vacancies occur in Michigan yearly. A significant wave of music teacher retirements is resulting in opportunities for well-qualified new music educators. Two teaching specialties for which there is particularly strong demand are strings and elementary general music, but a variety of positions are available every year across focus areas (e.g., band, choir) and grade levels (e.g., high school, elementary).

Historically, the vast majority of graduates of MSU’s program seeking teaching positions have found employment. More school districts across the country contact the music education faculty for job candidates every year. This suggests that school administrators recognize the quality of MSU’s graduates

While most schools offer band, orchestra, and vocal/general “tracks” in music education, MSU has one program with flexible options for students. Thus, a student who is interested in teaching strings and general music can plan coursework and student teaching to accommodate those specialties. This gives MSU graduates an advantage in the present job market, in which music teachers are often asked to teach more than one type of music class. It is also consistent with the state of Michigan’s practice of certifying teachers to teach all music classes at the PK-12 levels. MSU’s program features a creative musicianship component, in which students are required to take classes such as jazz improvisation or songwriting. Students in our program also enroll in courses in the MSU College of Education, where programs in education have been ranked first in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for the last fifteen years.

Persons wishing to major in music education should apply to and audition for the College of Music and also apply to the University as music education majors. Then, in their sophomore year, students typically opt into the College of Education’s teacher certification program.

All music majors receive individual performance lessons, perform in ensembles, and take courses in general education, conducting, music theory, ear training, piano, music history, and world music. In addition, music education majors take courses in music teaching methods (e.g., instrumental methods, general music methods), educational foundations, creative musicianship, and instrument classes (e.g., guitar, clarinet, voice). In the final semester music education students complete their student teaching, which is a full-time internship in an area school.

Music education courses are taught by full-time, nationally-recognized faculty. The faculty is an active one, providing workshops for area teachers, presenting sessions at state, national, and international conferences, and authoring research, books, and teaching materials for improving music education.

Students in undergraduate music education courses begin observations in public schools in their freshman year. By the sophomore year students are practicing their teaching skills with elementary and secondary students. In subsequent methods classes, music education majors spend a significant proportion of their time working with children in school music classes and ensembles.

Music education students at Michigan State University have myriad opportunities to gain teaching experience before they reach student teaching. At our Community Music Schools in East Lansing and Detroit, qualified students have the opportunity to be paid interns in the children’s choirs, early childhood music classes, and New Horizons bands and orchestras, typically after completing pertinent coursework. Other service learning opportunities are available through the college’s Outreach and Engagement office.

Students who complete the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Music Education and who pass the Music Education portion of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification are eligible to apply for certification from the State of Michigan to teach music — vocal, instrumental, strings, and general — from prekindergarten through twelfth grade in Michigan public schools. For the past several years 99% of music education students from MSU have passed the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification on the first attempt.

Many states allow teachers certified in Michigan to transfer that certification without imposing additional course requirements. Some states require that persons seeking teacher certification take a state-mandated test or pay a licensure fee. The Department of Education in your state’s capital will be able to answer questions regarding transfer of certification.

Contact Karen Salvador, area chairperson of music education, at ksal@msu.edu.