Bachelor of Music in Music Education

About the major 

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Music Education provides exceptional instruction that prepares students for licensure as music teachers in the public schools and careers as music educators in all learning environments. Music Education students are musicians who are passionate about teaching, and the comprehensive curriculum includes extensive applied studio instruction, multiple performance and conducting opportunities in diverse ensembles, a 25-minute solo recital, and courses in composition, songwriting, popular and contemporary music, and musical theatre.

The B.M. in Music Education features three concentrations: Choral, Instrumental, and Instrumental Jazz. The Choral concentration provides hands-on experience across all grade levels, with a focus on vocal music in settings such as concert choirs, musical theatre, jazz/pop ensembles, and commercial and chamber groups. The Instrumental concentration emphasizes performance in concert band, orchestra, marching band, and various jazz, commercial, and chamber ensembles. The Instrumental Jazz concentration integrates jazz studies into the Music Education degree, emphasizing collaborative musicianship, individual creativity, technical proficiency, and a strong foundation in jazz history and pedagogy. Music Education students also have the opportunity to pursue the Certificate in Audio and Music Production Pedagogy concurrently.

All students participate in extensive pre-clinical field experiences in K–12 music classrooms, where they apply their developing pedagogical skills to provide high-quality and meaningful musical learning experiences. These field experiences deepen their understanding of teaching in diverse educational settings and prepare them for the student teaching semester. Throughout both pre-clinical and clinical placements, Music Education students deliver artistic experiences that enrich the lives of K–12 students.

Contact information

To learn more about our degree programs, audition information, scholarships, professional development and careers, performances, faculty, and students, visit Dana School of Music or contact us at 330.941.3635. 

To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330.941.2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu. We would love to hear about your interests, show you our school, and become an important part of your future. 

Choral Concentration Requirements

Instrumental Concentration Requirements

Instrumental Jazz Concentration Requirements

Different Emphases may vary slightly. Consult the four-year plans for the Choral Concentration, Instrumental Concentration, or Instrumental Jazz Concentration plans of study.

Choral Concentration Four-Year Plan

 Instrumental Concentration Four-Year Plan

Instrumental Jazz Concentration

• All undergraduate music majors are required to attend 12 approved performances each semester for six consecutive semesters beginning in the freshman year.
• Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with an ensemble each semester.

Learning outcomes

The student learning outcomes for the major in music education are as follows:

• Students will perform a public recital in their applied area.
• Students will analyze music, discriminate pitch, harmony, and rhythm, and perform harmonic progressions at the piano.
• Students will demonstrate critical thinking about the various historical periods, cultural contexts, and social forces that influence musical activity.
• Students will demonstrate basic keyboard proficiency, including scales, arpeggios, harmonization, repertoire, transpositions, and score reading.
• Students will demonstrate effective planning, teaching, and assessment appropriate to K-12 students in music settings.