Music Education Courses

What makes our music education degree unique and prepares you for an exciting teaching career?

Courses are focused on preparing you to teach 21st century students through an innovative and proven curriculum combined with frequent opportunities to teach in the schools beginning in your sophomore year. Our students also can earn Kodály Certification, putting our graduates a step ahead in the job market.  Pre-service teachers are included in the Professional Development School, a year-long capstone program of internship in the schools which includes student teaching.

Music Education courses include:

Elementary Methods (K-5) - This course is designed to prepare students for teaching general music through the integration of multicultural content and practices related to the learner in an elementary school environment.  Emphasis is on leading the young learner to understand musical concepts through singing, playing instruments, moving, reading and writing, creating and listening.   The course includes a field experience component (observation and teaching) in a general music classroom that is intended to allow participants to apply theoretical principles in a practical setting.

Introduction to West African Music - This course is designed to provide an in-depth analysis of West African culture and history focusing on the musical traditions found in this region of the world. A general introduction to the study of West African music and dance, the ethnomusicological approach, and the classification and symbolism of musical instruments will be presented.  Moreover, the process of musical innovation and acculturation in West Africa and the impact of technology and communications media on traditional and contemporary musical styles will be examined.

Middle and Secondary School Methods - Study of the organization, pedagogy, and practice of the middle and secondary school general classroom, including a focus on multicultural and popular music.  Field experience includes teaching band and choral rehearsals.  Students review basic guitar skills throughout the semester while also reviewing their keyboard and recorder skills. 

Instrumental Methods - This course provides the prospective instrumental music instructor with the information, materials, and techniques for effective teaching and efficient administration of a successful instrumental music program via seminar and field experiences.

Foundations of Modern Education - This course provides an analysis of the philosophical, anthropological, sociological, economic, and historical foundations for the contemporary PreK-12 school system in the United States; more specifically how issues of race, ethnicity, language, gender, disability, sexual orientation, geography, socioeconomics and religion influence the profession of teaching in particular grade-level contexts. The content for each section will be focused on the respective program areas of the candidates (PreK-4 grades, 4-8 grades, and 7-12 grades). The course addresses the Pa. Dept. of Education’s sociocultural standards for English-language learners. 

Technology in the Music Profession - Students explore the uses of technology and its application in the music classroom. Topics include computer basics, applications software, music 154 hardware and software evaluation, music notation software, sequencing software, MIDI interface devices, telecommunications, and multimedia presentation systems. Students are provided a series of hands-on experiences with hardware and software to develop the skills and competencies required of the music professional. 

Content Area Literacy for Diverse Classrooms - Students are offered opportunities to explore research-based strategies for effectively teaching in inclusive multilingual settings. Instructional best practices will be presented as they relate to differentiating instruction for the plethora of diverse needs in modern-day classrooms. There will be a strong focus on exploring and reflecting on methods that are aimed at helping students gain proficiency in reading and writing as a means of accessing and interacting with the curriculum. Assessment will be explored, as it offers critical insights for informed and targeted decision-making.

The Art of Teaching Modern Band - Students explore in-depth applications of Modern Band pedagogy and curriculum in the music classroom. Key topics include Modern band instrument practical education, teaching application, composition, improvisation, approximation, scaffolding, and safe space. This series of experiences will be demonstrated through interactive lectures, performances, and group interaction on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, technology, and vocals. Materials from this course will cover the Little Kids Rock teacher manual and songbooks. In addition, the class will cover the basics of different rock instruments, with guitars, keyboards, a bass, and a drum set being provided for class study.