Music Education, BM

 Return to: Programs of Study

• Instrumental Band Concentration   
• Instrumental Orchestra Concentration   
• Vocal/Choral Concentration  

Program Description

The School of Fine and Performing Arts offers a four-year curriculum designed for students who wish to pursue a career in music. As an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the School ofFine and Performing Arts has designed the requirements for entrance and graduation according to the published standards of that association. The Bachelor of Music degree is offered with majors in performance, music education; the Bachelor of Arts degree is offered with a major in music. The School of Fine and Performing Arts also collaborates with the Department of Computer Science, Music Option. A Master of Music degree with majors in music education and performance and a Master of Humanities degree are also offered. Because of the highly individualized nature of the various programs, students are required to consult with an advisor to plan their major program.

Wright State University’s programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, fully approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and meet the requirements for the Ohio Department of Education 4 Year Resident Educator teaching license. Licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding that state’s licensure or certification requirements.

Admission Requirements

In addition to fulfilling university admissions procedures, prospective music majors must also complete a School of Fine and Performing Arts application for an audition, perform a satisfactory audition in a major performance area, and meet with an assigned advisor from the music faculty for counseling and registration. Transfer students must submit a transcript of all previous work in addition to completing the above steps. A minimum of one year of full-time study is required of all transfer students working toward a degree.

The department has developed a course of study based on four levels of technical proficiency, musicianship, and repertoire in all areas of applied music. Students should consult regularly with their applied music instructors and advisors to ensure progress through the various levels. Students enrolled in applied music courses are required to attend a specified number of recitals, concerts, and other approved performances. Solo recital performances are also required of music majors. For information regarding applied music requirements and keyboard proficiency requirements, students should refer to the School of Fine and Performing Arts website.

Because of the cost of individual instruction, special fees are charged for applied music and, in certain cases, for accompanists. Applied music is also available to non-majors on a limited basis and subject to instructor availability. A rental fee is charged for use of university-owned instruments in class instruction. There is no charge for use of these instruments in university ensembles.

All music degree programs require a minimum number of hours for graduation. A detailed, four-year curriculum outline for each major program is available on the School of Fine and Performing Arts website.

Any student who fails a required music course a second time must petition in order to continue the program. The petition will go to the Academic Studies Committee, which, along with the applied teacher, the advisor, and the instructor of the class, will make a determination to accept or reject the petition, or to determine/recommend any additional conditions necessary to remain in the program.

All students in the university, as well as members of the community, are eligible to participate in performing groups. Some groups require individual auditions; prospective members should consult the various conductors to arrange auditions. The following instrumental groups are available:

Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Pep Band, Clarinet Quartet, Saxophone Quartet, Brass Choir, Trombone Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Trumpet Ensemble, and Jazz Band. Choral groups include the Men’s Chorale, Women’s Chorale, and Collegiate Chorale. Students majoring in other academic areas and members of the community may also take music courses especially designed for the non-music major.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Pursue an understanding of how to design and carry out instruction that enables learners to develop musical understanding and musicianship.
• Achieve personal music performance skills and skills in sight-reading, ear-training, improvisations, and composition to a level of proficiency and expertise necessary to pursue a career in music education.
• Formulate a personal philosophy of learning and teaching and understand how that philosophy will affect the choices they make in practice.
• Acquire the ability to teach, respect, and value a diverse population of students, with respect to diversity of cultural, social, and economic background, prior experience, and ways of learning.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to provide all students with the capacity to use music as a means of personal expression and creativity.
• Show a propensity for professional growth.
• Demonstrate the ability to reflect on and assess the effectiveness of their own teaching with an eye toward self-improvement.
• Acquire a proficiency in current research methods and trends including all forms and technologies available for the study of music and to be able to justify teaching strategies and support those views with this knowledge.

Degree Requirements–Music Education

Bachelor of Music Degree

Students who major in music education may choose either an instrumental or a vocal general music curriculum. Upon completing the requirements of the music education program, students are able to apply for teaching licensure. To be eligible for the Bachelor of Music degree, music education majors must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in required music courses. An overall minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 is required. Any grade lower than a “C” in one of the Music Education Classes will not count towards graduation. It MUST be retaken.

Failing to maintain these GPAs, students will have two semesters to improve their grades to the minimum standard after which time they will need to petition the Music Education Committee to continue taking music education courses.

Students planning to major in music education will be placed in the “Music: BA” category until the following requirements have been met: (1) satisfactory completion of MUS 1010, MUS 1020, MUS 1510, MUS 1520, MUS 1550, MUS 1560, and two semesters of applied concentration and ensemble study; (2) minimum grade of C in applied and ensemble studies for two consecutive semesters; (3) no failing grade in music courses during two consecutive semesters; and (4) minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 in total course work after the completion of 32 semester hours.

Each music education major is required to participate in at least one university ensemble related to the student’s applied music concentration during each semester in which the student is enrolled full time, with the exception of the term in which the student is student teaching. Assignment to an ensemble is made by the director of bands, director of choral studies, or director of orchestral studies; the appropriate ensemble director; and the student’s full-time applied instructor. When the student’s applied instructor is not a full-time faculty member, approval must be given by the chair of the student’s applied board. 300 hours of field observation and clinical experiences are required prior to student teaching.

During the senior year, all students will perform in student recitals two or three times, for a total of 25 to 30 minutes. With the approval of the studio teacher and the applied music board, students may present a half recital or a full recital in lieu of this requirement.

Music Honors Program

The School of Fine and Performing Arts encourages students who have demonstrated superior academic ability to participate in the music honors program. In order to enter the program, students must be juniors or seniors with a cumulative 3.0 GPA and a 3.5 GPA in music. For additional information, students should contact the School of Fine and Performing Arts chair.

For additional information

• Music Education, BM
• School of Fine and Performing Arts
• College of Liberal Arts

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 38 Hours

ELEMENT 1 - COMMUNICATION: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 2 - MATHEMATICS: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 3 - GLOBAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES: 6 HOURS

Required

• MUS 2420 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music Credit Hour(s): 3

ELEMENT 4 - ARTS AND HUMANITIES: 3 HOURS

Required:

• MUS 1210 - Music Listening Credit Hour(s): 3

ELEMENT 5 - SOCIAL SCIENCES: 6 HOURS

Required

• EDS 2900 - Individuals with Exceptionalities Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 2700 - Introduction to Educational Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3

ELEMENT 6 - NATURAL SCIENCES: 8 HOURS

ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES: 6 HOURS

• ED 2600 - Introduction to Education Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Departmental Requirements: 47 Hours

BASIC CONDUCTING: 2 HOURS

• MUS 3230 - Basic Conducting Credit Hour(s): 2

MUSIC IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: 3 HOURS

• MUS 3340 - Music in the Elementary School Credit Hour(s): 3

MUSIC HISTORY: 6 HOURS

• MUS 3110 - History of Music I Credit Hour(s): 3
• MUS 3120 - History of Music II Credit Hour(s): 3

MUSIC THEORY: 9 HOURS

• MUS 1020 - Theory of Music II Credit Hour(s): 3
• MUS 2010 - Theory of Music III Credit Hour(s): 3
• MUS 2020 - Theory of Music IV Credit Hour(s): 3

MUSICIANSHIP: 4 HOURS

• MUS 1510 - Musicianship I Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 1520 - Musicianship II Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2510 - Musicianship III Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2520 - Musicianship IV Credit Hour(s): 1

LARGE ENSEMBLE: MUE: 7 HOURS

APPLIED MUSIC: 14 HOURS

(not taken during student teaching)

KEYBOARD: 2 HOURS

• MUS 1550 - Keyboard Musicianship I Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 1560 - Keyboard Musicianship II Credit Hour(s): 1

SENIOR RECITAL: 0 HOURS

• MUA 4990 - Senior Recital Credit Hour(s): 0 to 1

FRESHMAN MUSIC SEMINAR: 0 HOURS

• MUS 1980 - Freshman Music Seminar Credit Hour(s): 0

III. Professional Education: 17 Hours

• MUS 1990 - Introduction to Music Education Credit Hour(s): 2
• ED 2650 - Early Field Experience I: Introduction to the Education Profession Credit Hour(s): 1 (Section 06 Field Experience)
• ED 3650 - Music Education Methods Field Experience Credit Hour(s): 1 (Section 06 Field Experience)
• ED 4900 - Student Teaching: Music Education Credit Hour(s): 8
• MUS 4300 - Improving Reading Music Content Area Credit Hour(s): 3
• MUS 4650 - Computer Applications in Music Credit Hour(s): 2

Instrumental Band Concentration

Choir: MUE: 1 Hour

Additional Departmental Requirements: 11 Hours

• MUS 2250 - Orchestral Strings Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 1450 - Vocal Pedagogy and Choral Methods Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2310 - Percussion Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2230 - Brass Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2270 - Woodwind Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 3240 - Band Conducting Credit Hour(s): 2
• MUS 3280 - Instrumental Music Methods Credit Hour(s): 2
• MUS 3270 - Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble Methods Credit Hour(s): 2

Electives: 6 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame.  Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

• Music Education, Instrumental Band (GPS) 

Instrumental Orchestra Concentration

Choir: MUE: 1 Hour

Additional Departmental Requirements: 10 Hours

• MUS 1450 - Vocal Pedagogy and Choral Methods Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2250 - Orchestral Strings Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2260 - Band Methods for Voice and String Majors Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2230 - Brass Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 1

• OR

• MUS 2270 - Woodwind Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 1

• OR

• MUS 2310 - Percussion Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 3280 - Instrumental Music Methods Credit Hour(s): 2
• MUS 3240 - Band Conducting Credit Hour(s): 2
• MUS 3270 - Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble Methods Credit Hour(s): 2

• OR

• MUS 3290 - Choral Music Education Methods I Credit Hour(s): 1

Electives: 7 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame.  Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

• Music Education, Instrumental Orchestra (GPS) 

Vocal/Choral Concentration

Additional Departmental Requirements: 15 Hours

• MUS 1110 - Vocal Technique and Diction Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2170 - Orchestral Strings and Guitar for the Vocal Major Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2260 - Band Methods for Voice and String Majors Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2550 - Piano for the Music Educator I Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2560 - Piano for the Music Educator II Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 2610 - Pronunciation of Foreign Language: French Credit Hour(s): 2
• MUS 3250 - Choral Conducting Credit Hour(s): 2
• MUS 3290 - Choral Music Education Methods I Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 3290L - Advanced Choral Conducting Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 3300 - Choral Music Education Methods II Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 3300L - Advanced Choral Conducting Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
• MUS 4430 - Vocal Pedagogy Credit Hour(s): 2

Electives: 3 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame.  Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

• Music Education, Vocal/Choral (GPS) 

Total: 120 Hours