Music Education (PreK-Grade 12), B.Mus.

The B.Mus. program in Music Education prepares graduates to be innovative musicians, effective and engaging educators, and advocates of the arts in the schools and communities they serve.

A career in music education demands that you excel as both a musician and teacher. Students are enrolled in both the School of Education and The College of Visual and Performing Arts, providing you with opportunities to nurture and develop optimal teaching competencies; artistry and musicianship; and philosophical, theoretical, and historical perspectives of music and music education. Graduates of this program possess a heightened awareness of individual needs and social justice such that they enter the field as music educators of excellence who are capable of creating learning environments that ensure successful outcomes for all students. This program meets the academic requirements for New York State initial teacher certification in Music (all grades).

Why Music Education at Syracuse?

• 98% of School of Education graduates are employed or in graduate school within 6 months, and music education students have a 100% pass rate on the New York State edTPA examination.
• We develop educators committed to equitable, antiracist, and inclusive practices. Graduates are ready to work with the full range of learners in schools, including students with disabilities, students who are not native English speakers, LGBTQ youth, and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Multiple field placements start in your second year, including full-time student teaching experiences as a senior. Your field experiences are supported by faculty and experienced mentor teachers in a diverse range of urban, suburban, and rural settings.
• Engage in rigorous professional preparation courses with a student cohort that progresses through the program together, providing opportunities to create lifelong colleagues.
• Syracuse University is the pioneer of experiential learning through SIMs—clinical simulations of common interactions in classroom and school environments to help you identify your strengths and develop your professional skills.
• Two careers for the price of one—a major in Music and a major in Music Education gives you a leg up in both fields, preparing you for lesson planning or project management, problem solving in the studio or the classroom!
• Weekly Setnor student convocations and the Music Educators’ Academy, which includes collegiate chapters for several music professional organizations, bring renowned artists and educators to the School of Music to provide experiences and insights that broaden and deepen your professional development.
• Music education majors have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester at the Conservatoire Strasbourg in Strasbourg, France, and other Syracuse Abroad centers and world partners. You can also take part in School of Education short-term study abroad programs. School of Education students are also eligible for exclusive funding to support study abroad experiences.
• The School of Music’s Performance Honors Certificate allows for the additional musical instruction, support, and recitals during your last two years in order to boost your performance background.
• Continue your graduate studies at the School of Education with our SOE 50% Master’s and Certificate of Advanced Study Scholarships.

As a School of Education student, you’ll enjoy small classes, personal advising, and a close-knit community with all the benefits of attending a dynamic research institution. You’ll work closely with our faculty of nationally recognized scholars as you develop your professional identity and portfolio and receive tailored career advising.

The program’s legacy is the work of a long list of innovative performers and educators. Our graduates are in K-12 schools, preschool, and community settings including:

• Instrumental, Choral, and General Music teachers and instructors
• Teacher leaders, department chairs, or school administrators
• Performers, conductors, composers, or music industry professionals.
• Further studies in Music Education, Music Performance, Arts Administration, or another area of interest

Program Details

As a student in the Music Education program, you will combine studies in performance, music theory and history, education methods, classroom practicums, and academic requirements from the liberal arts core. You’ll choose one of 5 focus areas: brass, choral/general (including voice), woodwind, percussion, or strings and build a student musical foundation through participation in performance ensembles and classroom experiences. This additional combination of knowledge and skills provides you with a level of flexibility in teaching that increases your marketability as a teaching professional. Sample courses in your program may include:

• The American School
• Introduction to World Music
• Choral/Instructional Rehearsal Techniques
• Music in the Elementary School
• Instrumental Methods and Pedagogy
• Principles of Learning in Inclusive Classrooms

Student often use their flexible courses to complete a minor in Music Industry, Jazz Performance, Management, or other areas of academic interest. Your first semester will include performance area instruction, music theory, keyboard skills, writing, and participation in the Professional Development School. More information on academic requirements available in the Syracuse University Course Catalog.

Note: An audition is required for admissions to the Music Education B.Mus. program.

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