Music Education B.S.MS.

Program Overview

For many musicians, becoming a choral, instrumental, and/or general music teacher in school setting is a very rewarding career path. If you love music and want to share your enthusiasm and expertise with students, music education the profession for you. 

Our cross-college partnership between the School of Arts and the Department of Education leads to Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree and licensure to teach music in grades Pre K-12. 

We enjoy an active presence on campus as well as within Vermont and the northeast. You will learn the musical and pedagogical knowledge and skills for success in today's classrooms. Our graduates become music teachers, private music instructors, band/orchestra conductors, and performers. 

Experience Beyond the Classroom

You will engage in local K-12 schools as early as your first semester of study. Some students act as music composition mentors in the nationally acclaimed Music-COMP Project. During your senior year, you will be placed at a K-12 school in a teaching apprenticeship under the mentorship of an experienced music educator.

You also have opportunities to interact with state and national organizations at regional conferences, such as:

• National Association for Music Educators (NAfME)
• Vermont Music Educators Association (VMEA)
• American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
• Northern Lights Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association

International Study Abroad Opportunities

An exciting component of the program includes opportunities to travel internationally to study music, culture, and music teaching and learning in culturally diverse locations. Our goal is for each student participate in at least one international opportunity. In recent years, we have traveled to India, Mexico, China, and other countries.

Commitment to Your Success

Your success is our highest priority. Enjoy ongoing mentoring and support your advisor, award-winning faculty, and our student services team. You will also develop close and enduring connections with classmates in your cohort and mentors in the field.

National Accreditation and Licensure Reciprocity

Our graduates enjoy find career success in Vermont and around the country. UVM's nationally accredited teacher education programs enjoy reciprocity with many other states, so you will be prepared to teach almost anywhere. 

Funding Your Degree

Explore generous financial assistance opportunities to fund your degree:

• Vermont Teacher Forgivable Loan Program
• UVM Financial Aid and Scholarships

Admissions

Apply, Visit, or Request Information

Contact Us

Reach out to our Student Services Office. We would love to hear from you!

• Email: cessstsv@uvm.edu
• Call: 802-656-3468

Curriculum

In your first two years in the program, you will take Introduction to Music Education and five specific techniques courses (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Strings, and Voice) to prepare for teaching technique and performance practice in these areas. 

You will then move on to the three comprehensive pedagogy courses: General Music Methods, Vocal Music Methods, and Instrumental Music Methods. Each of these three course has an associated practicum that represents the students' first teaching experiences in a public school classroom. 

In addition to general education courses and education courses, you will take two semesters of conducting and music history, four semesters of music theory. You will also engage in private studio lessons and performance ensembles.

Degree Requirements

Admissions

All students interested in majoring in music must pass an entrance audition on an instrument or voice and be admitted to the university. 

In addition, prospective music education students are encouraged to speak with Music Education Director  Andrea Maas either on their audition day or via email before joining the program.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the B.S. in Music Education degree, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced music education skills, knowledge, and understandings
• Demonstrate advanced skill on a single instrument or voice
• Describe and apply intermediate music theory knowledge and skills
• Describe and apply intermediate music history and literature knowledge
• Demonstrate intermediate proficiency on the piano
• After graduating, alumni demonstrate professional success in music education