The fully online Master of Music degree program with a music education specialization is designed for music educators who are currently teaching in K-12 music settings
and intended to provide them with tools and perspectives to pursue positions of leadership
in the field of music education, specifically in the areas of pedagogy, research,
and advocacy. All courses are delivered entirely in a distance learning environment.
Courses encourage students to use their current teaching contexts to generate perspectives
on philosophy and pedagogy while learning to apply new resources and frameworks. Graduates
will gain experiences with conducting and consuming research appropriate for pursuit
of terminal degrees. Further, they will develop an awareness of issues and tools regarding
music and education and will be equipped to lead in responding to professional challenges.
For this program, the university has made its e-rate available to out-of-state students
which will result in a savings of $3,400 per semester.
Connections made at MTSU helps graduate land dream job
Margie Way-Kiani credits some of the connections she made at MTSU for helping her
land her dream job. Way-Kiani teaches general music and has four orchestras with students
ranging from sixth to twelfth grades at Central Magnet School – just blocks away from
where she earned her degrees. “I have my dream job at 27, which I think is pretty
incredible, and I consider myself very fortunate,” she said. While attending MTSU
from 2011 to 2015 for her bachelor’s degree, and again later for her master’s, Way-Kiani
spoke highly of her student teaching opportunities and her highly esteemed professors. “I
would tell anyone considering the Master of Music in Music Education at MTSU to do
it. They will have an incredible group of faculty members to push and support them.”
Supportive professors helped teacher get where she’s at today
Rutherford County native, and now elementary school music specialist and adjunct professor
at MTSU, Alexis Derryberry credits her undergraduate professors for pushing her in
college and ultimately helping her get where she’s at today. “My professors saw in
me things that I didn’t even know I had within me, and for that, I will forever be
grateful,” she said. While working full-time, Derryberry decided to return to MTSU
to pursue her master’s degree in Music Education. "What is absolutely unique and amazing
about the professors in the music education program is that your music education professors
have all been in the classroom. They know and understand the unique challenges that
you deal with every day. They are supportive and want you to succeed.”
Related Media
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MTSU College of Graduate Studies
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MTSU | The University of Opportunities
Alumni from the School of Music teach thousands of students every day in private studios
and schools from kindergarten through university levels. MTSU graduates perform in
orchestras, military ensembles, and opera companies; appear in clubs and recording
studios with the famous and yet-to-be-known; compose music for Hollywood films and
commercial jingles; lead professional music organizations; work in the music industry;
serve as church musicians; and continually enrich the lives of others. Some continue
on to enter prestigious doctoral programs. A sample of potential professional pathways
for music master's students:
- Band director/leader
- Choral/choir director
- College professor/instructor
- General music teacher at elementary/middle schools
- Music educator
- Vocalist
Employers of MTSU alumni include
- Bellevue Middle School
- Belmont University
- Cane Ridge High School
- Case Western Reserve University
- Chattanooga Symphony
- Cumberland University
- The Downtown Band
- Earl Klugh (Grammy winner)
- EMBRA Artists, LTD.
- Fairview Middle School
- Jeff Coffin (Grammy winner)
- Jonathan Fletcher Music
- Lipscomb University
- MEINL Percussion
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Murfreesboro City Schools
- Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra
- Nashville State Community College
- Northeast Mississippi Community College
- Old Center Elementary School, Nashville
- Onks Woodwind Specialist
- Siegel Middle School
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- University of Louisiana-Lafayette
- University of Northern Colorado
- Vine Street Christian Church, Nashville
Graduate
The School of Music’s Masters of Music Degree is offered with seven graduate specializations:
A minor in Music is offered at the graduate level.
Applicants must
- hold (or be about to receive) an undergraduate degree in music;
- have an acceptable grade point average in all college work taken (at least 3.0);
- depending on specialization, either do an audition or submit an audition audio or
video-recording; submit scores and recordings of compositions; submit written samples
of scholarship; or submit a 30-minute video-recording demonstrating teaching ability;
- complete entrance examinations in music history and music theory to plan initial course
of study;
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS tab above.
Undergraduate
MTSU's School of Music offers an undergraduate major in Music leading to Bachelor
of Music (B.M.) degree in the following concentrations:
Undergraduate minors in Music, American Music Studies, and Music Industry are also
available.
Teacher licensure
Students seeking a license to teach music in the public schools must complete
- a major in Music following the concentration in either Instrumental Music Education
or Vocal/General Music Education K–12,
- a minor in Secondary Education,
- the General Education Program, and
- additional teacher licensure requirements.
Music, Music Education Specialization, M.M.
Chris Combest, Program Director
(615) 898-2476
chris.combest@mtsu.edu
The School of Music offers a Master of Music degree with specializations in collaborative piano, conducting, jazz studies, music composition, music education, musicology, and performance.
The specialization in Music Education is designed for music educators who are currently teaching in K-12 music settings. All courses are taught in a fully online, learning environment, and the program requires completion of a minimum of 33 semester hours.
Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Music degree program requires
- an earned bachelor's degree in music from an accredited university or college;
- an acceptable grade point average in all college work taken (at least 3.00).
Additionally, those seeking a specialization in music education must be concurrently teaching in a K-12 music setting while enrolled in the program.
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Applicants must
- submit application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
- submit official transcripts of all previous college work;
- submit three letters of recommendation.
Additionally, those seeking a specialization in music education must submit a 30-minute video recording (in English) of themselves teaching music.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Music degree in Music with a specialization in music education requires completion of 33 semester hours.
- complete the curriculum with 70 percent of the total degree hours at the 6000 level (see Curriculum section below for specifics);
- successfully complete both written and oral comprehensive examinations no earlier than the student's last semester of study. Comprehensive examinations may be repeated once.
NOTE:
NOTE: A comprehensive written exam will be administered with Examity online exam proctoring, and a comprehensive oral exam will be administered via Zoom.
Curriculum: Music, Music Education
The following illustrates the coursework requirements.
Core Courses (9 hours)
MUED 6340 - Music Education Seminar
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Music, M.M. degree (music education specialization). Survey of current educational pedagogy, methods, and materials with application to teaching through research, seminar discussion, and readings in music education literature. Offered fall semesters.
MUED 6620 - Bibliography and Research in Music Education
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Music, M.M. degree (music education specialization). Survey of bibliography and methods of research in music education. Analysis and evaluation of research in the field of music education. Offered in fall, spring, and/or summer semesters.
MUTH 6040 - Music Theory Pedagogy
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Music, M.M. degree (music education specialization). Study of K-12 teaching techniques and current research in music theory pedagogy. Offered fall semesters.
Specialization Courses (24 hours)
MUED 6010 - Foundations of Music Education
3credit hours
Philosophies of music education; meaning in music and aesthetic theories; principles of learning; objectives for music education. Offered in fall semesters.
MUED 6621 - Music Education Research Project
3credit hours
Prerequisite: MUS 6620 and completed candidacy form. Study and research of a topic in music education determined by the student. S/U grading. May be repeated up to a maximum of 6 credit hours. Offered in summer semesters.
MUED 6633 - Contemporary Issues in Music Education
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Music, M.M. degree (music education specialization). Focuses on contemporary issues in music education, the current educational landscape, learning theory and music education, curriculum design, educational policy, and accountability in music education.
MUED 6642 - Evaluation and Assessment in Music Education
3credit hours
Focuses on effective evaluation and assessment strategies for the K-12 music education classroom, how assessment data may be most effectively used to improve music teaching and learning, and the current research priorities for assessment in music education. Offered in spring semesters.
MUED 6050 - Policy and Advocacy in Music Education
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Music, M.M. degree (music education specialization). Addresses educational policies at the local, state, and federal level; policy analysis frameworks; and approaches to music education advocacy. Offered in summer sessions.
Nine (9) hours selected from the following:
MUED 5260 - The Application of Technology to Music Teaching
3credit hours
Introduces music technology and its applications in music education. Topics include electro-acoustical generation of musical sound, synthesis equipment and MIDI networks, sequencing and scoring software, music education instructional software, and recording techniques. Application assignments in the computer lab and reading assignments in references and software and hardware manuals. Students will search for, examine, and log relevant World Wide Web and other Internet sites. Offered in fall and summer semesters.
MUED 5270 - Strategies for Teaching Middle and High School Choirs
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Music, M.M. degree (music education specialization). Focuses on strategies that can be implemented in curriculum development, lesson planning, and assessment of music learning in the middle and high school choral setting. Implementation of the Artistic Domains of Perform, Create, Respond, and Connect in the choral classroom. Offered in fall, spring, and/or summer semesters.
MUED 5280 - Vernacular Music Education
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Music, M.M. degree (music education specialization). Issues, teaching materials, and techniques involved in incorporating American folk and popular music and related world music repertoires in K-12 classroom instruction. Offered in fall and summer semesters.
MUS 5250 - Psychology of Music
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Must be admitted to the Music, M.M. degree (music education specialization). Examines research in areas related to music cognition, including music perception, music performance, musical affect, musical preference, and social psychology. Explores how this research relates to practice in music education and performance. Offered in spring semesters.
Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world. They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Music in Education degree program requires
- an earned bachelor's degree in music from an accredited university or college;
- an acceptable grade point average in all college work taken (at least 3.00).
Additionally, those seeking a specialization in music education must be concurrently
teaching in a K-12 music setting while enrolled in the program.
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Applicants must
- Submit application with the appropriate application fee. Once this initial application has been accepted,
the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able
to submit other materials.
- Submit official transcripts of all previous college work;
- Submit three letters of recommendation.
Additionally, please submit a link to a 30-minute teaching video (in English) to Christopher.Dye@mtsu.edu.
Proficiency Courses Determined by Placement Examination (0-14 hours)
Either or both of these courses may be required based on the results of the student's
diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory:
- MUTH 5010 - Theory Survey 3 credit hours
- MUHL 5070 - Music History Survey 1 to 3 credit hours
Resources
Links
Libraries
Online or Hybrid Programs at a Glance
This program is available fully online.
For More Information or Explore Your Options
Contact your department / program coordinator or advisor for more details about the program OR work one-on-one with your advisor to explore your options.
The Online Advantage
With over 25 years of experience in online teaching and learning, MTSU Online offers students access to innovative, high-quality programs. Designed with students in mind, our courses allow maximum flexibility for those unable to participate in person.
Resources and services for online students are available from MTSU Online or contact us at distance@mtsu.edu.
