Program Overview

Music Education

The musical training and educational experience you need to teach the next generation of musicians.

Types

• Bachelor

Location

• On-Campus

Credits

• 84*

Cost

• $9,875

Overview

Music inspires, enriches, and elevates our lives. It is an essential part of our culture, and the music education field exists to ensure this passion is passed on to the next generation. Share your love of music with today’s youth – and watch as it changes their lives for the better! A degree in music education provides the perfect foundation for a fulfilling career and future. From classical music to modern, you’ll be challenged with learning theory and technique as you work with faculty members who are accomplished musicians. You will graduate with the certification you need to become a licensed music teacher and leave your mark on the next generation of young musicians!

Stats

• Average Salary: $61,820
• Industry Growth: 5%
• Ranking in KY, Education Degrees: 2nd
• Receive Financial Aid: 96%

Programs & Requirements

General Education Requirements

• The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

Bachelor of Music Education

• In this program, you'll study the theory and craft of music and learn about great musicians of the past and present. You’ll also get hands-on experience with the craft, working with our experienced professors to develop your own musical talent. Over the course of your degree program, you’ll combine music courses with education courses that will give you the tools you need to effectively shape young people's understanding and appreciation of music, pinpoint their musical strengths, and coach them to a higher skill level musically.

Course Requirements

• 42 Credit Hours in professional education
  • Music Education majors should take MUED 130 as a substitution in professional education and/or general education requirements.
  • Music majors must achieve a grade of “C” or higher in prerequisite courses.
  • Transfer students may have the pattern of prerequisites altered at the discretion of the Department Chair.
  • Voice majors must take MUPR 121 - Class Voice and Diction
  • Piano majors will substitute MUPR 221 - Piano Pedagogy for MUPR 117 - Class Piano I and MUPR 118 - Class Piano II
  • All Music Education majors: All candidates pursuing the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education MUST be accepted into the Teacher Education program before they will be allowed to register for EDUC 432 - Fundamentals of Secondary Education or ELEM 430, Classroom Management and Behavior.
• Required Courses (42 hours)
  • MUPR 117 - Class Piano I
  • MUPR 118 - Class Piano II
  • MUSC 131 - Music Theory and Skills I
  • MUSC 132 - Music Theory and Skills II
  • MUSC 231 - Music Theory and Skills III
  • MUSC 232 - Music Theory and Skills IV
  • MUSC 312 - Basic Conducting
  • MUSC 313 - Advanced Conducting
  • MUED 324 - Teaching Music in the Elementary School
  • MUSC 333 - Music History I
  • MUSC 334 - Music History II
  • MUSC 401 - World Music
  • MUSC 422 - Arranging
  • MUSC 423 - Form and Analysis
  • MUSC 424 - Twentieth-Century Music
  • MUED 425 - Music Core Seminar
  • Choose 6 Credit Hours of Ensembles outlined in the Music Education (P-12), B.M. Emphasis Requirements
• Education Courses (42 hours)
  • 42 credit hours in professional education. View academic catalog for more information.

Music Performance Scholarships

• Music Scholarships are available to students who plan to participate in music ensembles at UC. An audition is required to apply for a scholarship.

Mission & Goals

Program Mission

• The mission of the Department of Music is to provide you with opportunities to grow in understanding of musical concepts, acquire musical skills, and develop aesthetic values, all in preparation for a successful career in music.

Goals

• Understand the basics of music theory and composition as well as the basics of primary education philosophies.
• Grasp the basic concepts and skills concerning the emphasis area of music education.
• Develop your musical performing skills and comfortability leading a classroom.
• Learn how to create and implement lesson plans, classroom management skills, and examinations.
• Strengthen your oral, written, organizational, and cooperative skills.

Career Outcomes

Music Education Careers & Outcomes

• All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Music Teacher: $53,260
• Private Music Teacher: $57,532
• Choir Director: $44,759
• Conductor: $43,581
• Music Minister: $30,071
• Music Therapist: $51,839

Faculty

Faculty Experts in Music

• Learn more about the music professors you will interact with.
• Dr. Tara Warfield
  • Professor of Music
  • Music
• Dr. Duane Warfield
  • Professor of Music/Director of Bands/Low Brass
  • Music
• James R. Corcoran
  • Associate Professor/Percussion
  • Music

FAQs

Common Questions

• What can I do with a music education degree?
  • The most common career options for someone with a music education degree are teaching positions, be that in a high school or elementary school setting. If your interests lie outside the classroom, though, there is still a world of options for you! Some music education graduates use their degree to launch a career in music, honing their craft and performing and/or recording their work. Other possibilities with a music education degree include going into music ministry, private lessons, music therapy, instrument repair, and more!
• How do I become a music teacher?
  • The requirements to teach in a public P-12 school system vary by state, but there are some universal requirements. You must earn a bachelor’s degree from a program that explores how to teach younger age groups and focuses on musical expression. You will likely need to do some student teaching and pass a state test to apply for a teaching certification. Then you can begin exploring job opportunities!
• What skills do I need in order to be a good music teacher?
  • Some skills that are helpful in the music education world are technical musical ability, good interpersonal communication skills, organization skills, leadership skills, behavior analysis skills, and instructional skills.
• What if I don’t want to become a music teacher. Will this degree still benefit me?
  • Yes! There are plenty of things you can do with a music education degree besides teaching. Symphony director, choreographer, and musical coordinator are just a few of these options.
• Why is music education important?
  • Music is an integral part of being human, and music in education is just as important. Not only is music worth learning and teaching in its own right, but it can have a beneficial impact on other areas of study as well. It has been shown to help students develop language and reasoning faculties, acquire team-building skills, increase coordination, develop spatial intelligence, and learn pattern recognition. Music benefits students in other ways, helping in areas of creative thinking, self-confidence, imagination, curiosity, social interactions, and more. By training educators to teach, guide, and develop relevant music curriculum, we invest in our collective futures.