Program Overview

Introduction to Music Education P-12, BMus

The Music Education P-12, BMus program at Western Washington University is a professional degree that prepares students to teach music in their emphasis area upon graduating and receive a P-12 Certification as a Music Specialist Educator, in addition to the Bachelor of Music degree. This program consists of a variety of pedagogy, conducting, and education-specific courses, and requires two practicums and a student-teaching internship in a public-school setting.

Program Structure

• The BMus Education P-12 major is structured to take approximately 4.25-4.5 years to complete for the average incoming music student.
• Students who qualify for assessments may be able to finish sooner.
• Based on the sequence of classes, all academic coursework can be completed in four years, followed by 14 weeks (1 quarter) of full-time student teaching the following fall or winter quarter.

Admission to Woodring College of Education

• The Music Education Coordinator will assist students with their application to the Woodring College of Education, where they will enroll in general education courses alongside advanced music education coursework.
• Students who successfully complete this set of Woodring courses will earn state teaching certification for P-12 music education in their emphasis area.
• Applications for Woodring are typically submitted during the third year in the music program, with applications for a fall quarter start due February 15, and for winter, September 1.

Grade Requirements

• A grade of C- or better is required for all Music Major and Minor courses.
• A minimum GPA of 2.5 in music courses is required for graduation with a degree in music.

Program Requirements

Music Non-Course Requirements

• Upper-division Jury: Music Education students must complete lessons at the 300-level. An upper-division jury is required to reach this level, and it is recommended that students attempt this upper-division jury by the end of their second year.
• Keyboarding Proficiency: To fulfill the music degree program, all music majors must demonstrate keyboard proficiency. Proficiencies are assessed throughout the final quarter of the keyboarding sequence (either MUS 225B or 225C).
• Woodring Application: Completion of the degree with certification is done through the Woodring College of Education. The application process is normally initiated during, or immediately after, the junior year, with applications due February 15 for a fall quarter start, or September 1, for a winter quarter start.

Music Core Sequences

• The music core sequence starts with 100-level courses in theoretical and analytical skills (music theory), aural skills, and keyboarding skills (at either the 100 or 200 level, depending on the student’s piano level).
• After that, students take 200-level courses in those same subjects, followed by a year of 300-level musicology courses.
• This sequence starts each Fall quarter and repeats the next academic year.

Music Education Core Requirements and Endorsements

Music Education Core

• Students may enroll in the following courses alongside the second-year core music sequences and musicology.
• Please see specific course prerequisites for more information.
  • MUS 268 - Introduction to Music Education
  • MUS 362 - General Music Education
  • MUS 460 - Literacy and Music
  • MUS 461 - Advanced Techniques in General Music Education
  • MUS 469 - Music Teaching Practicum II (must be taken twice)

Conducting

• Students may enroll in instrumental and choral conducting after finishing the second-year core sequences.
• Please see specific course prerequisites for more information.
  • MUS 352 - Instrumental Conducting
  • MUS 353 - Choral Conducting
  • One course from:
    • MUS 354A - Advanced Choral Conducting
    • MUS 354B - Advanced Instrumental Conducting

Music Endorsement Emphasis

P-12 Choral and General

• This emphasis leads to two endorsements: choral music and general music, P-12.
• MUS 262 - K-12 Classroom Accompanying Pedagogy
• MUS 264W - Pedagogy/Lab: Hand Drums and Percussion
• MUS 363A - Global Traditions for Choirs I
• MUS 363B - Global Traditions for Choirs II
• MUS 463 - Secondary Choral Music Education
• MUS 466B - Applied Pedagogy: Voice I

P-12 Instrumental and General

• This emphasis leads to two endorsements: instrumental music and general music and is separated into two tracks.
• One track is for Wind and Percussion students (Band Track) and the other for String students (Orchestra Track).
• Students select one track or the other based on their applied area of study.

Band Track

• For music education students; applied lessons in woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments.
• MUS 263 - Vocal Techniques for Instrumental Teachers
• MUS 264K - Flute Pedagogy
• MUS 264L - Single Reed Pedagogy
• MUS 264M - Double Reed Pedagogy
• MUS 264N - High Brass Pedagogy
• MUS 264O - Low Brass Pedagogy
• MUS 264P - Pedagogy/Lab: Concert Percussion
• MUS 266 - Jazz Pedagogy for Music Teachers
• MUS 465 - Secondary Instrumental Music Education
• Choose one of the following:
  • MUS 264Q - Pedagogy/Lab: Marching Percussion
  • MUS 264R - Pedagogy/Lab: Drumset
  • MUS 264W - Pedagogy/Lab: Hand Drums and Percussion
• Choose one of the following:
  • MUS 265C - High String Pedagogy
  • MUS 265D - Low String Pedagogy

Orchestra Track

• For music education students in applied string lessons: violin, viola, cello, string bass.
• MUS 263 - Vocal Techniques for Instrumental Teachers
• MUS 264P - Pedagogy/Lab: Concert Percussion
• MUS 265C - High String Pedagogy
• MUS 265D - Low String Pedagogy
• MUS 365 - String Teaching Methods and Materials
• MUS 465 - Secondary Instrumental Music Education
• Choose one of the following:
  • MUS 264K - Flute Pedagogy
  • MUS 264L - Single Reed Pedagogy
  • MUS 264M - Double Reed Pedagogy
• Choose one of the following:
  • MUS 264N - High Brass Pedagogy
  • MUS 264O - Low Brass Pedagogy

Primary Instrument Requirements

Brass

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 214F - Applied Instruction: French Horn
  • MUS 214G - Applied Instruction: Trumpet
  • MUS 214H - Applied Instruction: Trombone
  • MUS 214I - Applied Instruction: Euphonium
  • MUS 214J - Applied Instruction: Tuba
  • MUS 314F - Applied Instruction: French Horn
  • MUS 314G - Applied Instruction: Trumpet
  • MUS 314H - Applied Instruction: Trombone
  • MUS 314I - Applied Instruction: Euphonium
  • MUS 314J - Applied Instruction: Tuba
  • MUS 414F - Applied Instruction: French Horn
  • MUS 414G - Applied Instruction: Trumpet
  • MUS 414H - Applied Instruction: Trombone
  • MUS 414I - Applied Instruction: Euphonium
  • MUS 414J - Applied Instruction: Tuba
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Guitar

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 216 - Applied Instruction: Classical Guitar
  • MUS 316 - Applied Instruction: Classical Guitar
  • MUS 416 - Applied Instruction: Classical Guitar
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra
• Guitar Ensemble (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 282 - Guitar Ensemble

Percussion

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 214K - Applied Instruction: Percussion
  • MUS 314K - Applied Instruction: Percussion
  • MUS 414K - Applied Instruction: Percussion
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Piano

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 212 - Applied Instruction: Piano
  • MUS 312 - Applied Instruction: Piano
  • MUS 412 - Applied Instruction: Piano
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra
• Piano Accompanying (minimum of 12 credits)
  • MUS 276 - Piano Accompanying
  • MUS 476 - Advanced Piano Accompanying

Strings

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 213A - Applied Instruction: Violin
  • MUS 213B - Applied Instruction: Viola
  • MUS 213C - Applied Instruction: Cello
  • MUS 213D - Applied Instruction: Double Bass
  • MUS 213E - Applied Instruction: Harp
  • MUS 313A - Applied Instruction: Violin
  • MUS 313B - Applied Instruction: Viola
  • MUS 313C - Applied Instruction: Cello
  • MUS 313D - Applied Instruction: Double Bass
  • MUS 313E - Applied Instruction: Harp
  • MUS 413A - Applied Instruction: Violin
  • MUS 413B - Applied Instruction: Viola
  • MUS 413C - Applied Instruction: Cello
  • MUS 413D - Applied Instruction: Double Bass
  • MUS 413E - Applied Instruction: Harp
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Voice

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 215 - Applied Instruction: Voice
  • MUS 315 - Applied Instruction: Voice
  • MUS 415 - Applied Instruction: Voice
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Woodwinds

• Applied Lessons (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 214A - Applied Instruction: Flute
  • MUS 214B - Applied Instruction: Oboe
  • MUS 214C - Applied Instruction: Clarinet
  • MUS 214D - Applied Instruction: Bassoon
  • MUS 214E - Applied Instruction: Saxophone
  • MUS 314A - Applied Instruction: Flute
  • MUS 314B - Applied Instruction: Oboe
  • MUS 314C - Applied Instruction: Clarinet
  • MUS 314D - Applied Instruction: Bassoon
  • MUS 314E - Applied Instruction: Saxophone
  • MUS 414A - Applied Instruction: Flute
  • MUS 414B - Applied Instruction: Oboe
  • MUS 414C - Applied Instruction: Clarinet
  • MUS 414D - Applied Instruction: Bassoon
  • MUS 414E - Applied Instruction: Saxophone
• Major Ensemble (minimum of 18 credits, maximum of 42 credits)
  • MUS 271 - University Choir
  • MUS 272 - Symphonic Band
  • MUS 273 - String Sinfonia
  • MUS 371 - Advanced Treble Chorale
  • MUS 372 - Symphonic Winds
  • MUS 471 - Concert Choir
  • MUS 472 - Wind Symphony
  • MUS 473 - University Symphony Orchestra

Additional Requirements

Woodring College of Education Requirements (35 credits)

• Acceptance to the Woodring College of Education is required as a prerequisite to all courses below.
• SEC 303 - Teaching Adolescents: Development and Identity
• SEC 310 - Education, Culture, and Equity
• SEC 411 - Philosophical Foundations of Education
• SPED 363 - Secondary Students With Special Needs

Internship (14 weeks minimum)

• Student teaching is the culminating course for the degree program.
• Students will enroll in for a fall or winter internship based on academic progress and advising.
• Spring internships are not available.
• Students enroll in SEC 495 only during the 14 weeklong internship.
• SEC 495 - Internship - Secondary

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement