Overview

The Bachelor of Music in Music Education with Minor in Education degree program prepares undergraduate music students to become outstanding music educators who are certified by the Florida Department of Education (FL-DOE) to teach music in the schools of Florida and, through reciprocity agreements with other state DOEs, throughout the United States. A basic premise of the Bachelor of Music Education degree program is that music teachers must be both strong musicians and skilled educators; thus, competency as a performing and creating musician is as important as having strong foundations in pedagogy (both theory and practice).

We believe our series of music education techniques and methods courses provide students with a broad foundation in teaching music through the lifespan (childhood through adulthood), as well as across a wide array of educational settings and musical contexts. This sequence incorporates ideas drawn from theory, research, and the practical experiences of the faculty and other successful practitioners. We also believe that students must be able to build themselves to meet their professional goals by developing a specialization in an area of music teaching through music education emphasis area electives.

Program Goals

  • Help students develop the musical and teaching competencies necessary to enable them to demonstrate the generic and subject area competencies and the Florida Educational Accomplished Practices (FEAP) for becoming successful music teachers.
  • Enable students to apply the musical and instructional skills developed in the program (and reinforced during field experience and student teaching) to teach music in a wide array of contexts.
  • Help students to develop the skills and desire to continue music-making as a lifetime endeavor both personally and professionally.
  • Help students develop skills in integrating information from the diverse professional literature into their teaching.

Educational Objectives

  • Students must demonstrate generic competencies required by the university in general education courses.
  • Students must demonstrate competencies related to the core Professional Education courses required by the State of Florida in Teaching and Learning (TAL) courses.
  • Students must demonstrate musical competencies related to the requirements of the Bachelor of Music degree.
  • Students must demonstrate teaching competencies related to the core courses in the music education.

The Music Education curriculum is designed to prepare students to teach music in a wide array of contexts, including (K-12) public & private schools. All Music Education majors must perform at a high level either vocally or on an instrument. Students must successfully complete the Florida General Knowledge Examination (FGKE) to be admitted to teacher candidacy and to graduate.

All students must develop knowledge of and performance ability on wind, string, and percussion instruments as well as, vocal skills to assure effective use of the voice in teaching.

Admission to and/or retention in the music education curriculum leading to Florida Teacher Certification requires that students be formally screened with respect to specific criteria. Following are the Requirements for Admission to Teacher Candidacy and for Admission to Associate Teaching:

Admission to Teacher Candidacy

  1. Acceptance as a major in the music education program.
  2. Satisfactory performance on the Florida General Knowledge Exam (FGKE).
  3. Completion of 45 credit hours. (Transfer students must have at least 12 credit hours earned at the University of Miami.)
  4. Successful completion of TAL 305 and TAL 404 (C or higher).
  5. No grade less than a C in TAL & MED courses.
  6. 2.5 minimum GPA in music courses.
  7. Required Background Check completed through Miami-Dade Public Schools Office.
  8. Completion of a successful Field Experience Requirement.

Admission to Student Teaching

  1. Approval of MED faculty members.
  2. Completion of 90 credit hours.
  3. Completion of at least three-fourths of the courses in the teaching major, verified by advisor.
  4. Admission to Teacher Candidacy through the Undergraduate Associate Dean's Office in the School of Education & Human Development.
  5. Completion of a C or better in all MED & TAL courses
  6. 2.5 minimum GPA in TAL and music courses.
  7. Completion of pre-internship field experiences with above-average evaluations.

Curriculum Requirements 

General Education Requirements
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
MTH 101Algebra for College Students3
Arts & Humanities Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
People & Society Cognate (9 credits fulfilled through the required minor)
STEM Cognate9
Other Requirements
UMX 100The University of Miami Experience0
Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (3 courses) see details below
Experiential Music Curriculum Core Courses MED 1
MED 15Music Education Forum (7 or each semester in residence)7
MXX XX1 (Level 1)Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 1-4, 2 credit hours)8
MXX XX3 (Level 3)Principal Instrument Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 5-6, 2 credit hours)4
MTC 140Experiential Musicianship I3
or MSJ 140 Experiential Musicianship I
or MDE 140 Experiential Musicianship I
MTC 141Experiential Musicianship II3
or MSJ 141 Experiential Musicianship II
or MDE 141 Experiential Musicianship II
MTC 240Experiential Musicianship III3
or MSJ 240 Experiential Musicianship III
or MDE 240 Experiential Musicianship III
MTC 241Experiential Musicianship IV3
or MSJ 241 Experiential Musicianship IV
or MDE 241 Experiential Musicianship IV
MTC 107Skills Lab I (co-requisite MTC 140/MSJ 140/MDE 140)1
or MSJ 107 Skills Lab I
or MDE 107 Skills Lab I
MTC 108Skills Lab II (co-requisite MTC 141/MSJ 141/MDE 141)1
or MSJ 108 Skills Lab II
or MDE 108 Skills Lab II
MTC 207Skills Lab III (co-requisite MTC 240 /MSJ 240/MDE 240)1
or MSJ 207 Skills Lab III
or MDE 207 Skills Lab III: American Song Traditions
MTC 208Skills Lab IV (co-requisite MTC 241/MSJ 241/MDE 241)1
or MSJ 208 Skills Lab IV
or MDE 208 Skills Lab IV: American Song Traditions
MKP 140Keyboard Studies I (MSJ 103 if enrolled in MSJ theory)1
MKP 141Keyboard Studies II (MSJ 104 if enrolled in MSJ theory)1
MCY 140Experiencing Music3
MCY 341Music of the Mediaeval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods (AWC)3
or MCY 141 European Musical Traditions
MSP 250Essential Technologies for Musicians3
MIN 310Music Business and Entrepreneurship for Musicians3
Ensembles (semesters 1-6, 1 credit hour) 36
Courses in the MED Major 1
Ensemble (semester 7)1
MCY 342Music of the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods3
or MCY 221 Anglo-American Song Traditions
or MCY 222 African-American Song Traditions
or MCY 311 Modern American Pop Music
or MCY 537 Music in the United States
or MSJ 113 Jazz History I
or MSJ 213 Jazz History II
MIP 181Instrumental Conducting I2
or MVP 181 Choral Conducting I
MIP 182Instrumental Conducting II2
or MVP 182 Choral Conducting II
Select 6 courses from the following list: 46
Woodwind Techniques
Brass Techniques
Percussion Techniques
String Techniques
Vocal Techniques
Folk and Modern Instrumental Techniques
Marching Band Fundamentals
Teaching Jazz/Popular Music in Secondary Schools
String Repertoire and Pedagogy
Keyboard Studies III
Keyboard Studies IV
Lyric Diction for Singers - English
Lyric Diction for Singers - Italian
MED 542Teaching General Music (K-5) (AWC)3
MED 543Teaching Instrumental Music3
MED 544Teaching Modern Music (7-12)3
MED 548Music for Special Learners3
MED 549Teaching Vocal Music3
MED 433Seminar for Teaching Associates.2
MED 471Internship in Music Education (Elementary School) (AWC) 26
MED 473Internship in Music Education (Secondary School) (AWC) 26
Required Education Minor
TAL 103Psychological Foundations of Education (minor)3
TAL 305Classroom and Behavior Management (minor)3
TAL 306Teacher Preparation Seminar I (minor)0
TAL 404Content Area Literacy in the Secondary Classroom (minor)3
TAL 429Teacher Preparation Seminar II (minor)0
TAL 506Issues and Strategies for ESOL (minor)3
Total Credit Hours128
*

Certain ensembles are 2 credit courses. Consult the course catalog before registering.

1

MED, TAL and EMC courses require a grade of “C” or higher. Lessons require a grade of "B-" or higher.

2

MED 475 Internship in Music Education (12 credits) can be substituted for MED 471 & MED 473

3

MIP 170 Marching Band - two semesters are required for all brass, percussion, & woodwind principals

4

MKP 240 and MKP 241 are 2-credit courses.

Advanced Writing and Communication Skills

Courses

All students are required to successfully complete 3 Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (AWC) courses. Student degree requirements will include courses that meet the desired communication outcomes in evaluated and revised writing, speaking, stage presence, and audience engagement.

All Music Education students will successfully complete:

  1. MCY 341 Music of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods, or MCY 141 European Musical Traditions which will include substantial evaluated and revised writing components.
  2. MED 471 & MED 473 Internship in Music Education (Elementary & Secondary) or MED 475 Internship in Music Education, which will include evaluated communication skills in attracting an audience, engaging an audience during performance, and preparing program notes or similar media as appropriate to the medium/venue.
  3.  MED 542 Teaching General Music (K-5) which will include discipline specific communication skills.

Assessment

There will be at least 2 specific assessments in each Advanced Communications Skills course for communications or writing equivalent to 4000 words, evaluated and revised.

Suggested Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredit Hours
MED 15 Music Education Forum 1
Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
MCY 140 Experiencing Music 3
MTC 140, MSJ 140,
Experiential Musicianship I
or Experiential Musicianship I
or Experiential Musicianship I
3
MKP 140 or MSJ 103 Keyboard Studies I
or Jazz Piano I
1
MTC 107, MSJ 107,
Skills Lab I
or Skills Lab I
or Skills Lab I
1
Select 1 course from Music Education Techniques Courses (see list below) 1
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
UMX 100 The University of Miami Experience 0
Ensemble 1 1
 Credit Hours16
Spring
MED 15 Music Education Forum 1
Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
MKP 141 or MSJ 104 Keyboard Studies II
or Jazz Piano II
1
MTC 141, MSJ 141,
Experiential Musicianship II
or Experiential Musicianship II
or Experiential Musicianship II
3
MTC 108, MSJ 108,
Skills Lab II
or Skills Lab II
or Skills Lab II
1
Select 1 course from Music Education Techniques Courses (see list below): 1
MTH 101 Algebra for College Students 3
WRS 106 or ENG 106 First-Year Writing II
or Writing About Literature and Culture
3
Ensemble 1 1
 Credit Hours16
Year Two
Fall
MED 15 Music Education Forum 1
Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
MTC 240, MSJ 240,
Experiential Musicianship III
or Experiential Musicianship III
or Experiential Musicianship III
3
MTC 207, MSJ 207,
Skills Lab III
or Skills Lab III
or Skills Lab III: American Song Traditions
1
Select 1 course from Music Education Techniques Courses (see list below): 1
MIP 181 or MVP 181 Instrumental Conducting I
or Choral Conducting I
2
TAL 103 Psychological Foundations of Education 3
TAL 305 Classroom and Behavior Management 3
TAL 306 Teacher Preparation Seminar I 0
Ensemble 1 1
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MED 15 Music Education Forum 1
Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
MTC 241, MSJ 241,
Experiential Musicianship IV
or Experiential Musicianship IV
or Experiential Musicianship IV
3
MTC 208, MSJ 208,
Skills Lab IV
or Skills Lab IV
or Skills Lab IV: American Song Traditions
1
Select 1 course from Music Education Techniques Courses (see list below): 1
MIP 182 or MVP 182 Instrumental Conducting II
or Choral Conducting II
2
TAL 404 Content Area Literacy in the Secondary Classroom 3
STEM Cognate 3
Ensemble 1 1
 Credit Hours17
Year Three
Fall
MED 15 Music Education Forum 1
Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
MCY 341 Music of the Mediaeval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods (or other MCY course, see list below) 3
MED 542 Teaching General Music (K-5) (AWC) 3
Select 2 courses from Music Education Techniques Courses (see list below): 2
STEM Cognate 3
Ensemble 1 1
 Credit Hours15
Spring
MED 15 Music Education Forum 1
Principal Instrument/ Voice Lesson & Studio Class 2
MCY 342 or 141 Music of the Classical, Romantic, and Modern Periods
or European Musical Traditions
3
MED 543 Teaching Instrumental Music 3
MED 549 Teaching Vocal Music 3
MED 548 Music for Special Learners 3
Ensemble 1 1
 Credit Hours16
Year Four
Fall
MED 15 Music Education Forum 1
MSP 250 Essential Technologies for Musicians 3
MIN 310 Music Business and Entrepreneurship for Musicians 3
MED 544 Teaching Modern Music (7-12) 3
TAL 429 Teacher Preparation Seminar II 0
TAL 506 Issues and Strategies for ESOL 3
Ensemble 1 1
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MED 433 Seminar for Teaching Associates. 2
MED 471 Internship in Music Education (Elementary School) 6
MED 473 Internship in Music Education (Secondary School) 6
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours128
Music Education Techniques Courses
Woodwind Techniques
Brass Techniques
Percussion Techniques
String Techniques
Vocal Techniques 2
Lyric Diction for Singers - English
Lyric Diction for Singers - Italian
Folk and Modern Instrumental Techniques
Marching Band Fundamentals
Teaching Jazz/Popular Music in Secondary Schools
String Repertoire and Pedagogy
Keyboard Studies III (2 cr)
Keyboard Studies IV (2 cr)
Suggested Musicology Courses
Anglo-American Song Traditions
African-American Song Traditions
Modern American Pop Music
Music of Latin America
Music in the United States
Jazz History I
Jazz History II
*

Certain ensembles are 2 credit courses. Consult the course catalog before registering.

1

Two semesters of MIP 170 Marching Band are required for all brass, percussion, and woodwind principals. 

2

Instrumentalists should enroll in MED 244. Vocalists should enroll in either MVP 250 or MVP 251

Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Music degree program in Music Education at the Frost School of Music is to:

  • Help students develop the musical and teaching competencies necessary to enable them to demonstrate the generic and subject area competencies and the Florida Educational Accomplished Practices (FEAP) for becoming successful music teachers.
  • Enable students to apply the musical and instructional skills developed in the program (and reinforced during field experience and student teaching) to teach music in a wide array of contexts.
  • Help students to develop the skills and desire to continue music-making as a lifetime endeavor both personally and professionally.
  • Help students develop skills in integrating information from the diverse professional literature into their teaching.

Goals

  • Students must demonstrate generic competencies required by the university in general education courses.
  • Students must demonstrate competencies related to the core Professional Education courses required by the State of Florida in Teaching and Learning (TAL) courses.
  • Students must demonstrate musical competencies related to the requirements of the Bachelor of Music degree.
  • Students must demonstrate teaching competencies related to the core courses in the music education.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students in the Bachelor of Music Education program will demonstrate the ability to plan effective instruction.
  • Students in the Bachelor of Music Education program will demonstrate the ability to deliver effective instruction.
  • Students in the Bachelor of Music Education program will demonstrate effective communication and writing skills.