Music Education (K-12) (BS)

Students who choose to major in Music Education become prepared to teach and supervise vocal, instrumental, and general music from kindergarten through grade 12. The Educator Preparation programs at Plymouth State University are approved by the New Hampshire Department of Education. The University is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE). New Hampshire participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement and, although additional requirements may apply, this agreement makes it possible for a Plymouth State graduate who holds a teaching certificate in New Hampshire to earn a certificate in another state. For further information, please see the Holmes Center for School Partnerships and Educator Preparation section. Requirements for certification may change, subject to changes made by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Teacher candidates can find the most current New Hampshire Department of Education standards at education.nh.gov/index.htm.

The knowledge, skills, and dispositions of teacher candidates shall be assessed regularly by the faculty. One semester prior to the internship semester, the student will receive faculty approval to intern if the student has

  • earned a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average at the end of the third year;
  • earned a minimum grade of C in all required ME/MU courses; and
  • completed all departmental program requirements through the third year.

During the semester prior to the internship, students in this program are required to present a senior solo recital. Students who do not meet these requirements may withdraw from the BS in Music Education and complete a BA Music, Contract Option.

All teacher candidates who interact with students in public school settings through course-related field experiences, including the Internship in Elementary Music Teaching and the Internship in Secondary Music Teaching, are subject to New Hampshire state legislation that requires a full disclosure criminal records check. This may include fingerprinting. The processing of the criminal records check is conducted at the site school before the clinical experience begins. The fee for this processing is the responsibility of the teacher candidate and is paid directly to the school district. Each new site will require a separate fingerprinting and background check. Inquiries should be directed to the Holmes Center for School Partnerships and Educator Preparation.

In order for teacher candidates to participate in clinical experiences in diverse settings that are essential for their development as teachers and required for accreditation, teacher candidates must be willing and able to travel outside of the Plymouth area beyond walking distances. All Internship in Teaching candidates should plan for and be able to secure their own transportation by the junior year.

Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning course schedule. Course sequence is suggested but not required.

To complete the bachelor’s degree in 4 years, you must successfully complete a minimum of 15 credits each semester or have a plan to make up credits over the course of the 4 years.  For example, if you take 14 credits one semester, you need to take 16 credits in another semester.  Credits completed must count toward your program requirements (major, option, minor, certificate, general education or free electives).

Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
Music Performance Requirements
MUPerformance Studies (two enrollments each at the 1000, 2000, 3000 levels; one enrollment at the 4000 level; not MUDI)7
MU 1420Vocal Performance Lab I0
ME 4500Senior Recital: Music Education0
MUEnsembles (not MUDI)7
Musicianship Core Requirements
MU 1210Musicianship I4
MU 1220Musicianship II 44
MU 2210Musicianship III 53
MU 1150Piano Class I 21
MU 1160Piano Class II 2,31
MU 2225Arranging and Composition 63
MU 2270Piano Skills for the Music Classroom 71
MU 2280Advanced Piano Skills for the Music Classroom1
MU 33303
MU 33403
Music Education Requirements
ME 1105Foundations of Music Education2
ME 1110Early Field Experience in Music Education1
ME 3110Elementary School Music Methods3
ME 4200Secondary School Music Methods3
ME 35302
One credit from the following options
ME 3510Contemporary Ensembles in Public Schools I1
or ME 3520 Contemporary Ensembles in Public Schools II
Conducting Sequence
ME 2250Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques I3
ME 2260Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques II3
ME 2020Instrumental Lab0
ME 3010Choral Lab0
Music Education General Musicianship Requirements
ME 17891
ME 2150String Methods1
ME 1160Guitar Class I1
ME 3160Percussion Methods1
ME 3215Brass Methods (Brass Methods)2
ME 3135Woodwind Methods (Woodwind Methods)2
ME 37892
Internship in Teaching
ME 4865Internship in Elementary Music Teaching6
ME 4875Internship in Secondary Music Teaching6
ME 4880Music Education Internship Seminar1
Psychology
ED 2400Child and Youth Development in Context (WECO)4
Special Education Elective
ED 2800Inclusive Education and Technology (TECO)4
Quantitative Reasoning in the Discipline Connection
Complete one course from the following:3
MA 1500
Mathematics and the Humanities (QRCO)
MA 2210
Finite Math with Business Statistics (QRCO)
MA 2300
Statistics I (QRCO)
General Education
EN 1400Composition4
IS 1115Tackling a Wicked Problem4
MAMathematics Foundations3-4
PPDIPast and Present Direction3-4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction3-4
SSDISelf and Society Direction3-4
Directions (choose from PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 104-8
INCAP4
Electives4
Total Credits124
1

Requires a minimum of grade of C in either ME 3510 OR ME 3520

2

Piano majors (students taking Piano Performance Studies) substitute (MU 3070)/Piano Pedagogy II (MU 3080) for Piano Class I (MU 1150)/Piano Class II (MU 1160) and Piano Class III (MU 2230)/Piano Class IV (MU 2240).

3

Requires a minimum grade of C in Piano Class I (MU 1150).

4

Requires a minimum grade of C in Musicianship I (MU 1210).

5

Requires a minimum grade of C in Musicianship II (MU 1220).

6

Requires a minimum grade of C in Musicianship III (MU 2210).

7

Requires a minimum grade of C in Piano Class II (MU 1160).

8

Requires a minimum grade of C in Piano for the Music Classroom MU 2270.

9

The Internship in Elementary Music Teaching and the Internship in Secondary Music Teaching require a minimum grade of C in all required ME/MU courses and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.

10

Directions should total 16-17 credits because CTDI is waived for BS Music Education.

I) Personal musicianship and performance ability:
  • Performing as a soloist and as a member of a musical ensemble accurately and expressively from notation either vocally or instrumentally:
  • Improvising to a structured harmonic accompaniment, in a variety of styles, including but not limited to jazz;
  • Playing and transposing on piano and guitar;
  • Conducting representative musical literature;
  • Researching, planning, and presenting a musical performance.
II) Aural skills and theory:
  • Hearing and correcting individual parts;
  • Aurally recognizing a variety of historical and contemporary musical forms and genres;
  • Sight-singing;
  • Notating music from listening;
  • Reading and writing music in
    • traditional notation using a variety of clefs; and
    • non-traditional notation;
  • Making common transpositions;
  • Analyzing formal and expressive elements in written music;
  • Composing and arranging music.
III) Music history and culture:
  • Describing the development of Western art music beginning with the Middle Ages;
  • Analyzing the role of music in a variety of cultures;
  • Describing the music of a variety of cultures.
IV) K-12 general music pedagogy:
  • Developing in students the ability to read and write music in traditional and non-traditional notation;
  • Guiding students to express themselves musically through singing, playing instruments, moving purposefully, improvising, composing and arranging;
  • Developing in students the ability to describe, analyze and evaluate music and musical performances through a variety of methods including guided listening;
  • Creating sequential instruction in music history, its role in culture, and its relationship to other disciplines;
  • Designing standards-based curriculum, planning and instruction and assessments including modifications to meet the needs of all learners;
  • Using competency-based assessment strategies to determine and communicate student progress and achievement;
  • Working with colleagues to provide inter-disciplinary instruction;
  • Describing and advocating for a comprehensive K-12 music program;
  • Using current technologies and multimedia to
    • plan and prepare instruction;
    • deliver instruction;
    • provide opportunities for music students to create, perform, and respond; and
    • amplify and augment performance.
V) K-12 music performance pedagogy, the candidate will be able to do (1 & 2 & 3) or (1 & 2 & 4)
  • Developing in students the ability to sing and perform expressively alone and with others at a beginning level in healthy, age appropriate ways including:
    • tone production in the general and extended ranges of the voice including the changing voice;
    • vocal techniques, including, but not limited to diction, breathing, and posture; and
    • varied repertoire;
  • Developing in students the ability to play and perform expressively alone and with others at a beginning level on classroom instruments, band instruments, and orchestral instruments in healthy, age appropriate ways including:
    • tone production;
    • articulation;
    • fingerings; and
    • transposition for commonly used instruments; THE FOLLOWING (3 & 4) IS AN AND/OR COMPETENCY
  • Instructing, rehearsing, assessing and refining vocalists throughout their school career and in performances of choral music with knowledge of advanced techniques of:
    • tone production in the general and extended ranges of the voice including the changing voice;
    • vocal techniques, including, but not limited to diction in English and in foreign languages; and
    • varied repertoire, including music of four or more parts, accompanied or a cappella; AND/OR
  • Instructing, rehearsing, assessing and refining instrumentalists throughout their school career in performances including advanced techniques of:
    • tone production;
    • articulation;
    • fingerings, including alternate fingerings; and
    • transposition for less commonly used instruments.
  • Music teacher (classroom or private studio at a variety of levels, with specific certification to teach in K-12 public schools)
  • Arts administrator
  • Educational administrator
  • Conductor/music director
  • Composer/creator
  • Performer
  • Music scholar
  • Music therapist (with additional graduate training/certification)