Course Descriptions

Academics / Majors and Minors / Music Education / Course Descriptions

Music Education Courses

MUSE 170: Intro to Music Teaching & Learning

This course introduces students to the skills of teaching music. It explores how human beings acquire musicianship, and covers the foundational elements of music education. Musical elements addressed include: musical development, musical aptitude, listening, movement, rhythm, song teaching, singing, improvisation, composition, and basic teaching techniques associated with these. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with elementary students are key components of this course. Prerequisite: MUSC 251 or Instructor approval (This course satisfies Social Science and Speaking Intensive.)
cross listed: MUSC 170, EDUC 170

MUSE 171: Music, Health, and Wellbeing

Musicians learn essential life skills as they prepare for performance. Goal-setting, self-assessment, and navigating performance anxiety are essential skills for successfully navigating both music and life. Utilizing Social Emotional Learning and Mindfulness, students are able to explore their own skill-building while learning how to teach others to develop self-awareness, social-awareness, and responsible decision-making. Connections are made to solo performance, ensemble music-making, social justice/impact, and expanding music education beyond the traditional model of large ensembles. Through self-reflection, focusing on empathy, and broadening an understanding of the impact of music, students emerge with both personal skills to better navigate their own musicianship and an awareness of how to teach these skills to others. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science.)
cross listed: MUSC 171

MUSE 271: Teaching Winds and Percussion

MUSE 271: The Art of Teaching Wind and Percussion Instruments. This course introduces students to the techniques of teaching woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. Students will develop competency on these instruments and learn appropriate instructional strategies to teach these instruments. Specific instruments include: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, snare drum, and bells. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with elementary/middle school students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: EDUC 170 Corequisites: No corequisites (This course satisfies Social Science.)
cross listed: MUSC 271, EDUC 271

MUSE 272: Teaching String Instruments

MUSE 272: The Art of Teaching String Instruments. This course introduces students to the techniques of playing and teaching string instruments. Students will develop competency on these instruments and learn appropriate instructional strategies to teach these instruments. Specific instruments include: violin, viola, cello, and bass. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with elementary/middle school students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: EDUC 170/MUSC 170, with a grade of B- or better. Corequisites: No corequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science.)
cross listed: MUSC 272, EDUC 272

MUSE 273: Teaching Instrumental Ensembles

MUSE 273: The Art of Teaching Instrumental Ensembles. This course introduces students to the techniques of teaching bands and orchestras. This course is intended to provide students with a strong foundation of both skill and conceptual understanding in order to prepare them for a career in instrumental music education. It involve learning within both a college classroom setting and as a teacher and observer within K-12 schools. Specific elements include: conducting, score study, rehearsal technique, practical elements associated with organizing and executing an instrumental ensemble, and band/orchestra literature. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with middle school students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: EDUC 170 with a grade of B- or better. Corequisites: No corequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science.)
cross listed: MUSC 273, EDUC 273

MUSE 274: Teaching Choral Ensembles

MUSE 274: The Art of Teaching Choral Ensembles. This course introduces students to the techniques of teaching choir. This course is intended to provide students with a strong foundation of both skill and conceptual understanding in order to prepare them for a career in vocal music education. It involves learning within both a classroom setting and as a teacher and observer within K-12 schools. Specific elements include: conducting, score study, rehearsal technique, practical elements associated with organizing and executing a choral ensemble, and choral literature. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with middle school students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: EDUC 170 with a grade of B- or better. Corequisites: No corequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science.)
cross listed: MUSC 274, EDUC 274

MUSE 275: Teaching Music in Elementary School

MUSE 275: Teaching Music in the Elementary School. This course introduces students to the techniques of teaching music to elementary age students. Students will become exposed to developmentally appropriate musical activities for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Multiple approaches will be presented including Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, and Music Learning Theory. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with elementary students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: MUSC 170 with a grade of B- or better. Corequisites: No corequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science and Technology Intensive.)
cross listed: EDUC 275