Faculty, Programs, and Opportunities: Ohio University School of Music

Ohio University School of Music

Our faculty members have years of experience teaching music in elementary and secondary schools, conducting, directing high school and college choirs and bands, and working with students in their studios. They also regularly present education clinics and workshops across the state and nation.

The honors tutorial program is designed for excellent scholar-musicians who seek a broad degree curriculum that balances a commitment to breadth and depth.

Graduate Programs

The School of Music offers a variety of master’s and doctoral degree programs that include performance, music education, performance pedagogy, theory and music therapy. The program of study for each degree is individually designed by the student in consultation with a graduate advisor. The School of Music is a major part of the cultural life of Ohio University and provides a wide range of concerts, recitals and guest artist appearances each year. The faculty of 34 full time and 9 part-time music professors is committed to excellence in teaching, performance, research and scholarship. Student wellness is also a focus with the availability of a free music therapy clinic, supported by the School of Music and available to all music students.

Bachelor of Music

Our Bachelor of Music program is a professional degree that prepares talented students to pursue careers in music that require advanced musicianship and discipline-specific training. The curriculum is centered on private applied study in one of the areas of specialization, a significant number of music academic courses and extensive performance opportunities. In addition, the degree provides excellent preparation for further study at the master’s level or for entrance into professional schools of music.

Music Educators License

The Master of Arts in Music Education is a two-year program that prepares highly qualified music educators to serve in K-12 public schools. The curriculum combines core graduate music and education coursework with student teaching, including observation and lesson planning. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to teach instrumental and vocal music in grades pre-K through 12 in the state of Ohio.

Music Composition

The composition curriculum is designed for students with a strong desire to learn the art of composition, and who possess the artistic talent and technical aptitude to interpret advanced repertoire. The program includes specialized instruction in the art of composition, a substantial amount of individual composing studio work, and extensive performance opportunities through the School of Music ensembles, as well as numerous external opportunities to hear their works performed.

Music Pedagogy Certificate

The music pedagogy emphasis within the Master of Music degree is offered to those with an undergraduate degree in their primary instrument who want to become teachers in a private studio setting. This program is specifically designed to prepare musicians for college level teaching and/or public school teaching, while at the same time providing them with the necessary skills to build and maintain their own private teaching studios.

Piano Pedagogy

The Piano Pedagogy major offers a unique combination of musical and educational studies, designed to prepare highly qualified teacher candidates for positions in elementary and secondary schools. In addition to a comprehensive course of study in applied piano, the curriculum includes coursework in music education, child and adolescent development, learning styles and assessment, technology, classroom strategies, and methods of teaching. The program culminates in a student teaching experience under the guidance of an experienced music educator. This program is offered fully online. The School of Music is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin or ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military service or veteran status, genetic information, or disability.

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Access to Over 1,100 Performances: IU’s Department of Music Education

IU’s Department of Music Education

IU students have access to more than 1,100 performances each year. These are more than just concerts; they offer real-world experience for music and dance majors to develop their skills in front of an audience.

When Barzille Winfred Merrill joined IU in 1919, he set out to create a music school that would serve as “solace for the soul and a sophisticated conservatory-all in rural Indiana.” He campaigned successfully for a new music building.

History of the Department

The IU Department of Music Education is one of the premier programs in the country, preparing musicians to serve as positive role models at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Its faculty members define “music education” broadly, to include not only traditional public school music, but also all aspects of music pedagogy and the study of the teaching and learning of music. The department strives to maintain close associations with music teachers in the state of Indiana, throughout the United States and worldwide.

Founded in 1832, the University’s band program is the oldest continuously operating music organization on campus. Its early history was not a typical college experience, as the students received no academic credit for their participation and were required to provide their own uniforms. In 1907 Charles Campbell arranged for a performance by the Schellschmidt Quartet of Indianapolis, which raised funds that were used to establish an equipment fund “to lead ultimately to the establishment of a full-fledged school of music.”

Barzille Winfred Merrill became the first head of the newly established Department of Music in 1919. He pushed for the creation of a separate school, convinced IU trustees to approve it, and campaigned to build a music building. The four-story limestone structure, later named Merrill Hall in 1989, brought dozens of practice rooms and a music library to the university.

In 1938 Herman B Wells became president of IU and appointed 32-year-old Robert L Sanders its youngest-ever dean of the School of Music. Sanders reorganized the staff, hiring internationally known musician instructors, music theory and history scholars and teacher educators to create a more multifaceted approach. He helped the school gain membership in the National Association of Schools of Music, built a new four-story music facility, and started a concert series that brought Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, violinist Fritz Kreisler, and soprano Rosa Ponselle to campus. He also commissioned the building of the IU Auditorium, which opened in 1941.

Graduate Programs

The department offers graduate degrees at both the master’s and doctoral levels. The degree programs provide a rich array of opportunities for performance, research, and teacher education. The department strives to maintain close associations with music teachers in Indiana and throughout the world, fostering mutual growth and respect.

Upon graduation, UIndy music education majors are well prepared to teach instrumental and/or general music in grades P-12. In addition to developing comprehensive musicianship skills, music education students learn pedagogical models, methods, and materials that are used to design instruction in classroom settings. Students participate regularly in small ensembles and take course work in music theory, history, and literature.

Students are required to take a minimum of 120 field experience hours in local school districts. During these experiences, students observe and participate in the actual teaching of music in a classroom setting. This serves to advance student exposure to the vast number of classroom environments in which music educators work, affirm their disposition for the profession, increase their skills and knowledge base, and build a professional network.

IU music education faculty are leaders in their fields. Their scholarship has been published in leading journals and books, and they have given hundreds of invited lectures on topics ranging from the history of music education to the role of music in society. Their scholarly activities and service to the music education community have been recognized with prestigious awards.

Students who pursue a master’s degree in music education may choose either a coursework-only program or one that culminates in the writing of a thesis. Those who choose the thesis option must complete at least six semester hours of 600-level courses (MUS 603, MUS 690, and MUS 695) and have their research supervised by a member of the music education faculty. Students must also complete two semesters of 500-level courses (MUS 501, MUS 590, and MUS 595) or equivalent in their area of specialization.

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Music Education: Challenges and Rewards

Is Music Education Hard?

If you love music and want to teach it to others then music education is a great choice. Music educators can teach any instrument or voice, from band to orchestra and choirs.

Music education helps build students self-esteem by reducing their anxiety and fear about public performance. The boost in confidence stays with them throughout their lives.

It’s as difficult as you make it.

Music is a complex and multifaceted subject that can be as easy or hard as you make it. It’s a major that requires a lot of time and energy, and many students struggle with finding the balance between academic work, practicing their instrument, social life, etc. But if you’re dedicated and have the right temperament, it can be a very rewarding experience.

Musical training stimulates multiple areas of the brain, creating a cognitive symphony of neural connections. Research shows that musicians have better verbal abilities and better overall cognitive function than people who don’t play an instrument or sing.

In addition to practicing your instrument, it’s important to take all of the required classes for a music degree, including Music Theory and History. Studying the history of your instrument’s origins will help you understand its development and how it fits in with other genres of music.

Taking music classes also allows you to experiment with different styles of learning and teaching. Some methods, like the Dalcroze method or the Kodaly approach, incorporate physical activity into lessons, while others, such as Orff Schulwerk, promote student response to music. These unique approaches can help you find the best way to instruct and teach your students.

It’s as easy as you make it.

Students who love music can make it a piece of cake. If they’re willing to work hard and set yearly or monthly goals for improvement, they can graduate with an easy music degree. Those who don’t love it will find it difficult to work through their degrees and are likely to burn out quickly.

A major problem in many schools is that teachers home in on academic subjects, pushing those with an interest in music to pay for private tuition. This makes it hard for those who aren’t able to afford it to get ahead.

Historically, musical education has focused on teaching large groups of children in marching bands with up to 200 students. This approach doesn’t allow for student creativity or a lot of flexibility. Smaller ensembles make it easier for students to express their individuality. Moreover, students are now exposed to a wide range of cultures with their own musical traditions. These experiences help them better understand the diversity of our world. This also teaches them to interact with others in a more culturally sensitive way. Lastly, it helps them to cope with the stress and anxiety of their school life. These benefits of music education are very valuable in any society.

It’s as hard as you make it.

Music education is a specialized field that requires extensive study. You must take multiple semesters of music theory, learn the names and dates of musical periods, take a foreign language (if you aren’t already), and study educational methods and techniques for teaching children. And this doesn’t even include the practice time required to perfect your own instrument!

Adding to the list of things that makes music education hard is the fact that it is difficult to keep up with school work and other major requirements while doing your musical studies. You also have to find the energy and focus for practicing, preparing class materials, and participating in student teaching. And if you have an audition coming up, it will likely take many hours to prepare for that too.

However, if you’re an obsessive person and love to be challenged by intense concentration, then this is the right field for you. The rewards for completing a music degree are tremendous. Research has shown that students who regularly participate in musical activities have a higher IQ, and they experience positive academic developments in areas such as verbal memory, spatial ability, and reading. In addition, they are 24% more likely to graduate from college. So if you’re serious about becoming a music educator, then don’t hesitate!

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