Student Teaching Handbook
Use these checklists to track your completion of major requirements. Always check with your advisor if you have any questions.
Music Education Major (B.M.)
Music Education Major (B.M.)
What is a Bachelor of Music in music education?
Educators inspire and change students’ lives. If you want to teach music in a K-12 setting, the Bachelor of Music in music education degree qualifies you for certification in New Hampshire and neighboring states in only four years’ time. Students demonstrating musical skill and a firm commitment to leading school students to artistic success may be admitted to this program. You’ll study music performance, theory, analysis and history, as well as teaching methods and human development. You’ll be able to select an emphasis in vocal or instrumental music. Come prepare yourself to share your love of music through teaching!
Why study music education at UNH?
Music education is central to what we do. Approximately two-thirds of our students are music education majors, and all recent graduates who have sought employment as teachers have been successful. At UNH, you’ll work with renowned faculty who had significant careers as K-12 music educators. Your coursework will cover both the theory and practice of teaching, and you’ll gain valuable teaching experience through programs like Summer Youth Music School and the UNH Youth Band and Youth Orchestras. You’ll hone your own personal musicianship through private study, chamber music and some of the best performing ensembles in the region.
Potential Careers
- Arts nonprofit team member or director
- K-12 music teacher
- Music education and outreach director
- Private lesson instructor
- Professional performer
- School music administrator
Department of Music
Paul Creative Arts Center
30 Academic Way
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-2404
Fax: (603) 862-3155
E-mail: music.info@unh.edu
Curriculum & Requirements
The B.M. music education is the traditional program of choice for students seeking a career as a school music teacher. The bachelor of music degree in music education provides a route to undergraduate certification leading to state of New Hampshire teacher certification in music, grades K-12 (cert. #612.13). New Hampshire also participates in a reciprocal agreement with many other states: the Interstate Certification Compact.
Successful applicants must demonstrate a high degree of musical competence and promise of future growth as a performer. A firm commitment to leading school musicians to artistic success is expected, as is a willingness to acquire the breadth of skills required for K-12 music certification. Continuation in the B.M. music education program is made with the recommendation of the appropriate faculty members and contingent upon personal commitment to the teacher licensure program.
Students interested in a five-year, bachelor/masters degree program typically complete the B.M pre-teaching (described elsewhere) as an undergraduate and apply to the UNH Department of Education for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (Secondary) degree program.
Students in music education must maintain an overall minimum 2.8 grade-point average at the time of application for student teaching (February 15 of junior year). Any education course taken for a teacher licensure requirement must be completed with a B- or better.
B.M. music education majors may use MUSI 501 The Western Musical Canon (a required core course for the major) to satisfy the Fine and Performing Arts Discovery category requirement. In addition, they may use MUSI 502 Musics in Context (a required core course for the major) to satisfy the Inquiry Discovery category requirement, and MUSI 515 Music in World Cultures (a required core course for the major) to satisfy the World Cultures Discovery category requirement.
All bachelor of music students are required to give a public performance during their senior year, which fulfills the Discovery Program capstone requirement:
- For students in the music education option, a half recital is required.
The four-year bachelor of music in music education curriculum is highly structured due to the number of required courses to complete. In the table below is the list of additional classes required to earn a degree and a certificate to teach. Students may elect a vocal/choral or instrumental emphasis. See curriculum chart for differing requirements.
Bachelor of Music Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSI 471 & MUSI 472 | Theory I and Theory I | 6 |
| MUSI 473 & MUSI 474 | Ear Training I and Ear Training I | 2 |
| MUSI 475 & MUSI 476 | Functional Piano I and Functional Piano I 1 | 2 |
| MUSI 571 & MUSI 572 | Theory II and Theory II | 6 |
| MUSI 573 & MUSI 574 | Ear Training II and Ear Training II | 2 |
| MUSI 575 & MUSI 576 | Functional Piano II and Functional Piano II 1 | 2 |
| MUSI 501 & MUSI 502 | The Western Musical Canon and Musics in Context | 6 |
| MUSI 515 | Music in World Cultures | 4 |
| MUSI 540 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUSI 731 | Conducting | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MUSI 703 | Music of the Renaissance | |
MUSI 705 | Music of the Baroque | |
MUSI 707 | Music of the Classical Period | |
MUSI 709W | Music of the Romantic Period | |
MUSI 711 | Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries | |
MUSI 713 | Art Song | |
MUSI #715 | Survey of Opera | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MUSI 771 | Counterpoint | |
MUSI 781W | Analysis: Form and Structure | |
MUSI #782W | Analysis: Form and Structure | |
| Performance Study (Applied Lessons): select from the following courses | Variable | |
MUSI 541, MUSI 545, MUSI 546, MUSI 547, MUSI 548, MUSI 549, MUSI 550, MUSI 551, MUSI 552, MUSI 553, MUSI 554, MUSI 555, MUSI 556, MUSI 557, MUSI 558, MUSI 559, MUSI 560, MUSI 561, MUSI 562, MUSI 563, MUSI 564, MUSI 741, MUSI 745, MUSI 746, MUSI 747, MUSI 748, MUSI 749, MUSI 751, MUSI 752, MUSI 753, MUSI 754, MUSI 755, MUSI 756, MUSI 757, MUSI 758, MUSI 759, MUSI 760, MUSI 761, MUSI 762, MUSI 763, MUSI 764 | ||
| Performing Ensemble: select from the following courses | Variable | |
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 451, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464 | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
- 1
Students will be given the opportunity to test out of MUSI 475 Functional Piano I, MUSI 476 Functional Piano I and MUSI 575 Functional Piano II, MUSI 576 Functional Piano II.
Bachelor of Music in Music Education Curriculum
Degree program has final approval from the National Association of Schools of Music.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUED 741 | Techniques and Methods in Choral Music | 2 |
| MUED 745 | Techniques and Methods in String Instruments | 2 |
| MUED 747 | Techniques and Methods in Woodwind Instruments 1 | 2-3 |
| MUED 749 | Techniques and Methods in Brass Instruments | 2 |
| MUED 751 | Techniques and Methods in Percussion Instruments | 2 |
| MUED 755 | Vocal Pedagogy 2 | 2 |
| MUED 765 | Instrumental Music Methods 3 | 2 |
| MUED 790 | Teaching Elementary School Music | 3 |
| MUED 791 | Teaching Secondary School Music | 2 |
| MUSI 520 | Diction for Singers I 4 | 2 |
| MUSI 732 | Conducting | 2 |
| MUSI 779 | Reading and Writing Musical Scores | 3 |
| Performance Study (Applied Lessons): select from the following courses | 8 | |
MUSI 541, MUSI 545, MUSI 546, MUSI 547, MUSI 548, MUSI 549, MUSI 550, MUSI 551, MUSI 552, MUSI 553, MUSI 554, MUSI 555, MUSI 556, MUSI 557, MUSI 558, MUSI 559, MUSI 560, MUSI 561, MUSI 562, MUSI 563, MUSI 564, MUSI 741, MUSI 745, MUSI 746, MUSI 747, MUSI 748, MUSI 749, MUSI 751, MUSI 752, MUSI 753, MUSI 754, MUSI 755, MUSI 756, MUSI 757, MUSI 758, MUSI 759, MUSI 760, MUSI 761, MUSI 762, MUSI 763, MUSI 764 | ||
| Performing Ensemble: select from the following courses 5 | 8 | |
MUSI 441, MUSI 442, MUSI 448, MUSI 450, MUSI 451, MUSI 452, MUSI 453, MUSI 454, MUSI 455, MUSI 456, MUSI 457, MUSI 459, MUSI 460, MUSI 462, MUSI 463, MUSI 464 | ||
| EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching | 4 |
| EDUC 605 | Educational Perspectives in Critical Times | 4 |
| EDUC 701 | Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives | 4 |
| EDUC 751B | Methods of Inclusive Secondary Education: Literacies, Learning, and Transitions | 4 |
| EDUC 694 | Courses in Supervised Teaching | 8 |
| Total Credits | 66-67 | |
- 1
Vocal track students take 2 credits. Instrumental track students take 3 credits.
- 2
Required for Vocal track.
- 3
Required for Instrumental track.
- 4
Required for Vocal track.
- 5
Students in the bachelor of music in music education degree program may use a maximum of 8 ensemble credits toward graduation. Of the 8 credits in ensemble performance (MUSI 441 Concert Choir-MUSI 464 Guitar Ensemble) required during the course of study, it is required that at least 4 credits will be from the following: Concert Choir (MUSI 441 Concert Choir), Symphony (MUSI 450 Symphony), Wind Symphony (MUSI 452 Wind Symphony), Symphonic Band (MUSI 453 Symphonic Band), and/or Concert Band (MUSI 451 Concert Band). At least 1 credit of performance in a jazz ensemble (MUSI 460 Jazz Band) and 1 credit of Marching Band (MUSI 454 UNH Marching Band) are highly desirable.
Junior Standing in Music Education
Recognition of adequate completion of fundamental academic and musical competencies shall earn students declared for the Bachelor of Music: Music Education the title Junior Standing. Students will not receive permission to register for the upper-level music education methods courses (MUED 765, MUED 790, MUED 791) without such recognition. Two of the steps required for recognition are the submission of passing scores on the PRAXIS: Core Academic Skills for Educators tests (scores will be sent directly to the Department of Education) and clearance of the Criminal Background Check as conducted by the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety. Results will be sent directly to the music education coordinator in the Department of Music. There is a charge for each of these steps assessed by the providers. Current students may follow the catalog corresponding to their matriculation year or follow the proposed changes.
Junior Standing Requirements
- Criminal Background Check
- Academic Standing
- 2.8 overall grade point average
- Pass PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators Test
- Aural Skills: Complete MUSI 574 Ear Training II with a grade of C- or better and a departmental followup assessment
- Music Performance Skills
- Pass Sophomore Performance Jury with a grade of C- or better
- Perform for at least 3 semesters as a regular member of at least one of the designated core ensembles
- Complete MUSI 576 Functional Piano II with a C- or better and a departmental followup assessment
- Complete EDUC 500 Exploring Teaching and a departmental followup assessment
- Students will exhibit the skills necessary for artistic expression at the highest possible level as defined by their particular area of concentration in solo and small ensemble (not conducted) and large ensemble (conducted) settings.
- Students will exhibit competency in musicianship and analysis through: their understanding of musical forms and processes aural, verbal and visual analyses skill in performance, academic, pedagogical, and compositional applications rudimentary ability to create derivative or original music.
- Students will demonstrate familiarity with musical literature from the formal concert repertory and from musical traditions outside of that repertory. Students will demonstrate the ability to place music in historical, cultural, and stylistic contexts.
- Students will demonstrate collegiate-level skill in the English language and competence in written and oral communication in English.
- Demonstrate the ability to use technologies current to their area of specialization for professional development and entrepreneurship, and career preparation and promotion.
- Students demonstrate ability to lead students to increased musical knowledge and advancing musical performance.
- Students demonstrate knowledge of age-appropriate vocal and instrumental pedagogy.
- Students demonstrate an understanding of best practices and applicable learning theories in music education.
- Students demonstrate the ability to prepare classes and rehearsals via score study and lesson planning that includes awareness of needed modifications.
- Students aurally discern accuracy and expressive elements in student performances.
- Students demonstrate the ability to assess their pupils’ learning and progress in conjunction with best educational practices.
- Students are able to assess the success of their own class teaching and rehearsals.
