Pre-Teaching Major (B.M.)

The B.M. pre-teaching degree is the program of choice for most students seeking a five-year, combined bachelor's and master's degree program that includes certification to teach music in the public schools. Students will complete all of the skill and knowledge content requirements in this undergraduate program leaving a year-long internship and some advanced study in music and education for the fifth year.

Students applying to the Master of Arts in Teaching program need a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or better to ensure admission to the graduate school. Therefore, students typically apply first to UNH as a B.M. music education major and switch to this B.M. pre-teaching degree in their junior or senior year.

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Pre-Teaching: Choral

Pre-Teaching: Instrumental

¹

Performing Ensembles are specified in the catalog.

Degree Requirements

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of the major. B.M. in music majors may use MUSI 502 Musics in Context to satisfy the Inquiry Discovery category requirement, and MUSI 515 Music in World Cultures to satisfy the World Cultures Discovery category requirement. Additionally, B.M. music education and pre-teaching majors may use MUSI 501 The Western Musical Canon to satisfy the Fine and Performing Arts 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 pre-teaching option, a half recital is required.

Music requirements must receive a grade of C- or better.

¹

Students will be given the opportunity to test out of MUSI 471 Theory I, MUSI 475 Functional Piano I, MUSI 476 Functional Piano I and MUSI 575 Functional Piano II, MUSI 576 Functional Piano II.

Bachelor of Music Pre-Teaching Curriculum

Degree program has final approval from the National Association of Schools of Music.

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 Education program are required to complete 8 credits of ensemble; a maximum of 8 ensemble credits may be counted towards graduation. Students will enroll in one conducted ensemble (MUSI 450 Symphony, MUSI 452 Wind Symphony,MUSI 453 Symphonic Band, MUSI 441 Concert Choir, MUSI 442 Chamber Singers, MUSI 460 Jazz Band, MUSI 454 UNH Marching Band) in every semester of their enrollment at UNH.

6 of these required ensembles must be on the student’s primary instrument and 4 credits must be in a traditional conducted ensemble (MUSI 450 Symphony, MUSI 452 Wind Symphony, MUSI 453 Symphonic Band, MUSI 441 Concert Choir). For instrumentalists, at least 1 semester of participation in MUSI 454 UNH Marching Band) and MUSI 460 Jazz Band are highly desirable.

⁶

Guitar music education majors will take four semesters of MUSI 464 Guitar Ensemble and four semesters of a traditional conducted ensemble (MUSI 450 Symphony, MUSI 452 Wind Symphony, MUSI 453 Symphonic Band, MUSI 441 Concert Choir). Therefore, guitarists have a minimum of only 4 semesters required on their primary instrument.

⁷

Piano music education majors will take four semesters of MUSI 455 Collaborative Piano and four semesters of a traditional conducted ensemble (MUSI 450 Symphony, MUSI 452 Wind Symphony, MUSI 453 Symphonic Band, MUSI 441 Concert Choir). Therefore, pianists have a minimum of only 4 semesters required on their primary instrument.

Program Learning Outcomes

• 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.