The Music Education major is designed for the gifted performer who has a special interest in sharing their musical expertise through teaching music in elementary or secondary schools. The goal of this professional preparation program is to provide prospective teachers with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for the effective teaching of music. Graduates of the program are certified to teach music N-12 in Maryland and in all other states with which Maryland shares reciprocity.
Music Education is an extension major, not a stand-alone program. It must be studied alongside an applied music major. The Music Education program awards a Bachelor of Music degree with two majors: Music Education and Performance (or Composition, Computer Music, Hip Hop, Jazz Performance, or New Media). As such, students are only admitted on the basis of a successful performance audition or composition interview in addition to their Music Education interview. Music Education students receive the same attention to their musical development (applied study, music theory, music history) as students in the performance programs at Peabody and are held to the same standard of excellence.
Program Requirements
The Music Education curriculum has specific requirements for general studies credits as mandated by state and national accrediting agencies. The Music Education department directly oversees the Liberal Arts curriculum for students in the Music Education program. To the extent that these requirements are not satisfied within the Liberal Arts curriculum required of all Peabody undergraduates, students may choose courses offered at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. Advanced Placement and transfer credits are subject to the standard procedures, found under the heading Transfer Credits in the Academic Regulations section of the catalogue, and are accepted at the discretion of the Music Education Department.
All Music Education students are required to complete 15 weeks of intern teaching in a Maryland public school under the direction of the clinical supervisor. Intern teaching forms a capstone requirement of the curriculum, and students must meet all of the prerequisites and requirements detailed in the Handbook for Intern Teaching, which is assembled and distributed by the Music Education Department.
The following requirements are for the Music Education extension major. These must be added to the requirements for whatever the applied music major is. Introduction to Psychology and US History double count as Liberal Arts electives in the applied music major. Music Education courses may also satisfy general electives in the applied music major.
Music Education majors specialize in either Instrumental or General/Vocal education. The requirements are split between two charts below - the courses common to both specializations followed by the course required for each specialization.
For common requirements, please see the Bachelor of Music Degree page.
Common to Both Specializations
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PY.510.112 | Introduction to Music Education | 1 |
| PY.510.237 & PY.510.238 | Conducting the Secondary Choral Ensemble 1 and Conducting the Secondary Instrumental Ensemble 1 | 4 |
| PY.510.337 | Conducting the Secondary Choral Ensemble 2 | 2 |
| PY.510.311 | Techniques for Teaching Elementary General Music | 3 |
| ED.884.508 | Literacy in the Content Areas Part I | 3 |
| PY.510.414 | Music & the Neurodiverse Learner | 3 |
| PY.510.411 | Intern Teaching | 6 |
| PY.510.441 | Intern Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| PY.260.261 | Introduction to Psychology 1 | 3 |
| PY.260.xxx | 1 US History Liberal Arts Elective 1 | 3 |
| PY.010.100 | Minor Lesson 1/2 Hour 2 | 1 |
| PY.510.425 | Capstone and Licensure Seminar | 1 |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
- 1
Intro to Psychology and US History double count as Liberal Arts electives in the applied music major.
- 2
Students double majoring in Composition and Music Education need two (2) credits of Minor Lessons.
Instrumental Specialization - add to the above
53 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PY.510.120 | Basic Vocal Pedagogy | 1 |
| PY.510.211 | Brass Class | 2 |
| PY.510.212 | Woodwinds Class | 3 |
| PY.510.223 | Percussion Class | 2 |
| PY.510.324 | Strings Class | 3 |
| PY.510.338 | Conducting the Secondary Instrumental Ensemble 2 | 2 |
| PY.510.312 | Progressive Methods: Instrumental Music | 3 |
| PY.710.412 | Instrumentation & Arranging | 3 |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
General/Vocal Specialization - add to the above
38 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PY.510.213 | Basic Instrumental Pedagogy | 1 |
| PY.510.314 | Progressive Methods: Secondary General/Vocal Music | 3 |
| Total Credits | 4 | |
The sample programs for both specializations are mapped below. These should be added to the sample program for the applied music major. The applied music major sample program will need to be adjusted to fit everything. Work with an advisor. During the first semester of the fourth year, music education students will be student teaching every day. Courses appearing in the applied music major's fourth year, first semester must be moved earlier in the program. Other than Major Lessons, any courses required every semester (e.g., Ensembles for Orchestral performers or Seminars for Composition, Computer Music, and Music for New Media students) are waived for that semester. Major Lessons are still taken while student teaching.
Sample Program of Study - Instrumental Specialization
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| PY.260.261 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.510.112 | Introduction to Music Education | 1 |
| PY.510.120 | Basic Vocal Pedagogy | 1 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PY.510.212 | Woodwinds Class | 3 |
| PY.510.237 | Conducting the Secondary Choral Ensemble 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.510.211 | Brass Class | 2 |
| PY.510.223 | Percussion Class | 2 |
| PY.510.238 | Conducting the Secondary Instrumental Ensemble 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PY.010.100 | Minor Lesson 1/2 Hour | 1 |
| PY.510.337 | Conducting the Secondary Choral Ensemble 2 | 2 |
| PY.510.311 | Techniques for Teaching Elementary General Music | 3 |
| PY.510.324 | Strings Class | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.510.312 | Progressive Methods: Instrumental Music | 3 |
| PY.510.338 | Conducting the Secondary Instrumental Ensemble 2 | 2 |
| PY.510.414 | Music & the Neurodiverse Learner | 3 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ED.884.508 | Literacy in the Content Areas Part I | 3 |
| PY.510.411 | Intern Teaching | 6 |
| PY.510.441 | Intern Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.510.425 | Capstone and Licensure Seminar | 1 |
| PY.710.412 | Instrumentation & Arranging | 3 |
| PY.260.xxx | US History / Liberal Arts | 3 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
Sample Program of Study - Vocal Specialization
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| PY.260.261 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.510.112 | Introduction to Music Education | 1 |
| PY.510.213 | Basic Instrumental Pedagogy | 1 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PY.510.237 | Conducting the Secondary Choral Ensemble 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.510.238 | Conducting the Secondary Instrumental Ensemble 1 | 2 |
| PY.010.100 | Minor Lesson 1/2 Hour | 1 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PY.510.337 | Conducting the Secondary Choral Ensemble 2 | 2 |
| PY.510.311 | Techniques for Teaching Elementary General Music | 3 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.510.314 | Progressive Methods: Secondary General/Vocal Music | 3 |
| PY.510.414 | Music & the Neurodiverse Learner | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ED.884.508 | Literacy in the Content Areas Part I | 3 |
| PY.510.411 | Intern Teaching | 6 |
| PY.510.441 | Intern Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.510.425 | Capstone and Licensure Seminar | 1 |
| PY.260.xxx | US History / Liberal Arts | 3 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 35 | |