Music Education

Program Overview

The undergraduate Music Education degree normally takes four years to complete and includes courses in music education, musicianship studies, general education, and field experiences. Each year students engage in increasingly intensive field experiences, culminating with a semester of full-time student teaching in the last year. 

All music education majors must maintain a portfolio of work providing evidence of their suitability for teaching. Portfolios are reviewed as part of the Sophomore Review taken near the completion of 60 credits. Music Education majors must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Students whose general progress is unsatisfactory or whose cumulative grade point average falls below a minimum 3.0 level may be dropped from the Music Education major. If a student is dropped from the major because of failure to maintain the minimum grade point average, s/he may apply for readmission to the Music Education department. Readmission will be dependent upon various criteria, including the G.P.A., current academic progress and the student’s general standing. Decisions regarding retention or appeals will be made in a manner consistent with state and institutional non-discrimination policies.

At the time of the sophomore portfolio, students with a high GPA and excellent writing skills may be invited into the 4+1 Bachelor of Music/Master of Music Education program. As part of this dual enrollment program, students can take master's level courses during their junior and senior years that can be applied toward their Master of Music Education degree. Many students can complete the MME degree in one additional year of study. Summer study and/or J-Term study may also be necessary. Students in this program are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above and are provided a fifth year of funding equal to their undergraduate financial package.

To graduate, students must complete all requirements for New Jersey teacher certification for Certified Educator with Advanced Standing (CEAS). Students who want to be able to apply for teaching positions in other states should become familiar with teacher certification requirements for states of interest ASAP to determine if additional coursework is needed. In addition to successfully completing required coursework, the State of New Jersey requires students to:

1. Satisfy basic skills (reading, writing, math) proficiency as a prerequisite for taking the Sophomore Review.  Proficiency is satisfied for students who score at or above the identified cut scores on the SAT or ACT. Students who do not have sufficient SAT or ACT test scores must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills tests to satisfy basic skills proficiency.

2. Complete a minimum of 50 hours of clinical experience during the first four semesters and 175 hours of clinical practice before full-time clinical practice (student teaching). 

3. Pass the Praxis Music Content Exam.

4. Pass the performance-based edTPA Exam.

For more information about non-course program requirements, see links on Undergraduate Music Education Homepage.

Curriculum Overview

The Music Education curriculum includes courses in elementary and secondary general music education, choral music education, instrumental studies, music technology and creativity, and students with special needs. An innovative four-course sequence integrates theoretical foundations of planning, teaching, assessing, and musicianship development with practical application through peer teaching and field-based music teaching. The undergraduate Music Education curriculum is intended to develop teachers who are reflective, who acknowledge the connections music has to the child’s world and who seek to promote an understanding of those connections in a social context. 

Music Education Portfolios

All Music Education majors must maintain portfolios of work providing evidence of their suitability for teaching. Portfolios of undergraduates are reviewed by the department with students when they have earned at least 60 credits as well as upon completion of ME 492. Students must pass the portfolio review to continue in the department. Portfolios of graduate students are reviewed each year.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is a full semester in duration and is usually completed during the seventh or eighth semester of study. Students may not enroll for any applied or classroom courses during the semester of student teaching, except for ME 587. In addition, students may not present or participate in recitals or choral performances or ensembles during the semester of student teaching. Further departmental policies regarding the student teaching semester are contained in the Music Education Department Handbook. Students are referred to the paragraph above which relates to registering for the student teaching semester.

Practicums and Field-based Observations

In addition to the standard student teaching semester in the senior year, a special feature of the Westminster Choir College program is the experience of observation and teaching in the context of the Art of Teaching Music courses ME 161, ME 262, ME 563 and ME 564. These combine instruction in music methods with practical experience in public school contexts. Several music education courses require students to make observations of music classes in urban, suburban, public and/or private schools.

Students must be prepared to arrange for transportation to and from practicums at a reasonable distance from the college and to sustain related expenses.

Students will be required to obtain a background clearance in an assigned school district in order to participate in a field experience. Students who have been convicted of a felony may not be approved for field experiences, and are not able to receive New Jersey State Teacher Licensure.

Degrees Offered

• B.M. in Music Education
• Dual Degree Program: B.M. in Music Education/Master of Music Education
• Certificate in Music Education

Contact

Sharon Mirchandani, PhD.
Professor and Chairperson
Department of Music Studies
Westminster Choir College
Omega House
609-896-5000 x8313
smirchandani@rider.edu

Program Website: Music Education

Associated Department: Department of Music Studies

Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Related Programs

Voice Performance 

Faculty

Sarah Perry • Assistant Professor, Music Education, 2021. B.S., Elizabethtown College; M.A., M.E., Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University.
Jason Vodicka • Associate Professor, Music Education, 2018.  B.M., M.M., Westminster Choir College of Rider University; D.M.A., University of Georgia.
G. Preston Wilson, Jr. • Assistant Professor, Music Education, 2021.  B.M., Fisk University; M.M., Bowling Green State University.

Music Education Program Requirements

(131-133 credits)

Music Education Requirements (110 credits)

CAS General Education Curriculum (21-23 credits)

Music Education Requirements 

Notes

¹

VC 115 and VC 116 are required for voice primary students only. Organ and piano primary students may substitute four additional credits of free electives for these two courses.

²

Students must successfully complete a portfolio review during the semester in which they will earn 58-60 credits in order to continue as music education majors. Transfer students with sophomore status must successfully complete the portfolio review at the end of the first year of study.

CAS General Education Curriculum

¹

Appropriate mathematics and science courses may be substituted if required by the major.  Students may also fulfill this requirement by taking an upper-level MTH course (e.g., MTH 210, MTH 211).

²

Students who choose a Psychology (PSY) course to fulfill a requirement for Scientific Perspectives may not choose a Psychology  (PSY) course to fulfill a requirement for Social Perspectives, and vice versa.

³

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of BHP classes, upper-level seminars may satisfy two different categories for the Disciplinary Perspectives. For courses that satisfy more than one DP category, BHP students much choose which general education requirement they would like the course to fulfill.

Certificate in Music Education

(9 credits)

The certificate in Music Education is intended for undergraduate students in other degree programs, both within or outside of Westminster Choir College. Students who have an interest in teaching music or intend to teach music as part of their future careers as performers, church musicians, elementary educators, etc. will be provided with the foundational knowledge needed to pursue their chosen path.  This certificate is not intended for students who will teach full-time in a public school. This certificate does not lead to any state teaching certification.

Academic Plan of Study

The following educational plan is provided as a sample only.  Rider students who do not declare a major during their freshman year; who are in a Continuing Education Program; who change their major; or those who transfer to Rider may follow a different plan to ensure a timely graduation.  Each student, with guidance from his or her academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.

¹

VC 115 and VC 116 are required for voice primary students only.  Organ and piano primary students may substitute four additional credits of free electives.

Courses and Descriptions