Music Education Major

Children discover their creativity, rhythm and voice by learning music in school—are you ready to be the one to teach them?

What You'll Study

With the opportunity to choose your concentration in our Music Education major, you'll build your degree to fit your interests and career goals as a future educator.

Combining coursework from the Dana School of Music and YSU's Beeghly College of Education, you'll be exposed to many issues regarding teaching in the classroom, such as special education and psychology, as well as a solid foundation in music studies.

The music faculty and staff are dedicated to your musical growth. As a freshman, you will take an exam to test your skills in musicianship. Your private lessons, ensembles and courses in music history and other topics will help you build a well-rounded education within a university setting. 

Major

You have the option to choose from the three tracks below. You will complete your degree with the required education licensure classes.

  • Keyboard Track

    You'll take courses in accompaniment, voice, methods and musicianship to assist in your career choice. Combined with the core courses, the program can be completed in 102 credit hours.

    Course Listing

  • Voice Track

    Courses in pedagogy and diction will prepare you to teach voice in an educational or private setting and succeed as a performer. Combined with the core courses, the program can be completed in 103 credit hours. 

    Course Listing

  • Instrumental Track

    This concentration allows you to focus primarily on methods used in music education, including keyboard musicianship and ensemble. Along with core courses and four classes within the instrumental track, the program can be completed in 103 credit hours.

    Course Listing

Minor

  • Music Minor

    Designed to help you further study an instrument or voice, the Music minor is set up to offer coursework related to your interests.

    Upon successful completion of an audition, you'll be enrolled in the 18-credit hour minor. Adding a music component to your degree will allow you to explore creative options for employment when you graduate.

    Courses are set up to give you the opportunity to personalize your minor. You'll start out with musicianship and lab theory classes, then move on to choose 14 credit hours of classes that fit your interest. Areas to choose from range from jazz, rock 'n' roll and popular music.

    Course Listing

Internships and Jobs

OUR GRADUATES WORK FOR:

  • Boardman Local Schools
  • Youngstown City Schools
  • Conneaut Area City Schools
  • Motter's Music
  • Northwestern University
  • Eastman School of Music
  • University of Florida
  • University of Illinois
  • Ithaca College
  • Carnegie Mellon University

One More Thing

“The Dana School of Music helped prepare me to be a music educator in many ways. The professors went above and beyond expectations by offering their expertise and making sure each student achieved their full potential. I was able to get first hand experience in the field, and many classes gave me perspective on what it's like to have a career in music.”

Jacqueline Mortimer, class of 2017