Music | Overview | Scholarships | Sample Schedule
68-70 credits + education coursework
Why music education - classroom & vocal track?
This program is designed to meet the needs of students who plan for a career in music teaching in the public or private schools. This comprehensive degree program meets the State of Minnesota licensure requirements for the music education K–12 classroom and vocal music, or the K–12 classroom and instrumental music areas. Please be advised that meeting the requirements of both the music major and education requirements for licensure may take more than four years; contact the program director if you are interested in the five-year combined degree program with the Master of Arts in Instruction for licensure completion.
Licensure requirements are subject to change; therefore, students considering teaching in this area should be in continuous contact with the chair of this program and the school of education for a list of required courses.
Career Options
A majority of our graduates pursue classroom teaching in public or private middle or high schools; others go on to seek advanced degrees in special education, literacy, educational administration, curriculum and instruction, school counseling or school psychology.
High School Preparation
Band/orchestra; calculus; computer science; English; Italian; literature; music history; music theory
Sample First Year Schedule
|
| Fall Semester |
Course #
| Title | Credits |
| MU130 | Music Fundamentals I | 1 |
| MU131 | Music Fundamentals II | 1 |
| MU150 | Experiencing Music | 3 |
| MU125 | Keyboard Music I | 2 |
| | Applied Lessons | 1 |
| | Music Ensemble | 0-1 |
| LCT140 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| E120 | English Composition | 3 |
| TA101 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| | 17-18 total |
| Spring Semester |
Course #
| Title | Credits |
| MU160 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MU170 | Ear Training | 1 |
| MU126 | Keyboard Music II | 2 |
| | Applied Lessons | 1 |
| | Music Ensemble | 0-1 |
| ED156 | First Aid and CPR | 1 |
| ID160 | Artscore | 2 |
| PY111 | General Psychology | 3 |
| | Disciplinary Studies Course | 3 |
| | | 16-17 total |
| For more information |
| Music Chair | Music Education Program Coordinator |
Ned Kirk, D.M.A.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #1460
Winona, MN 55987-1399
(800) 635-5987, Ext. 1513
nkirk@smumn.edu | Janet Heukeshoven, D.M.A.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #58
Winona, MN 55987-1399
(800) 635-5987, Ext. 1675
jheukesh@smumn.edu |
(From the 09-11 Catalog)
A.- B. Music Core
A. Music Core:
MU125 Keyboard Musicianship I
MU126 Keyboard Musicianship II
MU130 Music Fundamentals I*
MU131 Music Fundamentals II*
MU150 Experiencing Music
MU160 Music Theory I
MU165 Music Theory II
MU170 Ear Training I
MU175 Ear Training II
MU260 Music Theory III
MU270 Ear Training III
MU299 Sophomore Review
MU300 Electronic Music & MIDI
MU341 Music History I
MU342 Music History II
MU382 Conducting
MU383 Arranging
B. Performance Studies:
Applied Lessons: minimum of seven semesters of private lessons taken for credit on a major instrument or voice. See the Course Catalog for more information.
Ensembles: minimum of seven semesters of participation in one or more vocal or instrumental ensembles. See the Course Catalog for options.
*MU130 Music Fundamentals and MU131 Music Fundamentals II, or equivalent proficiency, are prerequisites for MU160 Music Theory I. All students take an initial placement exam to determine theory proficiency.
C. Recital Requirement:
MU390 Junior Recital
D. Music education methods requirements (either MU429 or MU430):
MU191 Guitar Class (or demonstrate proficiency)
MU240 Percussion Methods
MU241 Brass Methods
MU242 Woodwind Methods
MU243 String Methods
MU429 Teaching Music K-6
MU430 Teaching Music 7-12
E. Complete a minimum of 1 semester of dance, including but not limited to ballet, tap, jazz or Irish dance.
F. Two electives from:
MU451-469 Seminar/Special Topics in music education
G. The following courses:
MU374 Vocal Pedagogy
MU375 Vocal Literature
H. Required education course work
Click on courses below for descriptions
MU125 Keyboard Musicianship I (2 credits)This course is an introduction to the keyboard for music majors with limited keyboard background. Emphasis is on functional skills such as reading, transposing, harmonizing, improvising, and playing by ear, along with keyboard theory, technique, and repertoire.
A grade of "C" or higher in both the final exam and course are required to fulfill the piano proficiency requirement.
Offered in alternate fall semesters.
Prerequisite: music majors only.
MU126 Keyboard Musicianship II (2 credits)This course is a continuation of Keyboard Musicianship I with further development of keyboard skills focused on raising the level of technical proficiency and increasing the students’ competence in keyboard improvisation, harmonization, sight reading, and scales.
Prerequisites:
- MU125 Keyboard Musicianship I
A grade of "C" or higher in both the final exam and course are required to fulfill the piano proficiency requirement.
Offered in alternate spring semesters.
Music majors only.
MU130 Music Fundamentals I (1 credit)This course is designed to be an introduction to music reading and understanding. The fundamentals of pitch and rhythm are covered along with ear training and score reading in this computer-assisted course.
MU150 Experiencing Music (3 credits)This course is designed to stimulate interest in and enjoyment of music from its beginnings through medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th century styles, including various styles of non-Western music.
This course is required for music majors and minors but is open to non-majors with the instructor's permission.
MU160 Music Theory I (3 credits)This course is designed for students interested in increasing their knowledge of the basic elements of music. Concepts covered include: keys, scales, simple and compound rhythms, intervals, triads, 7th chords, principles of voice leading, harmonic progression, cadences, phrases and periods.
Prerequisites:
- MU130 Music Fundamentals I
- MU131 Music Fundamentals II
MU165 Music Theory II (3 credits)This course is a continuation of Music Theory I. Concepts covered are non-chord tones, use of triad inversions, secondary functions, modulation, binary and ternary forms, mode mixture.
MU170 Ear Training I (2 credits)This is a lab course. The objective of this course is to develop aural skills involving melody, rhythm and harmony. Concepts covered include: identification of intervals, scales, triads, sight-singing and one voice melodic and rhythmic dictations.
MU175 Ear Training II (2 credits)This is a lab course and is a continuation of Ear Training I. The objective of this course is to continue to develop aural skills involving melody, rhythm and harmony. Concepts covered include: sight-singing, advanced one voice dictation, simple two voice dictation, identification of chord structures, error detection and simple harmonic dictation.
MU191 Guitar Class (1 credit)A practical introduction to the guitar designed for beginning students. Basic technique, chords, styles and simple melodies are covered.
Recommended for Music Education majors.
MU240 Percussion Methods (2 credits)Please contact the department chair for more information.
Offered in alternate fall semesters.
MU241 Brass Methods (2 credits)Please contact the department chair for more information.
Offered in alternate spring semesters.
MU242 Woodwind Methods (2 credits)Please contact the department chair for more information.
Offered in alternate fall semesters.
MU243 String Methods (2 credits)These courses are designed to acquaint the music student with the materials, techniques and problems involved in the teaching, conducting and performance of the various instruments.
Required for music education majors.
Offered in alternate spring semesters.
MU260 Music Theory III (3 credits)This course is a continuation of Music Theory II. Music Theory III, along with its predecessors, Music Theory I-II, enables the student to think critically about music of all periods and styles. The course teaches the student the technical vocabulary to discuss music with other music professionals, and how to approach music intellectually to enhance the understanding and performance of the music. Concepts covered include Neapolitan and Augmented Sixth chords, Sonata form, Rondo, Sonata-Rondo and Fugue.
MU270 Ear Training III (2 credits)This is a lab course and is a continuation of Ear Training II. The objective of this course is to continue to develop aural skills involving melody, rhythm and harmony. Concepts covered include: complex one voice dictation, two voice dictation, harmonic dictation and complex sight singing.
MU299 Sophomore Review (0 credits)A comprehensive review of transcripts, a portfolio of work, and a juried performance examination normally occurring during the second semester of the sophomore year.
MU300 Introduction to Electronic Music & MIDI (0 credits)This course is intended to give students an introduction to the history of electronic music, MIDI applications including computer interfacing, and provide an introduction to music scoring, editing, recording and printing music using computers, music education software and music resources on the internet.
MU341 Music History I (3 credits)This course is a writing intensive study of music history covering ancient, medieval, renaissance, and baroque western art music. A basic understanding of the history of western civilization is expected.
Offered in alternate fall semesters.
Prerequisites: MU130 or equivalent, and MU150.
MU342 Music History II (3 credits)This course is a continuation of MU341. It is a writing intensive study of music history continuing through the classical, romantic and contemporary periods.
Offered in alternate spring semesters.
MU374 Vocal Pedagogy (3 credits)This course is a survey of techniques and problems of voice instruction for individuals and vocal groups.
Offered in alternate fall semesters.
Prerequisites: MU181 and/or two semesters of private voice study.
Required for classroom/vocal education majors.
MU375 Vocal Literature (3 credits)This course is designed to help potential teachers choose literature for all types of voices.
Offered in alternate spring semesters.
MU382 Conducting (3 credits)This is an advanced course designed for students who plan to conduct instrumental and choral groups in private and public schools, churches, communities.
Offered in alternate spring semesters.
Prerequisite: MU160 or equivalent.
MU383 Arranging (3 credits)This course presents a detailed study of the major instrument families and the human voice, and how to score and arrange for them.
Prerequisites:
- MU160 Music Theory I
- MU300 Introduction to Electronic Music & MIDI
MU390 Junior (Half) Recital (1 credit)The half recital is required for music performance majors as a preparation for senior recital and for music education majors.
MU429 Teaching Music K–6 (3 credits)This course content includes current methodologies, teaching strategies, procedures and resources specific to elementary and middle school music teaching.
Offered in alternate fall semesters.
MU430 Teaching Music 7–12 (3 credits)This course includes resources, methodology, strategies, and procedures for meeting problems specific to teaching music at the middle and secondary level.
Offered in alternate spring semesters.
MU451-469 Special Topics (1-3 credits)Special topics may be offered depending on student and faculty interests. Past topics have included advanced conducting, chamber music literature and current issues in music education.