School of Fine and Performing Arts

Bachelor of Music in Music Education

photo of students and a professor in a music class

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Why Choose Music Education?

You love music and you understand the power it has in changing lives. Music can bring beauty and energy to a school, to a community, to students, and you want to be a part of that. Music teachers help people find ways to express themselves and to experience and appreciate their culture and other cultures. Music education has had an impact on your life, and you want to be a part of that impact on the lives of your students.

You can prepare for a career in music education by earning a Bachelor of Music degree in the largest program in Wright State's School of Fine and Performing Arts. Faculty members with years of elementary and secondary teaching experience will share their expertise with you in a comprehensive program that offers you a working knowledge of pedagogy and literature. In addition, Wright State is positioned in a region rich with opportunities for you to gain valuable experience working with the teaching staffs of area marching bands and winter drumlines, assisting with school musicals and show choirs, coaching chamber ensembles, and teaching private lessons at local schools, and conducting and accompanying church choirs. Our students are frequently involved in WGI internships and performing in WGI and DCI ensembles which are all right here while you are earning your degree.

Wright State University's programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, fully approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and meet the requirements for the Ohio Department of Education 4 Year Resident Educator teaching license. Our Music Education degree program will help you meet the licensure and certification requirements of all US states and territories and many international teaching programs.
 

Message from the Coordinator

photo of bill jobertWelcome to Music Education at Wright State University. My name is Bill Jobert and I serve as Coordinator of Music Education. Our program emphasizes a comprehensive approach to learning, encouraging music majors to apply their knowledge of pedagogy, literature, conducting into project-based outcomes. Our program allows students to design tailored opportunities that add value to their education career goals while staying focused on the fundamentals of teaching. Music Education majors are able to choose between a Senior Recital and a Senior Portfolio the capstone to the Music Education degree. 

Graduates from our program teach in successful music programs throughout Ohio, and in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Internationally we have students using their music education degrees to teach in China and Japan and our students earn graduate assistantships and fellowships at universities across the country.

We hope you will give Wright State a close look as you make your decisions to pursue a degree in music education and I hope you will contact me with questions about your future career.

Sincerely,
Bill Jobert
Lecturer of Bassoon
Coordinator of Music Education
Faculty Advisor to Phi Mu Alpha
William.Jobert@wright.edu
513 594 3498


Careers

Our Music Education graduates work in a variety of music education, music administration, and music performance careers:

  • Music Education: Our graduates can be found teaching music across Ohio as well as in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, South Carolina, California, Colorado, and North Carolina, and Indiana. Internationally we have students using their music education degree to teach in China, Macau, and Japan.
     
  • College Music Professors: We have Wright State music education graduates teaching at colleges in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.
     
  • Worship and music leader: Many of our alumni use their music education degrees to direct church choirs and worship ensembles and to lead youth ministries.
     
  • Directors and Techs in WGI and DCI ensembles
     
  • Music Administrators: Our graduates have more frequently been moving into internships and art management careers with regional arts programs such as the Springboro Youth Symphony and Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. We also have several of our music education alumni who now serve as district arts coordinators and as principals in their school districts.
     
  • Private Music Instructors: We have many graduates who have become music entrepreneurs creating their own businesses teaching private lessons, establishing music studios, and opening area musical theater programs.

Success Stories

Kyle Young has taught music and direct band programs at Fairborn High School, Mason City School District and Carmel High School in Indiana.
During a study abroad and service-learning trip to Jamaica, Katie Schmidt taught students singing and how to play the recorder.

Academics and Curriculum

View the Bachelor of Music in Music Education program information, degree requirements, and graduation planning strategy in the Academic Catalog.

Music Education GPA Standards (PDF)

All Music Education degrees at Wright State lead to Ohio K-12 Music Certification.


Admission

  1. To be a student of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, you must also apply and be accepted into Wright State. Review the admission requirements and complete the admission application.
  2. Apply to the Music Program. To apply to the School of Fine and Performing Arts, fill out and submit the undergraduate application.
  3. Prepare for your audition. Review the audition requirements for your instrument and detailed information about your audition day.

Students who plan to become music education majors will enter the university listed as B.A.-Music whether they are transfer students or incoming freshmen. Only after successful passage of all the elements of the Sophomore Music Education Board can students be listed officially in the degree audit as B.M.-Music Education. Learn more about Sophomore Music Education Board, the admission gateway program. 


Faculty

The Music Education Committee is made up of the faculty members who teach our conducting courses, music pedagogy courses, and music education sequenced courses. These faculty members represent years of elementary and secondary music teaching experience and continue to work with students of all ages through honor bands and choirs, summer music camps, marching bands, children’s choirs, and private studio teaching. Every year members of the Music Education Committee present education clinics at OMEA and other state and national conferences. All of these professors are passionate about the work they do as music educators.

Music Education Committee Members

 

 


Take the Next Step

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