Music Education
The Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) develops students' skills in planning and delivering instruction in instrumental, vocal and general music education classrooms. The curriculum emphasizes both the theoretical and practical elements of human behavior, musical and otherwise, and integrates with this core a variety of learning experiences that prepare the pre-service teacher for the classroom medium. Among these is a broad spectrum of learning experiences both at KU and in area classrooms. These include planning and delivering instruction, classroom management, conducting, assessment, and curriculum design. Within the curriculum, individual emphases are reflected in the choice of major performance medium and performance ensembles. The goal of the music education curriculum is to prepare the student for success in the profession.
Advising
Students admitted to the music education program will be assigned an appropriate academic faculty mentor to work with the student throughout their academic career. Students are expected to consult with their faculty mentor each semester to plan enrollment for the next semester. The faculty mentor is available to help, to suggest ways to avoid course conflicts, to recommend courses particularly beneficial for various emphases, and to offer career guidance. The responsibility for taking appropriate courses and for meeting other requirements rests upon the student. Information regarding all requirements is in writing and available to students. Lack of knowledge of any requirement does not free the student from meeting that requirement. All students must sign up for a graduation check with the School of Music Student Services Office in 460 Murphy Hall one year prior to their graduation date.
Regardless of applied performance medium, each entering student should be able to sing independently, in tune, and with acceptable tone quality. Functional keyboard skills (accompanying, playing by ear, improvising, and transposing) are helpful. Experience working with others is also beneficial as well. Well-developed interpersonal skills are an asset.
Students are strongly encouraged to read the B.M.E. handbook, which is available on the School of Music website and from the Student Services Office, 460 Murphy Hall, and provides detailed procedures, suggestions, and specifications.
Music Education Program
This program provides full preparation for entry into the profession. It leads to the Bachelor of Music Education and eligibility for licensure to teach vocal, instrumental, and general music in grades pre-K through 12 in the state of Kansas. The program typically requires eight semesters of full-time work, which includes a semester of student teaching and internship in the public schools.
Music Teacher Licensure Program
Teacher licensure in Kansas is a function of the Kansas State Board of Education. Individuals who complete an approved music teacher licensure program are recommended to the state for licensure in music for grades pre-K through 12. Students must meet additional state requirements, such as passing specified standardized tests, before licenses are granted. Contact the Student Services Office, 450 Murphy Hall, for information.
Admission
Students must meet or exceed the School of Music academic admission requirements and successfully complete a major performance medium audition to be admitted. Students should declare the B.M.E. as their major on the KU application for admission. Music education majors are in plan BME in the School of Music.
Students pursuing the B.M.E. must apply for admission to the professional sequence by the first Monday in February of the sophomore year. Transfer students with more than 45 hours of transfer credit must complete this application the first semester of classes at KU. Students may not enroll in courses in the professional sequence before formal approval from the area coordinator of music education. Music education majors who have been admitted to the professional sequence are in plan MEPS-BME in the School of Music.
Students must be admitted to the music education professional sequence to enroll in upper-division music education courses. See the Music Education Undergraduate Program Handbook for details.
No student may be admitted to the music education professional sequence for a semester during which he or she is on academic probation. The application form for music education professional sequence admission is distributed to students prior to their time to apply. Information about the application process may be found on the KU School of Music website.
Ensemble Policy
The Ensemble Policy applies to:
- All undergraduate students who enroll in any level of voice lessons.
- All undergraduate and master’s students who enroll in any level of lessons on a brass, jazz, percussion, piano, string, or woodwind instrument.
Applicable students must audition for and perform in a major ensemble, as assigned, on their primary instrument/voice each semester in which they are enrolled in lessons. Most music majors are required to enroll in one ensemble for 1 credit each semester. If a student chooses to enroll in additional ensembles beyond their degree requirements, they may enroll for zero credits. Except as noted below, exceptions to this policy are allowed on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the major ensemble conductor, in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor and applied faculty member. Students who receive a music scholarship or a GTA position may have additional responsibilities regarding ensemble participation.
Major ensembles include: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band; Chamber Choir, KU Glee, Treble Choir, and University Singers; Jazz Ensemble I; and Symphony Orchestra. University Band, Oread Singers, Jazz Ensembles II and III, and Philharmonic Orchestra will satisfy this requirement only if the student is placed in those ensembles by audition.
BA-Composition and BA-Music Production & Technology majors: Jazz combos and other small ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by either their applied faculty member and their faculty mentor (Composition) or the Director of Jazz and Commercial Music (MPT).
BM-Composition majors: Other ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by their faculty mentor (Composition).
BA-Performance (Piano) and BM-Performance (Piano) majors: Small ensembles can satisfy this requirement, with approval from the student’s faculty mentor, applied faculty member and the course instructor.
BFA-Theatre & Voice and BM-Performance (Voice) majors: Opera Production can satisfy this requirement, if the student accepts a major role in the production. This exception must be documented through a course substitution petition. As noted above, students may choose to enroll in additional ensembles.
BMT majors: Additional ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by the Area Coordinator for Music Therapy.
Undergraduate Admission to the School of Music
Students who wish to major in music must audition. All students academically approved for admission to the School of Music are admitted contingent upon demonstration by audition of satisfactory level proficiency in their area of applied music. Further information about specific applied music areas can be found on the School of Music's Audition Information website; if you do not see your particular area of study listed there, please contact KU School of Music Recruiting <musicrecruiting@ku.edu>, to inquire about availability.
Music audition and application information is available on the School of Music website. There is a limit of two times a prospective student may request an audition for entrance into one of the School's undergraduate degree programs. The second request must be within 12 months of the first and may be as early as 1 month following the first audition. This limitation also applies to students within the School auditioning from one program into another.
First-year and current KU students
Once admitted academically, first-year students will enter the School of Music directly after a successful audition. Students may transfer into the School of Music from other KU Schools or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences if they have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and are eligible to return to the college or university last attended in addition to completing a successful audition. Other students can be admitted only with the permission of the Dean of the School of Music. Information and applications are available through the Office of Admissions and for international students they are available through the Office of International Admissions.
Transfer Students
Students may transfer to the School of Music from other institutions or from other KU Schools if they have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), are eligible to return to the college or university last attended and complete a successful audition. Only grades of C or higher are accepted in transfer credit toward degrees offered by the School of Music. Students who wish to transfer performance credit from another institution toward any music degree at KU must validate this credit by audition.
Keyboard Skills Placement Examination:
If a student has a background in keyboard playing, they may choose to take one or more Piano Quiz-Out tests. Successfully passing a Quiz-Out will exempt a student from having to take a particular class in the PIAN sequence (PIAN 144, PIAN 148, PIAN 284, or PIAN 310 for students with keyboard/organ emphasis). Students should check with their advisor about how this will impact their particular degree requirements.
Freshmen and transfer students with no previous piano study experience should enroll in PIAN 144. No examination or permission number is necessary. Students should check with their advisor about their particular degree requirements.
More information about the Keyboard Skills Placement Examination including deadlines is available on the School of Music website.
The Music Education Teacher Licensure Curriculum
The B.M.E. degree requires a minimum of 120 semester credit hours (including 45 at the Junior/Senior 300+ level) distributed among general studies, the major, professional education class work, and student teaching and internship. The degree requires at least a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average in all course work. Each student must participate in appropriate performing ensembles and demonstrate proficiency in a major applied performance medium and in other performance areas.
Music Core Required Courses
Music Core Courses required, as follows:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MTHC 105 | Theory I | 3 |
| MTHC 106 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MTHC 115 | Theory II | 3 |
| MTHC 116 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MTHC 205 | Theory III | 3 |
| MTHC 315 | Theory IV | 3 |
| MUSC 320 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUSC 360 | Music History III | 3 |
| MUSC 380 | Music History IV | 3 |
| 4 |
| |
| Elementary Keyboard Skills I (one credit) | |
| Elementary Keyboard Skills II (one credit) | |
| Intermediate Keyboard Skills I (two credits) | |
| |
| Advanced Keyboard Skills (two credits) | |
| |
| REC 100 | Laboratory in Music Performance (two semesters) | 0 |
| 7 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 2 |
| |
| MEMT 113 | Performance Media: Brass | 1 |
| MEMT 114 | Performance Media: Woodwinds I | 1 |
| MEMT 115 | Performance Media: Percussion | 1 |
| MEMT 118 | Performance Media: Strings | 1 |
| MEMT 408 | Vocal Pedagogy | 1 |
| |
| COND 245 | Conducting I | 1 |
| MEMT 230 | Performance Clinic: Band | 1 |
| MEMT 231 | Performance Clinic: Choral | 1 |
| MEMT 232 | Performance Clinic: Orchestra | 1 |
| MEMT 330 | Rehearsal/Conducting Clinic: Band | 1 |
| MEMT 331 | Rehearsal/Conducting Clinic: Choral | 1 |
| MEMT 332 | Rehearsal/Conducting Clinic: Orchestra | 1 |
| 1 |
| Advanced Rehearsal/Conducting Clinic: Band | |
| Advanced Rehearsal/Conducting Clinic: Choral | |
| Advanced Rehearsal/Conducting Clinic: Orchestra | |
| MEMT 160 | Principles of Music Education | 1 |
| MEMT 250 | Human Musical Learning and Development | 2 |
| SPED 326 | Teaching Exceptional Children and Youth in General Education | 3 |
| C&T 359 | Literacy in the Content Areas | 1 |
| MEMT 407 | Inclusion in Music Education | 2 |
| MEMT 420 | Teaching Elementary and Secondary General Music | 3 |
| MEMT 450 | Teaching Choral Music | 2 |
| MEMT 451 | Teaching Instrumental Music | 2 |
| MEMT 470 | Introduction to Research in Music Education and Music Therapy | 2 |
| 1 |
| Advanced General Music Teaching | |
| Choral Diction for Music Educators | |
| Approaches to String Pedagogy | |
| Marching Band Techniques | |
| 1 |
| Voice for Music Therapists | |
| Guitar for Music Therapists | |
| Performance Media: Woodwinds II | |
| Orff Process and Related Musicianship | |
| Technology in Music Education | |
| Jazz Techniques | |
| |
| MEMT 498 | Student Teaching | 2-4 |
| MEMT 499 | Internship in Teaching Music | 3-8 |
| Total Hours | 120-127 |
Ensemble Policy
The Ensemble Policy applies to:
- All undergraduate students who enroll in any level of voice lessons.
- All undergraduate and master’s students who enroll in any level of lessons on a brass, jazz, percussion, piano, string, or woodwind instrument.
Applicable students must audition for and perform in a major ensemble, as assigned, on their primary instrument/voice each semester in which they are enrolled in lessons. Most music majors are required to enroll in one ensemble for 1 credit each semester. If a student chooses to enroll in additional ensembles beyond their degree requirements, they may enroll for zero credits. Except as noted below, exceptions to this policy are allowed on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the major ensemble conductor, in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor and applied faculty member. Students who receive a music scholarship or a GTA position may have additional responsibilities regarding ensemble participation.
Major ensembles include: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band; Chamber Choir, KU Glee, Treble Choir, and University Singers; Jazz Ensemble I; and Symphony Orchestra. University Band, Oread Singers, Jazz Ensembles II and III, and Philharmonic Orchestra will satisfy this requirement only if the student is placed in those ensembles by audition.
BA-Composition and BA-Music Production & Technology majors: Jazz combos and other small ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by either their applied faculty member and their faculty mentor (Composition) or the Director of Jazz and Commercial Music (MPT).
BM-Composition majors: Other ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by their faculty mentor (Composition).
BA-Performance (Piano) and BM-Performance (Piano) majors: Small ensembles can satisfy this requirement, with approval from the student’s faculty mentor, applied faculty member and the course instructor.
BFA-Theatre & Voice and BM-Performance (Voice) majors: Opera Production can satisfy this requirement, if the student accepts a major role in the production. This exception must be documented through a course substitution petition. As noted above, students may choose to enroll in additional ensembles.
BMT majors: Additional ensembles can satisfy this requirement, if approved by the Area Coordinator for Music Therapy.
Music Education 4 Year Plan
Music Education majors are strongly encouraged to adhere to this sequence of courses.
Students with no prior piano experience should take the keyboard skills sequence (PIAN 144-PIAN 284). Demonstration of skills is needed to pass or test out of PIAN 144-PIAN 284. Students whose major performance medium is piano or organ should take PIAN 310 after completing 2 semesters of music theory (this course is only taken once in the fall term of the sophomore year).
- F = Fall only
- S = Spring only
| Freshman |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| MTHC 105 (F) | 3 | MTHC 115 (S) | 3 |
| MTHC 106 (F) | 1 | MTHC 116 (S) | 1 |
| 121 Studio lessons1 | 2 | 121 Studio lessons1 | 2 |
| Ensemble 1 | 1 | Ensemble1 | 1 |
| REC 1001 | 0 | REC 1001 | 0 |
| MEMT 160 (F)1 | 1 | Select one of the following (depending on major performance medium): | 1 |
| MEMT 1131 | 1 | PIAN 148 (If major perf. med. is other than Piano or Organ) (S) | |
| MEMT 1181 | 1 | Music Elective (if major perf. med. is Piano or Organ) | |
| Select one of the following (depending on major performance medium): | 1 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
PIAN 144 ( If major perf. med. is other than Piano or Organ) (F) | | Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 |
Music Elective (if major perf. med. is Piano or Organ) | | Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | |
| Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE)030 | 3 | |
| | 17 | | 17 |
| Sophomore |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| MTHC 205 (F) | 3 | MTHC 315 (S)1 | 3 |
| MUSC 320 (F)1,2 | 3 | MUSC 380 | 3 |
| 221 Studio lessons1 | 2 | 221 Studio lessons | 2 |
| Ensemble1 | 1 | Ensemble | 1 |
| Select one of the following (depending on major performance medium): | 2 | COND 245 | 1 |
PIAN 284 (If major perf. med. is other than Piano or Organ) 1 | | MEMT 1151 | 1 |
PIAN 310 (If major perf. med. is Piano or Organ) | | MEMT 2311 | 1 |
| MEMT 1141 | 1 | MEMT 250 (S)1 | 2 |
| MEMT 2301 | 1 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| MEMT 232 (F)1 | 1 | |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 | |
| | 17 | | 17 |
| Junior |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| MUSC 360 (F) | 3 | 321 Studio lessons | 2 |
| 321 Studio Lessons | 2 | Ensemble | 1 |
| Ensemble | 1 | MEMT 3313 | 1 |
| MEMT 330 (F)3 | 1 | Choose one of the following: MEMT 350 or MEMT 352 (or MEMT 351 in fall) 0-1 | 1 |
| MEMT 332 (F)3 | 1 | Choose one of the following: MEMT 431 or MEMT 432 (or MEMT 421, or MEMT 435 in the fall) 0-1 | 0 |
| Choose one of the following: MEMT 117, MEMT 119 or MEMT 314 | 1 | MEMT 420 (S)3 | 3 |
| MEMT 4083 | 1 | C&T 359 (S)3 | 1 |
| SPED 3263 | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4 | Core 34: U.S. Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| | 17 | | 15 |
| Senior |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| 422 Senior Project lessons | 2 | MEMT 498 (Capstone)3 | 2-4 |
| Ensemble | 1 | MEMT 499 (Capstone)3 | 3-8 |
| MEMT 407 (F)3 | 2 | |
| Choose one of the following: MEMT 351, MEMT 421 or MEMT 435 (if not two MEMT concentrations last spring) 0-1 | 1 | |
| MEMT 450 (F)3 | 2 | |
| MEMT 451 (F)3 | 2 | |
| MEMT 4703 | 2 | |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | |
| | 15 | | 5-12 |
| Total Hours 120-127 |
Professional Sequence
Professional Sequence Admission Requirements
- Students must apply for admission to the Music Education Professional Sequence by the first Monday in February of the sophomore year.
- Cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or higher.
- Grades as specified in the Application for Music Education Professional Sequence Admission.
- Satisfactory completion of "Criteria for Admission" courses as shown in the Application for Music Education Professional Sequence Admission.
- The student must write and attach a one-page essay (12-point font, double-spaced) to the application form that answers the following question: As a music educator in your first year of teaching, reflect on how your music program could impact the community-at-large. Provide 3 examples.
- A fully completed application form and associated documents must be submitted to your faculty mentor via email attachment.
- Students must do the following during the final semester
- – register to take the Praxis II Music Content test during the final semester
– check their degree requirement check sheet to see that they have met all of the graduation requirements
- Praxis II Music Exams required for licensure, not for graduation. Required scores: Praxis II Music Exam 152 minimum.
- Students must do the following before graduation:
– submit an application for graduation online through Enroll and Pay at the beginning of their last semester
– successfully complete their major applied instrument (422) including the senior half recital
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate performance skills appropriate to the student’s major and primary performing medium, including performing a broad range of repertoire, sight-reading, collaboration, conducting, and keyboard skills.
- Demonstrate elementary and intermediate skills in musicianship and music analysis.
- Demonstrate a basic capacity to compose or improvise original or derivative music.
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of music history and repertories through the present time, including study and experience of musical language and achievement in addition to that of the primary culture encompassing the student’s major area.
- Demonstrate knowledge of and performance skill in instrumental, vocal, and general music instruction sufficient to teach beginning-level groups of students.
- Synthesize knowledge of content, methodologies, philosophies, materials, technologies, and curricular development specific to PreK-12 instrumental, vocal/choral, and general music instruction.
