Music Education

Music Education degrees are unique in that the result of the program not only enhances the student's personal skills as a musician, providing opportunities for futher development, but the program also prepares the student for teaching others how to explore their own musical interests and talents. The Department of Music at UNR offers the Bachelor of Music, Music Education and Master of Music, Music Education degrees with three different fields of concentration attached to each in order to accommodate the background, musical preferences and educational goals of students interested in Music Education as a professional career choice.

What can I expect as a student in the Music Education Program?

Goals of the Music Education Program include:

Development of personal musical skills in both solo performance and interactive ensemble performance platforms;
Development of single instrument performance skills sufficient for classroom instruction, accompaniment and tutoring;
Development of skills for classroom interaction, designing lesson plans and classroom strategies that will compel students to learn;
Development of an efficient, marketable depth of knowledge in music theory, music history, musicology, ethnomusicology, classical and contemporary music traditions, music technology and musical engineering trends;
Development of conducting skills for directing small and large ensembles;
Development of the oral and writing skills needed for classroom instruction and school related administrative duties that often accompany a music teaching career.

The Bachelor of Music Degree Program in Music Education

The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in music education is a professional degree that meets current state of Nevada music certification requirements. Graduates receive both a BM degree and Music Special K-12 certification upon completion of this five-year program.

Bachelor of Music Education students must audition successfully before the music faculty for entrance into the program.

College of Education Requirements for Music Certification

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in music education will receive their degree from the College of Liberal Arts; however, students must also meet certain requirements of the College of Education to qualify for student teaching and state certification. Find out specific information about both College of Liberal Arts and College of Education requirements on the specific degree program pages linked below.

Bachelor of Music Degree Programs in Music Education

The Master of Music Degree Program in Music Education

All Master of Music – Music Education degree candidates must submit a videotape or DVD of their teaching prior to admission into the program. The required final project will be proposed by the graduate student, with theme and emphasis drawn from the student's particular concentration, whether General Music Emphasis, Choral Emphasis, or Instrumental Emphasis, to be approved by the student's graduate committee.

Graduate Degree Programs in Music Education

Education Faculty

The Department of Music boasts a approximately sixty faculty of world-class performers and scholars committed to providing a creative, vibrant and challenging center for artistic development.

A.G. McGrannahan, D.M.A. - Professor, Music Education
Kate Pollard, M.M. - Lecturer, Coordinator - Music Education

Department of Music Faculty