Music Education

Academics / College Catalog / Departments and Programs / Music Education

Faculty

Anne Barry

Associate Professor of Music
Chair of Music Education

Scott Edgar

Associate Professor of Music

Nicholas Wallin

Associate Professor of Music

Major in Music Education

Requirements for the Major in Music Education:

Fifteen credits total—13 credits in music, 2 credits in education

This major must be completed concurrently with the Education Department’s K-12 Teacher Licensure program. See the Education Department for more information.

MUSIC THEORY (3 courses):

MUSC 251: Music Theory I (pre-requisite: MUSC 150, successful testing into MUSC 251, or permission of instructor)
MUSC 252: Music Theory II
MUSC 351: Music Theory III: Atonal Systems and Theory of Jazz, Rock and World Music OR MUSC 352: Form and Tonal Analysis

MUSIC HISTORY/CULTURE (3 courses):

MUSC 360: History of Western Art Music I
MUSC 361: History of Western Art Music II
MUSC 217: World Music Survey

MUSIC EDUCATION (7 courses—5 credits in music, 2 credits in education):

EDUC 170: Foundations of Music Teaching and Learning (pre-requisite for all other MUSE classes)
MUSE 271: The Art of Teaching Winds and Percussion
MUSE 272: The Art of Teaching String Instruments
MUSE 273: The Art of Teaching Instrumental Ensembles
MUSE 274: The Art of Teaching Choral Ensembles
EDUC 275: Teaching Music in the Elementary School
EDUC 422: Discipline-Specific K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Design for Music (Senior Seminar in Music Education. In conjunction with EDUC 419, this course meets the senior seminar requirement for the K-12 Teacher Licensure program.)

MUSIC PERFORMANCE:

All music education majors must complete weekly 60-minute lessons on their primary instrument/voice for each semester while a declared major. Students must complete MUSA 200-level, 300-level, & 400-level to graduate. Should students complete this sequence before the semester prior to student teaching, the student will continue to take MUSA 400-level (repeatable for credit) each semester they are in residence at the college and not student teaching. Successful passing of a jury performance each semester is required to advance to the next level of lessons. As a capstone performance experience, the music education majors will be required to perform at least a 30-minute recital in the semester preceding their student teaching, including a recital jury to be successfully passed no less than 30 days prior to the recital. Students are to register for MUSA 412 their final semester of lessons prior to student teaching.

Music education students must participate in at least 1 ensemble per semester from the time a student declares the major through the rest of the student’s time at Lake Forest College with the exception of the student teaching semester. This participation must include at least one semester in a vocal ensemble (concert choir; men’s chorus or women’s chorus), one semester in an instrumental ensemble (concert band, jazz band, orchestra), and one semester in the West African Drumming Ensemble. Ensembles can earn one quarter-credit each semester but students should enroll for no credit unless advised otherwise by their advisor.
Music education students must complete at least two semesters of MUSA 123 Applied Conducting to graduate. These applied lessons should be taken during the student’s junior or senior year prior to student teaching.

PIANO PROFICIENCY:

All music education students must pass a piano proficiency exam by the end of their sophomore year. Students will be tested at the beginning of their sophomore year. If students are unable to successfully pass any element of the exam, half-hour music education piano lessons (not for credit) will be required until successful proficiency is achieved.

Students must earn a minimum grade of B- in all courses used to fulfill the Music Education major. Courses taken Pass-NoPass (with the exception of internships) will not count toward the major. See the Education Department’s policy for further details regarding GEC and Education requirements.

Requirements for the Minor

At least 6 credits:

EDUC/MUSE/MUSC 170: Foundations of Music Teaching and Learning (pre-requisite for all other MUSE courses)
1 of the following courses:
- MUSE 271: The Art of Teaching Winds and Percussion
- MUSE 272: The Art of Teaching String Instruments
- MUSE 273: The Art of Teaching Instrumental Ensembles
- MUSE 274: The Art of Teaching Choral Ensembles
- EDUC 275: The Art of Teaching Elementary General Music
EDUC 210: Observing the Schooling Process
MUSC 251: Music Theory I
1 of the following courses:
- MUSC 360: History of Western Art Music I
- MUSC 361: History of Western Art Music II
- MUSC 217: World Music Survey
MUSA 111: 1 Semester of applied lessons on instrument/voice (.5 credit)
2 Semesters of Lake Forest College ensemble participation (.25 credit each):
- MUSC 104: Men’s Chorus
- MUSC 105: Women’s Chorus
- MUSC 106: College/Community Chorus
- MUSC 107: Concert Band
- MUSC 108: Chamber Orchestra
- MUSC 109: West African Drumming Ensemble
- MUSC 110: Jazz Ensemble
- MUSC 204: Singing Statesmen
- MUSC 205: Advanced Women’s Chorale
- MUSC 206: Concert Choir

The minor must consist of at least eight courses (6 credits), including four courses that do not double count in the student’s major or other minor. Music Education minors may take courses Pass-NoPass with the approval of the program chair.

Learning Outcomes

The expected Student Learning Outcomes for the Music Education Program are:

The music education major will be able to demonstrate the use of the basic vocabulary of music and education .
The music education major will be able to apply the knowledge and skills necessary to create and perform music.
The music education major will be able to apply pedagogical knowledge and skills appropriate to the teaching of music, including issues of diversity, gender equity, and the needs of diverse student abilities.
The music education major will meet the standards articulated in the Illinois State Board of Education’s standards, including the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and Music Content Area Standards.
The music education major will be able to apply the knowledge and skills necessary to embed the dispositions and practices associated with Social Emotional Learning into their teaching.

Music Education Courses

MUSE 170: Intro to Music Teaching & Learning

This course introduces students to the skills of teaching music. It explores how human beings acquire musicianship, and covers the foundational elements of music education. Musical elements addressed include: musical development, musical aptitude, listening, movement, rhythm, song teaching, singing, improvisation, composition, and basic teaching techniques associated with these. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with elementary students are key components of this course. Prerequisite: MUSC 251 or Instructor approval (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences and Speaking requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: MUSC 170, EDUC 170

MUSE 171: Music, Health, and Wellbeing

Musicians learn essential life skills as they prepare for performance. Goal-setting, self-assessment, and navigating performance anxiety are essential skills for successfully navigating both music and life. Utilizing Social Emotional Learning and Mindfulness, students are able to explore their own skill-building while learning how to teach others to develop self-awareness, social-awareness, and responsible decision-making. Connections are made to solo performance, ensemble music-making, social justice/impact, and expanding music education beyond the traditional model of large ensembles. Through self-reflection, focusing on empathy, and broadening an understanding of the impact of music, students emerge with both personal skills to better navigate their own musicianship and an awareness of how to teach these skills to others. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: MUSC 171

MUSE 271: Teaching Winds and Percussion

MUSE 271: The Art of Teaching Wind and Percussion Instruments. This course introduces students to the techniques of teaching woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. Students will develop competency on these instruments and learn appropriate instructional strategies to teach these instruments. Specific instruments include: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, snare drum, and bells. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with elementary/middle school students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: EDUC 170 Corequisites: No corequisites (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: MUSC 271, EDUC 271

MUSE 272: Teaching String Instruments

MUSE 272: The Art of Teaching String Instruments. This course introduces students to the techniques of playing and teaching string instruments. Students will develop competency on these instruments and learn appropriate instructional strategies to teach these instruments. Specific instruments include: violin, viola, cello, and bass. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with elementary/middle school students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: EDUC 170/MUSC 170, with a grade of B- or better. Corequisites: No corequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: MUSC 272, EDUC 272

MUSE 273: Teaching Instrumental Ensembles

MUSE 273: The Art of Teaching Instrumental Ensembles. This course introduces students to the techniques of teaching bands and orchestras. This course is intended to provide students with a strong foundation of both skill and conceptual understanding in order to prepare them for a career in instrumental music education. It involve learning within both a college classroom setting and as a teacher and observer within K-12 schools. Specific elements include: conducting, score study, rehearsal technique, practical elements associated with organizing and executing an instrumental ensemble, and band/orchestra literature. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with middle school students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: EDUC 170 with a grade of B- or better. Corequisites: No corequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: MUSC 273, EDUC 273

MUSE 274: Teaching Choral Ensembles

MUSE 274: The Art of Teaching Choral Ensembles. This course introduces students to the techniques of teaching choir. This course is intended to provide students with a strong foundation of both skill and conceptual understanding in order to prepare them for a career in vocal music education. It involves learning within both a classroom setting and as a teacher and observer within K-12 schools. Specific elements include: conducting, score study, rehearsal technique, practical elements associated with organizing and executing a choral ensemble, and choral literature. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with middle school students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: EDUC 170 with a grade of B- or better. Corequisites: No corequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: MUSC 274, EDUC 274

MUSE 275: Teaching Music in Elementary School

MUSE 275: Teaching Music in the Elementary School. This course introduces students to the techniques of teaching music to elementary age students. Students will become exposed to developmentally appropriate musical activities for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Multiple approaches will be presented including Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, and Music Learning Theory. Students should expect to actively engage in music making, teaching, and critical thinking. Peer teaching and clinical work with elementary students are key components of this course. Prerequisites: MUSC 170 with a grade of B- or better. Corequisites: No corequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences and Technology requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)
cross listed: EDUC 275