Music Education, BME - Instrumental Area

What you will study

UCM’s Bachelor of Music Education degree features classes in conducting, pedagogy, technology, music theory and music history. You’ll also have the chance to work directly with UCM ensembles as both a performing musician and guest conductor.

In addition to developing your own instrumental performance skills, you’ll take a range of classes on how to be an effective K–12 music teacher. Classes for Music Education majors at UCM include:

• Introduction to the Teaching Profession: Develop skills in instructional planning, student assessment and creating a productive classroom environment.
• Education of the Exceptional Child: Learn to identify gifted music students and provide them with resources to support their talents.
• Methods of Teaching Elementary School Music: Acquire methodologies for teaching young music students topics in note and rhythm reading, instrumental practice techniques and more.

 

 

Unique learning opportunities in instrumental music

UCM’s Instrumental Music Education majors hone their teaching and classroom management skills through real-world scenarios both on and off campus:

• Field experiences: Students in UCM’s Bachelor of Music Education degree program complete three field experiences in the Warrensburg community. Two provide classroom observation opportunities at a local public school. The third experience requires co-teaching alongside a music instructor in a K–12 setting, often in Kansas City or elsewhere in the state of Missouri.
• Event networking and planning: Take on event planning tasks and logistics during our annual Festival of Champions and Invitational Band Festival events. With these optional events, you’ll get the chance to develop the skills to maintain fruitful business partnerships in the music industry or execute successful performance events at K–12 schools.
• Guest conducting: Lead some of UCM’s own ensemble classes as a guest conductor for project-based assignments. These hands-on opportunities give you the chance to interact with skilled classmates and receive feedback from professors on classroom management and conducting skills.

 

What can you do with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from UCM?

UCM’s Instrumental Music Education degree program will prepare you for K–12 teaching positions and teaching certifications. Music educators are in demand across the country, and UCM’s faculty can help you connect with prospective employers and schools — even before you graduate. In fact, UCM’s Music Education program boasts a nearly 100% job placement rate.

As a UCM graduate, you’ll also have the skills to seek advanced degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels for a career as a professional musician, private music teacher or college-level instructor.

Careers for graduates with a Bachelor of Music Education

Use the tool below to explore employment trends, salary potential, job outlooks and other career data for Music Education majors.

 

 

Financial assistance options for your Bachelor of Music Education degree

UCM strives to support its students with robust financial aid offerings and guidance. As an Instrumental Music Education major, you may qualify for scholarships, grants, assistantships and work-study programs that help you offset the cost of your bachelor’s degree in Music Education.

Beyond UCM’s university-wide scholarships, Instrumental Music Education majors can apply for more than 50 endowed scholarships available from the UCM Music Foundation as well as for financial awards reserved for aspiring music educators, such as:

• Claude T. and Maureen Smith Music Scholarship
• Dr. Milton H. Genge Memorial Scholarship
• Edith M. Brooks Scholarship in Music

Learn more about program-specific scholarships by using the UCM Scholarship Finder.