A student plays the saxophone in a rehearsal. LEARN TO PLAY AND TEACH THEM ALL You'll get expert training in every instrument in the band and learn the finer points of handling a choral group and classroom before student teaching begins with the Music Education BSEd major.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania's BSEd in Music Education program prepares majors to teach a love and understanding of music to the next generation of students. In this bachelor's degree program, you'll grow from a student with musical talent into a highly qualified music educator.

Our music education program allows students the opportunity to choose a voice or instrumental concentration. In this way, students can tailor their education towards their intended career path. Many music education majors also choose to pursue a minor in Entrepreneurship for Fine Arts through the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology.

Music Education Curriculum

The department's greatest resource is its faculty. They draw on their experience and expertise to nurture each student's talent. Our faculty will prepare you to instruct and inspire students in the classroom, from elementary to high school settings. You'll learn how to lead large choral and instrumental groups, while also learning how to play and teach instruments you've never before tried.

Students take a wide range of courses, including Technology in the Music Classroom, Music Theory, and the Fundamentals of Conducting. They also learn how to develop a successful curriculum for teaching and inspiring students. At IUP, music education majors attend recitals in concert halls on campus regularly and participate in ensembles. There are more than 20 ensembles to choose from, ranging from Marching Band and University Chorus to Music Theater and String Ensemble. Our campus features a recital hall, performing arts center, music library, and auditorium for music education students to gain first-hand experience and explore their love of music.

Students who complete the BSEd in Music Education will become proficient in the following areas:

Music Content Knowledge

Throughout the course of the program, students learn to understand broad trends in Western music history and discover a diverse body of musical literature. They evaluate the function and meaning of music-making across various cultures and historical eras and write effectively about the history of music.

Students also learn how to design and implement curricula, lessons, and assessment tools by drawing on the above skills and conducting research in education. They also draw from their own experience and outlined professional standards. In this way, they learn to cultivate classroom environments that are inclusive and inspirational.

Disciplinary Skills

Students examine and interpret the materials, forms, and conventions of Western art music and develop comprehensive musicianship skills, including score-reading ability and basic keyboard proficiency. They also learn to write effectively about the technical features of music.

Before graduating, students must demonstrate competency with instruments of K-12 instruction, including elementary classroom instruments. With this skill set, they create strategies for instrumental and vocal instruction that are developmentally appropriate and based upon sound pedagogical models.

Work Capacities

Students are expected to collaborate with their peers and perform regularly in small and large ensembles. They must master basic conducting and rehearsal techniques and learn to recognize the value of performance as a means of community engagement and enrichment.

Careers in Music Education

Our experienced faculty specialize in numerous families of instruments, allowing students to transfer the pedagogy learned at IUP to their professional lives. Our hands-on approach to educationalong with the concentration optionsallow for IUP students to succeed after graduation. Graduates of this BSEd program have gone on to become university professors and teachers at both public and private schools.

While on campus, students can join the Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association for educational and networking opportunities.

Explore our Music Education program!

Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Music Education program transforms students with a passion for music into educators that can change the lives of the next generation. Interested in learning more? Request more information today!