Music Education

Overview

Over eight semesters, while completing the college’s core music curriculum, you’ll acquire the skills to help your students achieve their full potential through the study of methodologies in general musicianship and performance techniques. You’ll gain real-world experience working with a community of musicians, faculty, and professional educators on the college’s Boston campus, as well as utilizing Boston’s diverse public school environment, all while earning a bachelor's degree.

Music Education major at Berklee College of Music prepares students to be the music educators of today and tomorrow. Applying musical content and pedagogical practices that are innovative, contemporary, and relevant, music educators gain the music literary, pedagogical, and technological skills that enable them to excel as educators and to help their students achieve their full musical potential. Students develop skills, concepts, and methodologies in music theory, composition, general musicianship, music history, arranging, orchestrating, improvising, conducting, and music performance. The latter includes a focus on solo performance techniques acquired through private instrumental or vocal study; vocal and instrumental techniques, pedagogy, and literature related to solo and ensemble performance; and the relationship of music to other disciplines of study.

Key facts:

Students also learn to teach. They learn to meet the needs of diverse learners and to incorporate technology into their pedagogical practice. Students come to understand the ways that history and culture shape and influence contemporary music as they apply historical and current pedagogical practices to foster teaching and learning. They also apply contemporary music performance practices, methodologies, modalities of instruction, and repertoire, as well as improve written, oral, and musical communication skills.