Music - Music Education - Instrumental

Overview

Music - Music Education - Instrumental students at Colorado State University  prepares students to apply for music teaching licensure (grades K-12) in the state of Colorado. CSU’s outstanding music education faculty members are in demand as clinicians, guest lecturers, conductors, and researchers. 

A feature unique to the accredited music education curriculum is extensive field experience that students receive throughout their coursework, culminating in a semester of student teaching at the end of the program. Students must select one of two options: instrumental or choral.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate:

• Ability to perform music from a variety of historical/ style periods, and exhibit the appropriate skills for musical self-expression in juried performances. These skills include: technique, musicianship, tone, diction/articulation, style, interpretation, sight-reading, rhythm, and artistry.

• Keyboard Skills.

• The capacity to create original or derivative music.

• Understanding of the common elements and organizational patterns of music, including musical forms, processes, and structures.

• Knowledge of music history and repertory, including representative composers and works according to the area of specialization, as well as study and experiences with music in addition to that of the primary culture encompassing the area of specialization.

Students are also expected to learn music literature from all periods through aural and score analysis. Performance skills are tested at the end of the sophomore year and in a graduation recital if required by the degree option. Some programs require satisfactory completion of supervised student teaching, an internship, or a senior project. 

Potential Occupations

The professional undergraduate music curricula at CSU can lead to personally fulfilling careers as music educators, music therapists, performers, composers, private teachers, and entrepreneurs. Music graduates from CSU have successfully gained employment in public and private schools, hospitals and institutions, and as professional performers and composers.