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The Bachelor of Music with a music education/instrumental concentration incorporates requirements necessary to qualify for the commonwealth of Virginia’s Collegiate Professional Certificate to teach music in public schools. To achieve candidacy and to be eligible for student teaching, students pursuing the music education degree must have a 2.8 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 GPA in music classes. A prospective student intending to pursue the instrumental concentration endorsement must complete the degree with a primary instrument of wind band or orchestra tradition; for those seeking the vocal-choral concentration endorsement, this instrument must be voice. For a student who wishes to elect the guitar or piano as a primary instrument, please contact the music department for details.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
Music core outcomes
- Demonstrate professional performance skills
- Develop comprehensive musicianship
- Acquire supporting competencies
- Develop and articulate artistic/intellectual mission
Music education/instrumental concentration-specific outcomes
- Demonstrate age-appropriate instrumental music teaching strategies and secondary instrument competencies
- Effectively plan for instrumental music instruction in the K-12 classroom
- Effectively engage and support diverse individual and group needs in the instrumental music classroom
- Accurately assess student learning
- Demonstrate professional music educator dispositions and procedures found in The VCU Music Education Candidate Dispositions
Special requirements
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for music education students to qualify for student teaching placement. Music education students who do not maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA will not be allowed to continue in the music education track, but may continue in the Bachelor of Arts program or the Bachelor of Music performance track if they meet the minimum requirements that apply to those respective degree programs.
Degree requirements for Music, Bachelor of (B.M.) with a concentration in music education/instrumental
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| APPL 311 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal performing medium) | 2 |
| APPL 312 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal performing medium) | 2 |
| APPL 313 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal performing medium) | 2 |
| APPL 314 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal performing medium) | 2 |
| APPL 415 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal performing medium) | 2 |
| APPL 416 | Applied Lessons and Junior Recital: ____ (principal performing medium) | 2 |
| APPM 199 | Recital/Convocation Attendance (four semesters) | 0 |
| APPM 299 | Master Class: ____ (six semesters) | 0 |
| APPM 381 | Conducting | 2 |
| MHIS 120 | Music in Culture | 2 |
| MHIS 145 | Theory and Aural Skills I | 4 |
| MHIS 146 | Theory and Aural Skills II | 4 |
| MHIS 245 | Theory and Aural Skills III | 4 |
| MHIS 322 | Classical Music Survey II | 2 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| APPL 320 | Applied Lessons Secondary Instrument: ____ (four semesters) | 4 |
| APPM 173 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| APPM 174 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| APPM 273 | Keyboard Skills III | 1 |
| or APPM 272 | Jazz Piano for the Non-keyboard Player | |
| or MUED 274 | Functional Keyboarding for the Music Classroom | |
| MHIS 305 | Form and Analysis I | 2 |
| MHIS 321 | Classical Music Survey I | 2 |
| MUED 301 | Methods and Techniques: Guitar | 1 |
| MUED 302 | Methods and Techniques: Voice | 1 |
| MUED 303 | Methods and Techniques: Woodwinds | 1 |
| MUED 305 | Methods and Techniques: Brass | 1 |
| MUED 306 | Methods and Techniques: Strings | 1 |
| MUED 307 | Methods and Techniques: Percussion | 1 |
| MUED 380 | Introduction to Music Education | 2 |
| MUED 381 | Methods and Practicum in Elementary Music Education | 3 |
| MUED 382 | Secondary Methods, Materials and Instructional Techniques | 3 |
| MUED 384 | Marching Band Techniques | 2 |
| MUED 385 | Music Education Technology and Arranging | 2 |
| MUED 386 | Organization and Administration of a Secondary School Music Program | 1 |
| MUED 485 | Music Education Student Teaching I: Elementary | 6 |
| MUED 486 | Music Education Student Teaching II: Secondary | 6 |
| Ensemble requirement (audition may be required): Select seven credits from the following: | 7 | |
| Orchestra | ||
| Symphonic Wind Ensemble | ||
| University Band | ||
| • Major electives | ||
| Ensemble elective (audition may be required): Select at least one from the following list: | 3 | |
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Flute Choir | ||
| Woodwind Ensemble | ||
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Percussion Auxiliary | ||
| String Chamber Music | ||
| Brass Ensemble | ||
Additional electives may come from this list or a choice from the ensemble requirement above | ||
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| EDUS 301 | Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| SEDP 330 | Survey of Special Education | 3 |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 2 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| APPL 311 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal instrument) | 2 |
| APPM 173 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| APPM 199 | Recital/Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| APPM 299 | Master Class: ____ (principal instrument) | 0 |
| MHIS 145 | Theory and Aural Skills I | 4 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| APPM 3XX ensemble requirement | 1 | |
| General education courses | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| APPL 312 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal instrument) | 2 |
| APPM 174 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| APPM 199 | Recital/Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| APPM 299 | Master Class: ____ (principal instrument) | 0 |
| MHIS 146 | Theory and Aural Skills II | 4 |
| MUED 306 | Methods and Techniques: Strings | 1 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication | 3 |
| APPM 3XX ensemble requirement | 1 | |
| General education courses | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| APPL 313 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal instrument) | 2 |
| APPM 199 | Recital/Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| APPM 273 | Keyboard Skills III or Jazz Piano for the Non-keyboard Player or Functional Keyboarding for the Music Classroom | 1 |
| APPM 299 | Master Class: ____ (principal instrument) | 0 |
| MHIS 120 | Music in Culture | 2 |
| MHIS 245 | Theory and Aural Skills III | 4 |
| MUED 302 | Methods and Techniques: Voice | 1 |
| MUED 307 | Methods and Techniques: Percussion | 1 |
| APPM 3XX ensemble elective | 1 | |
| APPM 3XX ensemble requirement | 1 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| APPL 314 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal instrument) | 2 |
| APPL 320 | Applied Lessons Secondary Instrument: ____ | 1 |
| APPM 199 | Recital/Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| APPM 299 | Master Class: ____ (principal instrument) | 0 |
| EDUS 301 | Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| MUED 301 | Methods and Techniques: Guitar | 1 |
| SEDP 330 | Survey of Special Education | 3 |
| APPM 3XX ensemble elective | 1 | |
| APPM 3XX ensemble requirement | 1 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| APPL 320 | Applied Lessons Secondary Instrument: ____ | 1 |
| APPL 415 | Applied Lessons: ____ (principal instrument) | 2 |
| APPM 299 | Master Class: ____ (principal instrument) | 0 |
| MHIS 305 | Form and Analysis I | 2 |
| MHIS 321 | Classical Music Survey I | 2 |
| MUED 303 | Methods and Techniques: Woodwinds | 1 |
| MUED 380 | Introduction to Music Education | 2 |
| APPM 3XX ensemble elective | 1 | |
| APPM 3XX ensemble requirement | 1 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| APPL 320 | Applied Lessons Secondary Instrument: ____ | 1 |
| APPL 416 | Applied Lessons and Junior Recital: ____ (principal instrument) | 2 |
| APPM 299 | Master Class: ____ (principal instrument) | 0 |
| APPM 381 | Conducting | 2 |
| MHIS 322 | Classical Music Survey II | 2 |
| MUED 305 | Methods and Techniques: Brass | 1 |
| MUED 381 | Methods and Practicum in Elementary Music Education | 3 |
| APPM 3XX ensemble requirement | 1 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| APPL 320 | Applied Lessons Secondary Instrument: ____ | 1 |
| MUED 382 | Secondary Methods, Materials and Instructional Techniques | 3 |
| MUED 384 | Marching Band Techniques | 2 |
| MUED 385 | Music Education Technology and Arranging | 2 |
| MUED 386 | Organization and Administration of a Secondary School Music Program | 1 |
| APPM 3XX ensemble requirement | 1 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open elective | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| MUED 485 | Music Education Student Teaching I: Elementary | 6 |
| MUED 486 | Music Education Student Teaching II: Secondary | 6 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.