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College of Music & Performing Arts
Angela Stenzel
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
(615) 460.8307
Email Angela
Why Study Music Education?
Belmont's Master of Music in Music Education is taught by talented, expert faculty and will provide the hands-on opportunities you need to hone your craft as an educator.
In this program, you will have the opportunity to customize your experience with commercial music components if you are interested.
What You'll Learn
- Music research tools, materials and techniques
- Contemporary issues in music education
- Methodologies for teaching in your preferred specialization. Philosophical/historical background, exemplary techniques and resource materials are presented to clarify these methodologies as optional approaches for teaching music to children.
- Conducting skills, by taking an advanced choral or advanced instrumental conducting course
- Abroad knowledge base of repertory
Career Possibilities
High school band or choir director- Elementary music teacher
- District fine arts supervisor
- University professor in music education
Program Details
View all program requirements.
- Introduction to Music Research: Introduction to music research tools, materials, and techniques. The focus of the course will include major references and indexes, database, and internet research. The course will be relevant to all majors and will encompass both quantitative and qualitative research. A research project relating to the student’s major will be required.
- Music History Seminar: A series of in-depth topical seminars for graduate music students which will cover a wide range of periods, composers, and musical genres. Prerequisites: MUG 5010 or passing score on Graduate History Placement Exam.
- Analytical Techniques: Advanced study in the analysis of music from across a range of genres and styles. In addition to traditional harmonic and formal analysis, a variety of techniques will be explored and may include LaRue style analysis; analysis of rhythm and meter; and an introduction to Schenkerian and related linear-reductive systems. Prerequisites: MUG 5020 or passing score on Graduate Theory Placement Exam.
- Culminating Project/Comprehensive Examinations: MUG 6000 includes the terminal requirements for the M.M. degree. All students are required to successfully complete comprehensive written and oral examinations and a culminating project which varies, depending on the student’s particular track. Options and requirements for each culminating track are described in Guidelines for the Master of Music Degree accessed through the Belmont University Portal. Students should register for the course during their final semester of enrollment. The class is graded pass/fail. Prerequisites: Student must have achieved Candidacy status.
- Graduate Chamber Music Studies: Composed of graduate students interested in pursuing the chamber repertoire for their applied area. Requires two (2) hours of rehearsal and 30 minutes of coached time per week. A Graduate Chamber Music Studies Contract designating a coach and planned repertoire must be completed by student and coach and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Prerequisites: Permission of director required.
- Ensemble Internship: Graduate students may select an internship with any of the following School of Music classical instrumental or choral ensembles: Instrumental - Belmont Wind Ensemble, Belmont Orchestra, Belmont Percussion Ensemble, Belmont Guitar Ensemble, Belmont Jazz Ensemble; Choral -Belmont Chamber Singers, Belmont Chorale, University Singers, Nashville Children’s Choir, Opera Workshop, Oratorio Chorus, Women’s Choir. An Internship Contract must be completed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies, describing specific responsibilities of the internship (e.g. assistant director, lead roles, etc.). Limited to two semesters of participation. Prerequisites: Permission of director required.
- Graduate Ensemble Studies: Graduate students may participate in an approved School of Music ensemble. Prerequisites: Permission of ensemble director and instructor required.
- Foundations of Music Education (Music Education Core): Foundations of Music Education provides an overview of the historical, philosophical, and psychological foundations of Music Education. Course content explores curricular design reflecting these diverse components of the field of Music Education.
- Contemporary Issues in Music Education (Music Education Core): The course will prepare music educators to be conversant with and knowledgeable about current education topics / issues / trends which impact music education. Students will engage in current issues of curriculum and investigate sources for curriculum models; study the major landmarks, trends, and tools in music education assessment and accountability; consider legal and political issues related to education, and function as a community of leaders as they examine these and other topics related to general education as well as to music education.
- Methods and Materials in Elementary/Middle School Music Education (Music Education Specialization Elementary/Middle School): This course provides an overview of major contemporary systems of elementary/middle school music teaching. Philosophical/historical background, exemplary techniques and resource materials are presented to clarify these methodologies as optional approaches for teaching music to children.
- Kodaly OR Orff Pedagogy (Music Education Specialization Elementary/Middle School): Students choose between participation in Kodaly or Orff Pedagogy
- Advanced Choral Techniques (Secondary Choral): An advanced choral conducting course which emphasizes continuing attention to physical skills of conducting, score analysis, interpretation and rehearsal procedures.
- Choral Literature (Secondary Choral): Explores the significant choral literature of all styles and periods. Building a broad knowledge base of choral repertory and developing understanding of performance practice is emphasized. Attention is also given to selecting appropriate materials for specific groups.
- Instrumental Technique and Repertory (Instrumental): An advanced instrumental conducting course which emphasizes continuing attention to physical skills of conducting, score analysis and interpretation, rehearsal skills and repertory development. Emphasis will be placed on exploration of musical materials appropriate for student instrumental groups.
- Instrumental Literature(Instrumental): A historical survey of major instrumental music literature through the study of selected pieces from the solo, chamber, wind band and orchestral repertoire.
You'll have a variety of opportunities in Belmont's Master's of Music in Music Education program including:
- Participating in ensembles with other students passionate about music
- Performing in state-of-the-art performance halls
- Joining a thriving and creative musical community in Nashville
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
1. Apply to the University
- Create a BU4U account
- Complete the Belmont University Graduate Studies Application for Admission
- Pay the $50 Application Fee
2. Submit Supplemental Materials
Once the application is submitted and the application fee is paid, an email will be sent with instructions for submitting the supplemental pieces of the application. Applicants will be required to provide the following:
- Two completed recommendation forms from individuals who know the applicant's musical abilities. At least one recommendation must be completed by an individual who can address the applicant's accomplishments and potential in the academic classroom setting.
- A list of repertory studied in the principal performing area, including undergraduate junior and senior recital repertory, if applicable.
- A writing sample from undergraduate academic course work.
- Official transcripts of all previous college and masters level work. International applicants with college level coursework from foreign institutions must have their transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service such as World Education Services (wes.org). Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students who have earned below a 3.0 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Deadlines
All prospective students should apply as soon as possible to submit their application, including all supplemental materials by the deadlines.
3. Audition for the School of Music
All applicants are required to audition for the School of Music. The audition day will consist of a live audition and interview with our performance faculty and an informational meeting. The information session will also allow time for questions from attendees.
Audition Requirements:
Please note: Applicants for the MM in Music Education who plan to pursue the THESIS TRACK for their Culminating Project, may substitute their audition with a video teaching a lesson or rehearsal which proves evidence of their musicianship. Please select the video submission option on the Graduate application and include the link to your video with your supplemental materials.
Please note, students wishing to pursue conducting as their principal will need to submit a video audition, and are not required to come to a live audition.
Audition requirements:
Voice
- An art song in one of the following languages: French, German or Italian
- A 20th century art song in English
- An aria from the standard operatic or oratorio literature, sung in the original language
Instrumentalists
- Two (2) works appropriate to the instrument that demonstrates two (2) distinctly different styles This includes individual pieces, sonata or concerto movements or etudes. (Percussionists see MM Performance Major audition requirements for suggested repertoire.)
- Demonstrate a proficient knowledge of scales and arpeggios
Piano
- A substantial work from the Baroque repertoire by composers such as Bach, Handel, Haydn or Scarlatti; or a sonata movement by Beethoven, Haydn, or Mozart
- A substantial work by a 19th century composer such as Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn or Schumann; or a 20th century or movement from a work by a composer such as Barber, Bartok, Copland, Debussy, Hindemith, Prokofiev or Ravel
- Demonstrate knowledge of scales, arpeggios and sight-reading
Organ
- A work by J.S. Bach or another important Baroque composer for organ, specifically
- A 19th century work by a composer such as Franck or Mendelssohn; or a 20th century work by one of the following: Dupre, Hindemith, Langlais, Vierne or Widor
- Demonstrate knowledge of scales and sight-reading.
Conducting for Music Education
Conducting Audition Requirements
- Include 10-20 minutes of high-quality video. Applicants should include an excerpt from a rehearsal and a full performance of one selection.
- Demonstrate applicant’s best work by highlighting musical ability and technical training.
- Please include the link to your video with your supplemental materials.
- A complete conducting repertoire list and dates of performances.
- Include “liner notes” detailing background information on the audio or video submitted.
- An interview with a Graduate Conducting faculty member (Director of Choral Activities, Director of Bands, Director of Orchestras). The interview portion can be in person on campus or via online meeting.
How to format and submit materials
All musical selections should be uploaded to YouTube. The video must be set to “unlisted” and viewable by anyone with the link. Please do not email video files directly. Any video files received directly via email will not be reviewed.
Submit PDF file(s) in the “Supplemental Materials” section of your Belmont University application. Use the example below as a guide for liner notes.
Liner Notes Template
- Student Name
- Intended Major and Emphasis
- Principal Instrument
- The following details for each musical selection:
- Title
- Songwriter/Composer
- Date of recording
- Purpose of recording (i.e undergraduate recital, professional studio project, professional live performance, demo recording, newly recorded for this submission, etc.)
- YouTube link.
- Please upload your video to YouTube and provide the link on the PDF document. The video must be set to “unlisted” and viewable by anyone with the link. Please do not email video files directly. Any video files received directly via email will not be reviewed.
All scholarships will be distributed based on the strength of the audition. All applicants are considered for scholarships.
Request Information
Contact Us
College of Music & Performing Arts
Angela Stenzel
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
(615) 460.8307
Email Angela