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Programs

Department of Music Teaching and Learning

Our programs serve to prepare students for professional careers as music educators with optional New York State school certification. We believe that each person deserves access to a comprehensive music education, and we prepare students to become articulate leaders, to develop greater understanding of learning and teaching processes, and to develop broad perspectives of music and education in contemporary cultures.

Information about faculty and research can be found on the Department of Music Teaching and Learning website.

AdmissionsLink to section

Applying to Master's ProgramsLink to section

The Department of Music Teaching and Learning offers two master’s degrees in music education: the Master of Music and the Master of Arts. The MM is a performance-based degree, and the MA is a research degree. Both degrees require an interview; the MM also requires an audition.

Master of Arts Admission Requirement

      • Online application
      • Interview, including skills assessment
      • Personal statement and resume
      • Three recommendations
      • One music research paper
      • Transcripts (all collegiate study)
      • Music education essay

Master of Music Admission Requirement

      • Online application
      • Interview, including skills assessment
      • Personal statement and resume
      • Three recommendations
      • Transcripts (all collegiate study)
      • Music education essay
      • Audition (many applied areas also require a prescreening recording)

Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section

The Department of Music Teaching and Learning offers two doctoral degrees in music education: the Doctor of Philosophy and the Doctor of Musical Arts. All doctoral applicants should have two to three years of music teaching experience. DMA applicants should demonstrate a high level of achievement on their major instrument or voice through an audition and will study their instrument as part of their degree.

PhD Admission Requirements

  • Online application
  • Online interview
  • Personal statement and resume
  • Three recommendations
  • One music research paper
  • Transcripts (all collegiate study)
  • Teaching portfolio

DMA Admission Requirements

  • Online application
  • Online interview
  • Personal statement and resume
  • Three recommendations
  • One music research paper
  • Transcripts (all collegiate study)
  • Teaching portfolio
  • Audition (many applied areas also require a prescreening recording)

AcademicsLink to section

Advanced Certificates and RequirementsLink to section

The Department of Music Teaching and Learning does not offer a stand-alone certificate, but offers the Certificate of Advanced Achievement in College and/or Community Music Teaching for current Eastman graduate students enrolled in a degree program. This certificate provides Eastman graduate students in applied music with opportunities to improve their teaching skills. The certificate involves 12 to 14 units of coursework, including MUE 504: Preparing Future Music Faculty; Departmental Pedagogy or Methods, electives, and an internship. More information can be found here: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/certificates/music-teaching/.

Master's Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

The Master of Arts in Music Education is offered with a Professional Studies track and with a track leading to New York State Initial plus Professional Certification in Music. Master’s students seeking New York teaching certification must fulfill prerequisite courses, including conducting, technique classes (for example, clarinet, trumpet, percussion). Core courses for both tracks include courses in measurement and evaluation, research, seminars in history and philosophy of music education, and curriculum; electives in theory, composition or orchestration (determined by placement/advising), and music education; and the MA thesis or field project. In addition, the track leading to New York State initial certification includes a pedagogical core based on an instrument, vocal, or general music emphasis.

The Master of Music in Music Education is offered with the same two tracks as the MA, and includes much of the same core coursework, plus applied lessons (minimum requirement of two semesters). Students present a jury at the end of eights units of applied study.

Summers-only master’s study is available for students who have full-time employment as a music teacher, with coursework typically being completed in three summer sessions.

For more complete curriculum information on master’s programs in music education, see: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/registrar/policy/07-00/#07.02.05. 

Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

The DMA in Music Education is an appropriate degree for a highly accomplished performer who has professional experience as an educator and wishes to expand their understanding of research methods and music pedagogies, while continuing to study their major instrument or voice. The 62-unit degree includes coursework in applied music study (16 to 20 units); 12 units of music education coursework (research and evaluation methods, history and philosophy seminar, and curricular seminar); music history and theory courses; electives; and the DMA dissertation project. Students perform a jury prior to their first doctoral recital. There are two recital requirements, typically one solo recital and one lecture recital. Completion of coursework is followed by the comprehensive examination. For more information on this degree, see https://www.esm.rochester.edu/registrar/policy/06-00/#06.03.13.

The PhD in Music Education is awarded for completion of scholarly research satisfactorily defended in a dissertation. It is assumed that recipients of this degree are not only well-versed in the subject matter of music education but have also demonstrated a breadth of interest and an original outlook that indicate real promise of success in research, as well as mastery of teaching. The 60- to 62-unit degree includes coursework in measurement/evaluation, research, history and philosophy of education, curriculum seminar, two theory courses, two research courses, electives, and the dissertation project. For more complete information on the PhD in music education, see: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/registrar/policy/07-00/#07.03.09.

Graduate Course TitlesLink to section

  • MTL 402: Measurement and Evaluation
  • MTL 403: Introduction to Research
  • MTL 411: Early Childhood Music Education
  • MTL 412: Elementary General Music Methods
  • MTL 413: Secondary General Music Methods
  • MTL 414: Elementary and Middle School Choral Methods
  • MTL 415: High School Choral Music
  • MTL 41: Secondary Instrumental Rehearsals: Winds/Percussion
  • MTL 420: Secondary Instrumental Rehearsals: Strings
  • MTL 465: Instrumental Techniques Seminar – WBP
  • MTL 466 Instrumental Techniques Seminar – STR
  • MTL 471: Teaching Internship
  • MTL 472: Internship for Certification
  • MTL 473: Field Project in Music Education
  • MTL 495: MA Thesis in Music Education
  • MTL 501: History and Philosophy Seminar
  • MTL 502: Curriculum Seminar
  • MTL 503: Collegiate Teaching Internship
  • MTL 504: Preparing the Future Music Faculty
  • MTL 505: Seminar in Academic Administration
  • MTL 506: Internship in Academic Administration
  • MTL 590: Independent Study
  • MTL 595: PhD Dissertation Project
  • MTL 596: DMA Dissertation Project