Prospective undergraduate students
Bachelor of Music Education (BME)
Why earn a degree in Music Education?
Do you want to make a real difference in others’ lives while honing your personal musicianship? Students who graduate from our program and enter the teaching field are responsible for nurturing and developing the next generation of music performers, music teachers and music appreciators/consumers. At the same time, earning a BME degree provides students with numerous career options and graduate school opportunities.
Unique program aspects
- Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder music education alumni are recognized for their high quality teaching and leadership within the profession. Alums have held or continue to hold teaching positions in public and private schools throughout Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ, in at least twenty other states, and in three foreign countries.
- We are the only music school in the Rocky Mountain region with full-time faculty specialists in all areas of music education: elementary general, choral, instrumental-strings and instrumental-band.
- Students receive personal attention through faculty mentoring and advising in order to meet individual needs and interests.
- BME students demonstrate strong musicianship by performing a junior (and sometimes also a senior) recital. Students seeking additional performance experience can complete a double major in music performance and music education in 5 years.
Program highlights
- 100% job placement rate
- Four-year graduation guarantee
- Faculty specialists in all areas of music education (general, choral, instrumental-strings, instrumental-band)
- K-12 music teaching license with specialization in general, choral or instrumental music
- 150 hours of early field experience in diverse school settings
- Weekly hour lesson with performance faculty member
- Opportunity to perform in a variety of large and small ensembles
- Opportunity to earn a double degree in music education (BME) and performance (BM)
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Music Education (BME) degree program can be completed in four years and requires 126 credit hours, including approximately 62 hours in music, 40 hours in music teacher education, and 24 hours in liberal arts. Upon completion of your degree, you will qualify for a Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ K-12 music teaching license. Students may apply for teaching licenses in other states; many states have reciprocity agreements with Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ.
Faculty
Music education faculty members teach undergraduate and graduate courses, supervise student teachers, and advise students within their specialty areas. The University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder Music Education faculty has over 50 years of combined public school teaching experience in urban, rural, and suburban settings.
Putting it all together
Music education majors Cameron Coday and Claire Glover are preparing for a special junior recital with a performance by students from El Sistema Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ on April 18. Read more >>
Principles of gaming give music students a one-up
College of Music alumna Ashley Brandin (MME '13) is bringing the principles of video games into her music classrooms to get her students excited about learning. Read more >>
Within the music education area, there is a sense of community as students and faculty collaborate to developing students’ abilities as pedagogues, musicians, scholars, mentors and leaders. The music education community includes approximately 80 undergraduate students and 25-30 graduate students. You get to know other future music educators in classes, ensembles and student organizations. Our local NAfME-Collegiate (Collegiate branch of the National Association for Music Educators) chapter is the largest NAfME-Collegiate chapter in the state of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ! Activities includee monthly meetings, recitals, service projects, and an annual trip in January to Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Springs for the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Music Educators Association Conference. Learn more >>
