Music Education at Central

Do you want an almost surefire job when you graduate? Love watching kids' faces shine with pleasure? Love music? Are you a strong musician? Then Music Education is for you! Not only is there a critical shortage of music educators in Washington, almost all states are in a similar plight. Get a Music Education degree and write your ticket to just about anywhere you want to go!

The Music Education Program at CWU has a long history of being one of the largest and the most active in the region, and often graduates more certified teachers than any other single institution in the state. With over100 declared majors, the Music Education community has one the most vibrant Music Education Association student chapters in the nation. Music education majors at Central are expected to be competent, secure musicians, and they are committed to acquiring the knowledge and skills to become music educators capable of developing and maintaining successful school music programs. The motto of the department, "CWU, where Teaching is a Performing Art," is a measure of the respect in which the teaching of music is held.

In addition to having the courses required for accreditation, music education majors are offered many opportunities outside the standard curriculum to enrich their music experience and prepare for their future profession. For example, in addition to the traditional Orchestra, Choirs and Wind Ensembles, our Jazz program, with three Big Bands and three Jazz Choirs, gives even the beginner in Jazz an opportunity to develop jazz skills. With so many Northwest public schools committed to Jazz programs, experience in this area is terrific way to prepare to meet the challenges you will encounter. There are also courses in Jazz Studies, such as Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Music Education to further develop your Jazz chops. Choral majors can sing in such groups as the Men's Choir, the Women's Choir, the Central Singers and the Lab Choir. Wind players have such groups as the Flute, Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, Brass and Tuba choirs. Percussionists can play in the Percussion Ensemble and strings have the Chamber Orchestra, String Quartets and mixed ensembles.

The Music Education major has three general categories of courses required for the Bachelors degree:

1. Music courses: core courses in history and theory, applied music (lessons), ensembles and music education courses.
2. Courses in the Professional Education sequence
3. Courses in General Education. The courses in General Education are called “Basic Skills and Breadth” courses, and they form the liberal arts component of a liberal arts education.

There are three different specializations leading to K-12 Certification:

1. Vocal/Choral Music and General Music
2. Instrumental Music and General Music
3. Broad Area, which leads to certification in all three areas.

General Music is classroom education about music for all students, as opposed to classes specifically oriented towards performance. In the fall of 2000, this became one of the three endorsements for teaching in the state of Washington.

The total number of course credits for the Music Education degree varies with the Music Education specialization and the courses chosen within the other two categories.

For more information please see the Oline Electronic Catalog

The Online Electronic Catalog (OEC) is the university's official compilation for all curriculum. The OEC serves as the basis for major, minor, specialization, certificate, and program requirements for the academic year. For current policy and curriculum requirements refer to the CWU online catalog at http://www.cwu.edu/~catalogs. You may choose the catalog that is appropriate for your program requirements, based on the quarter that you were accepted into your program. Some students may be using more than one catalog to meet general education and major requirements.

A student should expect to meet the specific requirements of the departments listed in the OEC that is current at the time he or she is accepted by the department into the major or minor program. Graduate students admitted to the master's degree program may use the catalog they are admitted under or the current one. A student should expect to complete general education requirements as listed in the OEC current at the time of first enrollment at either Central or a community college in the state of Washington provided he or she transfers directly to CWU from the community college and has not attended another four-year institution.

Interested? Questions?

Contact Mark Lane, the Music Education faculty specialist, Dr. Peter Gries, Department Chair, or Larry Gookin, Associate Chair for more information.