Department of Music Education
For more than 60 years, the Department of Music Education has been at the forefront in preparing successful music educators at every instructional level. A national leader in music education, the department is home to a highly successful and visible faculty, degree programs of extraordinary quality and diversity, and one of the top PhD programs in the world. Uniquely positioned to offer students the opportunity for world class performance experiences while simultaneously supplying high quality and rigorous preparation in acquiring the necessary knowledge, skills, and insights to be successful teachers, and has a 100 percent job placement rate for graduates seeking positions in music education.
The music education department is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) for Music Education.
Faculty
Stephanie Christensen
Colleen M. Conway
Kate Fitzpatrick
Michael Hopkins
Marie McCarthy
Carlos Xavier Rodriguez
Julie Skadsem
Degrees
Graduate
Master of Music
Doctor of Philosophy
Performance Opportunities
From large ensembles in celebrated concert halls to chamber groups in intimate recital spaces, performance opportunities across all disciplines abound, with nearly 900 student performances each academic year. Whether your focus is on early, classical, or contemporary music, whether your passion is for jazz, electronic, or world music, there is an ensemble—or in many cases, multiple ensembles—to suit your interests, including specific opportunities for percussion, piano, and organ & carillon. For students in theatre & drama, musical theatre, dance, and opera, opportunities abound in both professionally produced and student-run presentations.
Recitals
Across all disciplines, students perform and study with their peers in studio classes and perform for the public in solo student recitals and studio recitals.
Collaborative Piano
Collaborative Piano students work with vocalists and instrumentalists throughout SMTD.
Chamber Music
The thriving chamber music scene at SMTD offers students nearly limitless options to perform, innovate, and collaborate in small, self-driven, and diverse ensembles.
Large Ensembles
SMTD ensembles offer numerous concerts each season, performing notable works in the traditional canon as well as abundant newly commissioned works.
Our Stories
Show Your Support
Any gift to SMTD helps launch the next generation of artists, scholars, educators, and entrepreneurs who challenge and inspire the world.
You can support the Department of Music Education with a contribution to the Music Education Enrichment Fund.
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Most applications for 2022-2023 are due by December 1 - check for exact dates on the appropriate admissions page below.
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