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Music Education
At a Glance
Combine your love of music with a passion for teaching. Our program prepares students to become dynamic, engaging school music educators with three tracks to choose from: instrumental (wind, strings, and percussion), keyboard, or vocal. The curriculum focuses on both traditional and progressive pedagogies, creating a foundation in performance experience and building skills to excel in diverse teaching environments. You’ll graduate prepared for certification in teaching K–12 instrumental and choral classes in NJ public schools or pursuing advanced studies.
Undergraduate Program Options
MAJOR
Music Education, BM
Choose a track: instrumental (wind, strings, and percussion), keyboard, or vocal
MINORS
You’ll Benefit From:
- Small class sizes, experiential learning, and individual attention
- Hands-on teaching experience in local classrooms
- Strong mentorship from accomplished faculty
- Community connections through music and interdisciplinary projects
- Invaluable study abroad opportunities
- A supportive environment to grow as a musician, educator, leader, and citizen
- The opportunity to take semester-length courses at universities in Austria, China, and England
Teaching Careers
After completing your degree, you’ll be qualified to sit for the Praxis examination as part of the teacher certification process. This certification enables you to teach in choral, instrumental, and general music programs for grades K–12 in New Jersey public schools. Graduates may also qualify for certification in other states, subject to the individual processes of each state.
Our music education graduates have a high job placement rate as music teachers within six months. TCNJ music alumni also often choose to continue their education through graduate study at highly competitive conservatories and universities.
Free Electives
In addition to fulfilling TCNJ’s College Core requirements, you will plan a course of free electives and be mentored as you pursue interdisciplinary academic and creative perspectives on music. Secondary majors, minors, and/or concentrations are also possible and encouraged, as is study abroad. Ultimately, the degree prepares students for diverse careers depending on their individualized courses of study.
Steinway School
We are proud to be part of an elite group of roughly 200 select universities, colleges, and conservatories worldwide recognized as All-Steinway Schools.
