Master of Music in Music Education

This program will be offered remotely for summer 2021. 

Program Overview

The Master of Music in music education provides advanced instruction in contemporary teaching pedagogies and practices. Students will explore innovative methodologies, teaching strategies, technologies, and research. Together with other dedicated and experienced educators, they will gain knowledge and skills related to topics that address issues in urban education, teaching students with special needs, and engaging the increasingly diverse student populations in American schools.

The program is designed to accommodate a working teacher’s schedule by offering evening courses in the fall and spring semesters, as well as two full-time summer sessions. Academic year course work can be completed remotely using web conferencing and student-directed study formats.

Note: This is a non-licensure program. Students who start this program prior to summer 2022 will graduate from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Students starting this program in summer 2022 or later will graduate from Berklee College of Music. 

Our Students

Students who thrive in the music education program are devoted music educators who are interested in learning new ways to engage music students, usually in the K–12 student population. They are organized in their efforts to stay ahead of their demanding schedules and enjoy collaborating with colleagues to generate and reach shared goals.  

Core Curriculum

The Master of Music in music education program features three core courses: Foundations and Contemporary Trends in Music Education, Urban Issues and the Changing Faces of Music Education, and Arts Learning and Assessing the Student of Today. Additional requirements include courses in music technology and a range of special-topic courses covering various areas of music education. With their remaining credits, students select from a list of approved music education electives and customize their studies to suit their professional needs and interests. These electives may include private applied lessons, Alexander Technique, advanced music theory courses, arranging, composition, and much more.

During the fall and spring semesters, students have the unique opportunity to create a meaningful bridge between their graduate studies and their teaching practice. The academic year courses consist of directed-study projects in which students apply what they are learning in the classroom, with the guidance of a faculty member. Student projects include curriculum development and implementation, the design and execution of instructional strategies, and the recording and analysis of teaching approaches. The culminating experience of the program provides students with the opportunity to conduct and report original research in a master’s thesis or to create original educational materials in a range of formats.

Your Future

Alumni of the program are currently working as band directors, church choir directors, choral directors, and music teachers all over the U.S. Recent postings have included positions with The Maret School (Washington, D.C.) and Tobin School (Massachusetts), as well as a post as the high school band director at Lexington High School (Massachusetts).

How to Apply