Music B.A.
Our Bachelor of Arts in Music gives you comprehensive training in the core music curriculum – including music history and theory as well as applied music – and the liberal arts.
Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education
Choose Saint Rose for Your Bachelor's Degree in Music Education
Become an inspiration to your students.
If you dream of sharing your own music experience, seeing your ensemble shine at a festival, challenging middle schoolers with Mozart or Holst, or teaching preschoolers to sing traditional American folk songs, no place readies you as well as Saint Rose. Since Saint Rose was founded, we’ve been successfully preparing music educators to teach in public and private schools.
Our rigorous training and hands-on fieldwork ensures that in four years you’ll complete the requirements for New York State certification in music, grades K-12, and graduate as a skilled, experienced music teacher who reaches students’ hearts as well as their ears.
Start with intensive foundational training in music performance and music theory, progress through key education coursework, and spend your last semester serving as a student teacher. With the guidance of our dedicated, accomplished faculty who have all taught in public or private schools, you’ll develop performance and teaching skills on woodwind, brass, percussion, and string instruments, as well as piano and voice.
You’ll learn to connect with your students and share your love of music with them. And you’ll graduate a confident, capable music educator ready to teach general music or direct band, orchestra, or chorus at any K-12 grade level – joining generations of award-winning Saint Rose alumni who not only fill the ranks of music-education leadership locally and nationally, but are the best loved teachers in their schools.
Audition Requirement
All prospective Music in Performance students must audition in order to be considered for admission.
View Audition InformationProgram Highlights
You receive the full Saint Rose Music Education experience:
- Focus on the concentration for your instrument
Voice (for vocalists, pianists, and guitarists) or instrumental, while gaining proficiency in all instruments - Supportive mentorship
Learn from music educators who are top professionals in their fields and who perform regularly with large and small ensembles - Networking & professional growth
Attend music education conferences and develop working relationships with school districts and area music educators - Required student teacher placement
Observe more than 20 music educators in diverse settings in public and private schools, then spend your last semester as a student teacher: first in an elementary, then in a secondary school
Saint Rose sang to me. Out of four music schools I visited, Saint Rose blew them all out of the water. The moment I stepped onto campus, I was greeted by the sweetest, warmest faculty I’ve ever met. The facilities are so impressive, and the students are amazing – talented musicians everywhere, equipped with their own different flavor from all over. This is a great place to be for music!
–Xavier Ortiz-Reyes, Music Education, Class of 2021
Curriculum
The Saint Rose Music Education program is comprehensive K-12 and enables graduates to teach in all areas of music: general, instrumental, and vocal. Instrumental music majors focus on Instrumental Music Education, which prepares them to be band or orchestra directors as well as general music teachers. Vocal, Piano, and Guitar majors focus on Vocal Music Education, which prepares them to be choral directors and/or general music teachers.
View Bachelor of Science in Music Education Course Requirements
- Students will understand the elements of musical style, recognizing significant trends, musicians, theorists, literature, and external influences from antiquity to the present.
- Students will aurally recognize the fundamental elements of music.
- Students will demonstrate a mastery of a body of repertoire in performance on their primary applied instrument.
- Students will implement teaching strategies that demonstrate content knowledge and foster development, learning, and motivation in the Music Classroom.
- Students will demonstrate evidence of planning, implementation, and assessment during lessons and/or rehearsals.
- Students will demonstrate a mastery of rehearsal techniques that include piano skills and conducting.
- The student will demonstrate a basic proficiency on instruments/voice outside of the primary applied instrument.
A Day in the Life of a Music Education Student
Take our guided tour!
Follow Rich Jiminez ’21, a music education student, as he takes you through his day at The College of Saint Rose.
Student Spotlight: Sarah Wright ’21
Guilderland Music Academy in Albany, NY
Required Student Teacher Placements
Step into the classroom ready to teach.
Beginning in their first semester of study you can find our music education students gaining both pre-student teaching observation and professional development experiences. The capstone project is a full-semester of student teaching in elementary and secondary public and/or private schools throughout the Capital Region.
Exceptional Faculty
Emphasis on inventive hands-on learning
Talented, accomplished, and 100% dedicated to you: Our faculty provide the perfect balance of challenge and support for your inspiration. A 10:1 student-faculty ratio means you receive their undivided attention and mentorship.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jennifer Campbell
Coordinator of Music Education, Assistant Professor of Music Education-Elementary
As the Coordinator of the Music Education Program, I am committed to supporting our undergraduate students at all points of their professional development. As an elementary music specialist, I enjoy sharing PK-5 and middle general music pedagogies with all education majors!
Saint Rose Music Professor Leads the Band in Hungary
Professor Robert Hansbrough has been named a guest conductor at the University of Szeged, among the many Saint Rose music faculty members invited to contribute their talents at institutions across the country and overseas.
Sarah Dworjan ’19 – Music Education Alumni,
Teacher at Brighter Choice Charter Elementary School for Girls
Alumni Outcomes
Our Alumni have got it figured out.
We’re a community that loves music, and lives to foster each other’s creativity. Our graduates use their Saint Rose education as a springboard to employment in music education.
Explore Our Amazing OutcomesRelated Programs
Music Industry B.S.
If you see yourself discovering the next Adele, producing the most-downloaded tracks, or promoting mega-benefit concerts, nothing prepares you for a music-industry career as well as Saint Rose.
Music Performance B.M.
If you live for your art, love to perform, and can’t wait to share your music with others, the Bachelor of Music in Performance at Saint Rose is for you.
Contact Us Now
Of course, if you have any questions, please reach out. We’re here to help.
Dr. Jennifer Campbell
Coordinator of Music Education
