How long should training last for future music teachers? Some people say that good teachers are always learning, but here’s one answer about a university program from MENC member Don P. Ester:

“At Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, we have four-year plans for both of our music education degrees. The two teaching licenses one can obtain in Indiana are ‘Vocal and General Music Education’ and ‘Instrumental and General Music Education.’  It requires more than four years, of course, for students who choose to complete both sides.”

Ester continues:  “We considered the five-year option when we completed a major curriculum revision in 2000. Our administration discouraged us from looking at a five-year option, however, because of recruiting issues (that is, they believed we would lose potential students if they could go elsewhere and get the ‘same’ degree in four years).”

“We’re very comfortable with the four-year approach, as it allows students to finish in four years--but they can choose to study longer if they wish to do so. We don’t believe that we’re compromising the curriculum at all. In fact, our curriculum includes more actual music education coursework than most programs in the United States. (I know of no program that is more comprehensive in this respect.)  It’s a very intense four years, but then, being a public school music educator is a pretty intense career choice!”

Don P. Ester is a professor and area coordinator of music education in the School of Music, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. He is also the immediate past chair of the Society for Music Teacher Education (SMTE).

 
Does your school have a four- or a five-year music education degree program?  Why?  Write Ella Wilcox at ellaw@menc.org to share your opinion, and we'll consider it for publication in this space.
 

 --Ella Wilcox, September 23, 2008, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education (www.menc.org)