Music Education
Music & Teaching Combined
As a future music teacher, you will explore your love of music alongside your desire to make a difference in students’ lives. In our music program, you will deepen your musicianship through skill developments in:
- Aural Skills
- Singing
- Keyboard
- Guitar
- Music History
- Conducting
- Musical Arranging
- String, Wind, and Percussion Instruments
Your development as a musician happens side by side with immersive experiences as a future teacher in diverse classrooms. Our small class sizes give you more opportunities for feedback, chances to be heard, and relationships with professors and peers that go beyond the classroom.
What Can I Do With a Degree in Music Education?
Our student teacher supervisors and area teachers tell us that ½ûÂþÌìÌà graduates are well-prepared and sought after by area school systems. Join a program with proven outcomes:
- 95% of our graduates have found employment within 3 months of graduation
- Students in our program have a 95% first-time pass rate on the Praxis licensure exam
- 100% of our students complete the program within four years
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Signature Coursework
In our most unique coursework, you will be guided by full-time faculty to teach music to kindergarten students as early as the fall of your sophomore year. You will explore who you are as a teacher, gaining early feedback and experience from faculty members. In our music education lab class, you will master instruments, conduct your friends, and practice arranging skills. In the spring, you will explore string instruments. Build a lifetime of skills and friendships through immersive learning. Opportunities for advanced coursework in conducting, diction, choral singing, and secondary methods build the foundation for you to succeed in a secondary choral classroom.
A National Leader in Social-Emotional Learning Pedagogy
Our Master of Music Education is the leading program in the country at the intersection of peacebuilding, social-emotional learning, world music drumming, and diverse cultures. As an undergraduate student, your learning is infused with lessons from leading faculty members in social-emotional learning, teaching techniques, and diverse musical traditions. We believe you are prepared with rich experiences.
Individual Attention With Small Class Sizes
Potential music majors are admitted to the program following a holistic audition and interview. Our music department is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Small class sizes of two to eight students give you more opportunities for feedback, chances to be heard, and relationships that go beyond the classroom. Our focus on real-world learning develops your skills in the classroom while also exploring who you want to be as a future teacher.
Music Minor
A minor in music offers opportunities to acquire and develop skills in music theory, performance, music history, and literature. Students electing to minor in Music must consult with the Department Chair, who assigns a music faculty member to assess readiness for admission to the program.
We invite all prospective Music majors to join us on campus to meet the faculty, observe a class or performance and learn more about the auditions process.
Music Ensembles
½ûÂþÌìÌà offers a variety of ensembles. You do not have to be a Music major to participate in an ensemble, however you must be registered on Jayweb for the ensemble, either for credit or no-credit. With our ensembles, you will perform several times each year both on-and off-campus.
Instrumental Ensembles
Symphonic Band
The ½ûÂþÌìÌà Symphonic Band, directed by Dr. Galen Leitzel, is the premier wind and percussion ensemble. The ensemble performs a wide variety of quality musical literature from the wind band repertoire. Membership in the Symphonic Band is available to Etown students of every academic major. No audition is required for membership. The Symphonic Band rehearses twice per week and performs at least one concert each semester. For more information regarding membership, contact Dr. Leitzel at leitzelg@etown.edu or by telephone at (717) 361-1178.
Jazz Band
The Jazz Band, directed by Grant Moore, meets once each week for two hours and members may receive 1/2 credit. It is open to qualified students, with the approval of the director. It performs often during the academic year, both on- and off-campus, and offers students instruction in the basic skills of improvisation, stylization, and performance. For more information regarding membership, contact Grant Moore at mooreg@etown.edu or by telephone at (717) 361-1114.
Orchestra
Founded in 1971, the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ-Community Orchestra (ECCO) is the premier wind, string, and percussion ensemble at ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ. The ensemble, directed by Dr. Hayden Denesha, performs a wide variety of quality musical literature for both string orchestra and full orchestra. Membership is available to students of every academic major at Elizabethtown. There are no auditions required for community and college string players; community and College wind and percussion musicians gain membership in the ensemble with permission from the director. The orchestra performs at least one concert each semester. For more information regarding membership, contact Dr. Denesha at deneshah@etown.edu or by telephone at (717) 361-1178.
Chamber Ensembles
Chamber ensembles provide students opportunities to learn and perform works for small ensemble combinations. Musicians work to increase knowledge of chamber music repertoire and performance practice. The ensembles meet for approximately one hour weekly. Participants receive one-half hour credit per semester. Chamber groups include, but are not limited to:
- Arioso Flute Choir
- Brass Ensemble
- Clarinet Ensemble
- Horn Ensemble
- Mixed Winds
- Percussion Ensemble
- Piano Ensemble
- Saxophone Ensemble
- String Ensemble
Occasionally mixed groups may also be formed, including guitar and voice. Auditions may be necessary for some groups.
Choral Ensembles
College-Community Chorus
The ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ-Community Chorus is directed by Dr. Matthew Fritz, and is open to any member of the student body and local community without audition. Literature performed may include works from the standard choral repertoire, contemporary selections and music of varying cultures and periods. Students may enroll for one credit and earn Creative Expression core credit after four semesters or enroll for no credit with instructor permission.
Fenice
Fenice is a gender-inclusive treble choir directed by Dr. Anne Gross and is open to any member of the student body by audition. Literature performed may include works from the standard choral repertoire, contemporary selections, and music of varying cultures and periods. Students may enroll for one credit and earn Creative Expression core credit after four semesters or enroll for no credit with instructor permission.
Sine Nomine
This vocal ensemble focuses on repertoire for the bass and tenor voices and is directed by Dr. Matthew Fritz. The ensemble is open to any member of the student body without audition. Literature performed may include works from the standard choral repertoire, contemporary selections, and music of varying cultures and periods.
Concert Choir
Concert Choir, Dr. Matthew Fritz, director, is an auditioned group is ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ’s premier vocal ensemble. This 40-member, mixed-voice, touring ensemble has performed throughout the United States as well as internationally. International tours have included Ireland, Northern Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and Wales. Auditions for the ensemble are held each spring for current students, and during Freshmen Orientation for new students. Students may enroll for one credit or enroll for no credit with instructor permission.