"Don't just teach. Inspire."
In our hands-on program you will learn from a world-renowned faculty of practitioners and researchers in lively courses filled with a variety of pedagogical approaches. You will collaborate with music teachers from around the world to promote artistic, intelligent, reflective and inspired music teaching at all levels of music.
Our program is designed for teachers by teachers to serve professional music educators who wish to strengthen their classroom teaching. We value classroom practice, theory and research equally in our quest to improve the quality of music education. St. Thomas offers a range of courses for the practicing teacher to incorporate into elementary and secondary curricula.
A broad range of courses
The Master of Arts in Music Education curriculum requires 33 credit hours and consists of three elements:
See the wide array of classes offered in our summer 2024 course catalog.
This degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements specific to the choral experience. Unique to the Master of Arts in Music Education program is its emphasis on practical application in graduate study as well as cooperation among classroom, vocal, and instrumental music educators to produce superior music education in our schools and other musical settings.
The choral concentration explores effective ways to enrich the choral experience for singers in our classrooms focusing on conducting, pedagogy, repertoire and vocal development.
Required choral concentration courses (15 credits)
Choral elective courses (minimum of 4 credits)
Other courses considered for elective credit (advisor approval required)
Non-course requirements
This degree explores meaningful ways to deepen one's confidence and skillset in matters of power and privilege — in ways that are musical, pedagogical and critically responsive to the world around us. Unique to the Diverse Perspectives Concentration is its emphasis on vocal and instrumental work for all participants regardless of background, as well as a practical application of equity work in various education settings — including classrooms and ensembles from preschool through university levels, private studios and community groups.
Required Diverse Perspectives concentration courses (16 credits)
Diverse Perspectives elective courses (minimum of 3 credits)
Non-course requirements
The degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements that apply to the instrumental experience. Unique to this program is its emphasis on practical application in graduate study as well as cooperation among classroom, vocal, and instrumental music educators to produce superior music education in our schools and other musical settings. Informed pedagogy is the cornerstone of this concentration.
Required instrumental concentration courses (11 credits)
Instrumental elective courses (minimum of 5 credits)
Other courses considered for elective credit (advisor approval required)
Non-course requirements
The degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements specific to the general music teacher's work with students of all ages using the Kodály approach. Students will learn a developmentally sequential, active music-making approach that emphasizes singing, artistry, literacy, authentic music materials, reflective practice, and inquiry-based learning for teaching musical concepts and skills. Pedagogic tools include moveable-do tonic solfa, Curwen/Glover handsigns, and rhythm syllables.
Required Kodály concentration courses (15 credits)
Kodály elective courses (minimum of 2 credits)
Non-course requirements
This M.A. degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements that apply to the general music teacher's work with students of all ages using the Orff Schulwerk approach. In this concentration students will learn how to create an environment in which children become active, creative participants in their musical education by experiencing music through movement, song, speech and instrument playing.
Required Orff Schulwerk concentration courses (11 credits)
Orff Schulwerk elective courses (minimum of 5 credits)
Non-course requirements
This degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements specific to the piano experience. Unique to the Master of Arts in Music Education program is its emphasis on practical application in graduate study as well as cooperation among classroom, vocal, and instrumental music educators to produce superior music education in our schools and other musical settings.
The piano pedagogy concentration places emphasis on practical aspects of teaching elementary, intermediate and advanced students to develop their musicianship and technical skills.
MTNA certification: Music Teachers National Association Professional Certification and the piano pedagogy programs at the University of St. Thomas.
Required piano pedagogy concentration courses (11 credits)
Piano elective courses (minimum of 5 credits)
Non-course requirements
This degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements specific to the choral experience. Unique to the Master of Arts in Music Education program is its emphasis on practical application in graduate study as well as cooperation among classroom, vocal, and instrumental music educators to produce superior music education in our schools and other musical settings.
The choral concentration explores effective ways to enrich the choral experience for singers in our classrooms focusing on conducting, pedagogy, repertoire and vocal development.
Required choral concentration courses (15 credits)
Choral elective courses (minimum of 4 credits)
Other courses considered for elective credit (advisor approval required)
Non-course requirements
This degree explores meaningful ways to deepen one's confidence and skillset in matters of power and privilege — in ways that are musical, pedagogical and critically responsive to the world around us. Unique to the Diverse Perspectives Concentration is its emphasis on vocal and instrumental work for all participants regardless of background, as well as a practical application of equity work in various education settings — including classrooms and ensembles from preschool through university levels, private studios and community groups.
Required Diverse Perspectives concentration courses (16 credits)
Diverse Perspectives elective courses (minimum of 3 credits)
Non-course requirements
The degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements that apply to the instrumental experience. Unique to this program is its emphasis on practical application in graduate study as well as cooperation among classroom, vocal, and instrumental music educators to produce superior music education in our schools and other musical settings. Informed pedagogy is the cornerstone of this concentration.
Required instrumental concentration courses (11 credits)
Instrumental elective courses (minimum of 5 credits)
Other courses considered for elective credit (advisor approval required)
Non-course requirements
The degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements specific to the general music teacher's work with students of all ages using the Kodály approach. Students will learn a developmentally sequential, active music-making approach that emphasizes singing, artistry, literacy, authentic music materials, reflective practice, and inquiry-based learning for teaching musical concepts and skills. Pedagogic tools include moveable-do tonic solfa, Curwen/Glover handsigns, and rhythm syllables.
Required Kodály concentration courses (15 credits)
Kodály elective courses (minimum of 2 credits)
Non-course requirements
This M.A. degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements that apply to the general music teacher's work with students of all ages using the Orff Schulwerk approach. In this concentration students will learn how to create an environment in which children become active, creative participants in their musical education by experiencing music through movement, song, speech and instrument playing.
Required Orff Schulwerk concentration courses (11 credits)
Orff Schulwerk elective courses (minimum of 5 credits)
Non-course requirements
This degree features a broad range of core courses balanced by requirements specific to the piano experience. Unique to the Master of Arts in Music Education program is its emphasis on practical application in graduate study as well as cooperation among classroom, vocal, and instrumental music educators to produce superior music education in our schools and other musical settings.
The piano pedagogy concentration places emphasis on practical aspects of teaching elementary, intermediate and advanced students to develop their musicianship and technical skills.
MTNA certification: Music Teachers National Association Professional Certification and the piano pedagogy programs at the University of St. Thomas.
Required piano pedagogy concentration courses (11 credits)
Piano elective courses (minimum of 5 credits)
Non-course requirements
Our programs are designed for working music teachers who wish to pursue graduate study without interrupting their professional lives. All courses required for the degree are available during the summer term in an interlocking arrangement of day and evening courses.
In 2013, Adrian assumed the duties and responsibilities of establishing a music department at Roosevelt High School. He was nominated a quarterfinalist for Grammy Music Educator of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and was featured on Classical MPR in January 2014 for excellence in music education.
Liz has taught K-8 music at H.O.P.E. Academy and Noble Academy in Minnesota. H.O.P.E. Academy served as a beginning for Liz’s teaching experience where she acted as a Hmong-English bilingual teacher and learned conversational Hmong for the children’s comfort.
Reid earned his MA in Instrumental Education and is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Southwest High School in Minneapolis. In 2018, he was invited to speak at the Midwest Clinic and is a force for change in the music education field.
Sarah is a music educator at Minneapolis South High School and adjunct faculty at St. Thomas. She has taught middle school band, jazz band, marching band, and most recently, secondary general music. Her focus is on providing music making opportunities for every student.
A series of excellence
Since 1990, the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs in Music Education has sponsored a summer seminar in which distinguished figures in music and arts education present their work to the community of music educators in the Twin Cities metro area.
Dr. George holds a DMA degree in conducting from the University of North Texas, a MM degree in music education from Southern Methodist University, and a BM degree in music education and trumpet performance from Ithaca College. He is Professor of Music and the Director of Bands and Orchestra at St. Thomas.
Dr. Johnson received her PhD in Music Theory from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a doctoral minor in Composition, a MM in Composition from California State University-Northridge and a BA in Music from Augsburg College, where her emphasis was in flute performance.
Stemming from a career that has spanned all levels of instrumental and vocal music instruction, kindergarten through graduate school, Bruce Gleason teaches and advises students within Graduate Programs in Music Education.