Graduate Course Descriptions

This graduate course provides an introduction to the analysis of tonal music, with a particular emphasis on form and its influence on other aural processes. Through the analysis of various pieces, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of analytical tools and their application. Course materials and assignments will be tailored to music education, exploring how higher-order analysis can be effectively integrated into the K-12 classroom.

Introduction to Musicology provides a comprehensive introduction to music scholarship through the lens of history. By utilizing both cultural and musical analysis, we will traverse through music of the world while maintaining an emphasis on the notational and stylistic trends of Western art music. By way of sociology and anthropology, we will reevaluate historical narratives and disentangle social forces. We will also explore: how and where research is disseminated, how to access and deal with primary and secondary sources, how to formulate interesting and productive research questions, and how to write academically about music.

This course equips educators with the skills to effectively implement a variety of instructional strategies into their teaching practice. By examining pedagogical models, educators, will gain the ability to reflect on best practices and ways to tailor instruction to diverse learners. Through a comprehensive exploration of curriculum development principles, educators will develop the knowledge and skills to actively participate in curriculum planning, design, development, implementation, evaluation, and improvement. The assessment portion of this course will examine a variety of assessment tools and ways these can be implemented into classroom practice.

This course delves into the psychological underpinnings of music learning, exploring theories, learner characteristics, cognitive processes, emotions, creativity, decision-making, social development, assessment, and effective teaching strategies. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to create engaging and effective learning experiences that cater to the unique needs and abilities of their music students.

This course explores the use of technology as a tool for music education. The course will focus on creating and implementing lessons, units, and curriculum that leverage technology to foster student musicianship through composition, performance, and critical listening.

This specialized course is designed for music educators seeking advanced instruction and practice in choral and instrumental conducting techniques. Students will delve into complex gestures, patterns, score interpretation, rehearsal management, and unique challenges in choral and instrumental settings. Advanced musicianship exercises will equip students with the tools to elevate their performance abilities.

In this course, teachers will explore music topics through the lens of community building and belonging. Teachers will experience Modern Band, collaborative online music making, and more. This course will focus on building community through ensemble participation and performance, helping students develop focus, listening, teamwork, and respect.

The Comprehensive Portfolio will be used as the capstone experience. The creation of a portfolio will provide an opportunity to showcase professional activities, curriculum vitae, major course papers/presentations, research, and other relevant scholarly or professional documents. This course should be taken in the final semester of coursework for the MM Music Education degree.

Students will identify the unique nature, characteristics, and relationship of the Self and Others in regard to leadership and followership. Build upon an understanding of these identified differences to develop and implement strategies that improve the quality of the work culture and overall productivity for the betterment of the collective organization. This course lays the foundation for other courses in the program to include communication, ethics, power and aesthetics, strategy and subsidiarity, followership and solidarity, self-care, and more.

A systems perspective of organizations is explored. Learners integrate systems thinking and change theory to leverage best practices within the context of today’s uncertain environment to enhance an organization’s effectiveness. Specifics addressed include organizational design and its challenges such as structure and control, issues of culture, strategy in light of globalization, technology, change, decision-making, innovation, conflict, power and politics.