INFORMATION FOR
The music education program provides a solid basis for professional success as a teacher through courses in performance, theory, music history, music education, and liberal studies. Available with either a Jazz or Classical focus, our Music Education degree combines the best aspects of music and education into a strong and diverse program that leads to teacher certification in music for the State of New Jersey.
William Paterson’s Collegiate Chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAME) gives students additional opportunities to discuss and participate in music education, be part of regional and national conventions, and enjoy social activities.
CLICK HERE to download a brochure that describes the Music Education programs at William Paterson University!
In addition to the University’s admission requirements:
Music performance
Music teaching
Students may pursue an undergraduate music education degree in either classical or jazz idioms, based on their audition. Audition requirements may be seen in the auditions section of the website. Students whose major instrument is a traditional band or orchestra instrument typically follow the instrumental concentration while those who study voice, piano, or guitar usually follow the vocal concentration.
As a Bachelor of Music degree, the music education curriculum consists of demanding coursework in music as well as in education. All students receive a weekly 50 minute private lesson on their primary instrument, perform in large and small ensembles, and are featured as performers during our weekly recital hour.
Undergraduate students seeking initial teacher certification usually begin taking Professional Education Sequence courses in their 5th semester in partnership with William Paterson University’s College of Education. These courses include classroom work as well as clinical experiences in New Jersey public schools, which are administered through the College of Education's K-12 Subject Area certification program. Upon successful completion of all course work, exam requirements, and clinical experiences, graduating students will be recommended to the state to receive a New Jersey teaching certificate for comprehensive music, grades N-12.
Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in music may obtain their New Jersey teacher certification (Subject Matter K-12 in Music) through the Master of Arts in Teaching, which is administered by the through the College of Education at William Paterson University. Students interested in this program should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for application information as well as the current coordinator of the Master of Arts in Teaching.
At William Paterson University we believe that excellence in music education begins with excellence in musicianship and performance developed by way of
Our music education program provides the knowledge, skills, flexibility, and versatility required to meet the demands of contemporary educational settings. Through the study of important topics in music education, including performance, general, instrumental and choral music education and technology, our graduates are consistently recognized as having a well-rounded, down to earth approach to teaching music.
Professor Carol Frierson-CampbellProgram Coordinator, Department of Music friersoncampbellc@wpunj.edu973-720-3639