Train to Teach Music with Expert Guidance
The Department of Music, in partnership with the Department of Educational Studies, offers a Music Education major that can lead to state certification as a music teacher. The major itself does not automatically lead to a teaching credential. To receive state certification, students must complete the Music Education major and additional Educational Studies classes.
All of the classes focus on practical, real-world skills that will transfer directly to the student’s first classroom. The Department of Music works with students as individuals and in groups to develop performance skills and knowledge of music theory, history and literature. Music students share a personal relationship with faculty whose work as teachers, performers and scholars keeps them and their students in touch with the realities of today’s musical world.
The Music and Educational Studies departments also work together to ensure students have outstanding clinical and student teaching placements and complete their degrees in four years (if they start the program their first semester). All of the full-time music faculty have public school teaching experience and enjoy close relationships with music teachers in local school districts. The faculty also works closely with students after graduation to help them find a job.
Education Preparation Program Report Card : Annual Report
Faculty
| Requirements for a Major in Music Education | |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 72-82 credits |
| Non-credit requirements | Music Education majors must pass five semesters of MUS 010 (Recital Attendance) |
| Elective Courses | MUS 110 (Gender and Music); MUS 300 (Topics in Music); Any course below that is not used to complete the major requirements. |
| Music Theory Sequence | MUS 121 Music Theory I, 123 Aural Skills I, 221 Music Theory II, 223 Aural Skills II, 225 Music Theory III and 227 Aural Skills III. MUS 111 (Foundations of Music) and MUS 113 (Foundations of Aural Skills) are not required for the major but may be appropriate to prepare students for MUS 121/123. |
| Music Education Cluster | Three of the following Techniques courses: MUS 260:01 (Brass), MUS 260:02 (Percussion), MUS 260:03 (Strings), MUS 260:04 (Vocal), MUS 260:05 (Woodwind), MUS 260:06 (Choral), or MUS 265 Diction for Singers; and all of the following: MUS 270 (Introduction to Music Education); MUS 280 (Music Technology); MUS 302 (Elementary School Music Methods); MUS 306 (Middle and High School Music Methods); MUS 334 (Conducting I); MUS 335 (Conducting II) |
| Lessons and Ensembles | Applied Lessons: 10 total credits required; A MINIMUM of 4 credits and a MAXIMUM of 8 credits must be from MUS 102, 103, 104, 105 (Class Piano I-IV), 150.09 and 250.09 (Piano lessons). Other courses that fulfill this requirement: MUS 100 (Group Voice Class), MUS 140 (Intermediate Voice Lessons), MUS 240 (Advanced Voice Lessons), MUS 150:xx* (Intermediate Instrumental Lessons), and MUS 250:xx* (Advanced Instrumental Lessons. * - where “xx” represents section numbers assigned to specific instruments. 6 credits of Ensembles: (MUS 190:xx) Section 01 - Jazz Combo; Section 02 -Concert Choir; Section 03 - Choral Union; Section 04 - Chamber Singers; Section 05 - Jazz Ensemble; Section 06 - Orchestra; Section 7 - Symphonic Wind Ensemble; Section 8 - Rally Band; Section 9 - Chamber Winds & Percussion; Section 11 - Brass Ensemble; Section 12 - Guitar Ensemble *Not every ensemble is offered every semester |
| Additional Criteria | The completion of the Music Education major does not automatically lead to a teaching credential. To receive state certification as a music teacher, students will need to complete the Music Education major and take the following Educational Studies classes: EDU 190 School and Society; EDU 260 Diversity in American Education; EDU 270 Differentiated Instruction; EDU 311 Literacy Development in Middle/Secondary Schools; EDU 320 Clinical Block: Student Practicum in Teaching, EDU 421- Student Teaching: Music |
Interested in music as a career?
Career Tracks
A major in Music Education culminates in student teaching and certification. As a result of their learning in classes, individual lessons and ensembles, graduates are well-prepared to teach in K-12 schools. Music majors from Ripon College have successfully pursued careers in the following:
- Public school and studio teaching
- Performance
- Higher education
- Church music
- Other professional fields
Unique Opportunities
Certification in music is available for grades K-12. This allows the educator to teach instrumental music, choral music, and general music.
Students of any discipline can participate in Chamber Singers, Choral Union, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, some on the basis of audition.
Chamber Singers tours annually over spring break.
Ensembles
Chamber Singers
Chamber Singers is Ripon College’s premier choral ensemble and is open to students of all majors by audition. Chamber Singers performs a wide array of choral repertoire throughout the year. The ensemble performs multiple times on campus each semester. Every spring, the Chamber Singers go on tour to share music with schools and communities throughout the region. For more information please contact Paul Thompson.
Choral Union
Ripon College’s Choral Union is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. The choir performs on its own, and also joins other choirs and the Ripon College Orchestra for a masterwork concert every spring. Rehearsals are Thursdays from 6 – 8 p.m. For more information, please contact Paul Thompson.
Concert Choir
The Ripon Concert Choir is a mixed choir open to any student on campus. This choir is designed to be a singing home for students regardless of past choral experience. No audition is required; simply sign up and come to rehearsals. The group will sing varied choral repertoire with a focus on music as a vehicle to build our voices, skills, and humanity. For more information please contact Paul Thompson.
Jazz Ensemble
The Ripon College Jazz Ensemble is a big band that plays music from the earliest jazz through the most contemporary jazz styles. From within the group, a number of different jazz combos perform as well on the two major Jazz Ensemble concerts each year. Development of improvisation skills is a major goal of the group. The Jazz Ensemble also performs on a pops concert each year and occasionally at off-campus events. For more information, please contact Paul Dietrich.
Orchestra
Unlike many schools its size, Ripon College has a long-standing, vital College Orchestra. Made up of students and community members, the group puts on two concerts a year that feature orchestral works from all of the style periods of Western music. Concerts often feature guest soloists. Children’s concerts are another type of event that the orchestra puts on with some regularity. For more information, please contact Yukiko Grine.
Symphonic Wind Ensemble
The Ripon College Symphonic Wind Ensemble is made up of brass, winds and percussion. In recent years, the group has had approximately 50 to 55 members. It is largely a student group, although there are a few community members. The group performs two major concerts each year, as well as a pops concert and a concert of small ensemble music. Literature ranges from band classics from throughout the 20th century to transcriptions of music from other media, marches and lighter fare. For more information, please contact Toby Shucha.
Chamber Winds and Percussion
An extension of Symphonic Wind Ensemble, this small chamber ensemble is open to players of wind, brass, and percussion instruments by audition and/or consultation with the instructor. The group allows a more ensemble-led approach to music-making. For more information, please contact Toby Shucha.
Rally Band
Rally Band is Ripon College’s athletic band. The band performs at many athletic contests and other events on campus, including football and basketball games. The band plays an array of arrangements of pop and rock tunes. For more information, please contact Toby Shucha.
Jazz Combo
This small jazz ensemble focuses on learning to play in a combo setting, and developing jazz improvisation skills For more information, please contact Paul Dietrich
Chamber Ensembles
Offered based on student interest, Ripon College is able to offer a variety of coached chamber ensembles including Guitar Ensemble, Brass Quintet, String Quartet, Woodwind Quintet, etc. If you are interested in one of these, please reach out to Music Department Chair Erin Bryan and express your interest so we can plan which ensembles to offer.
Advising
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.
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