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Music Education

The music education program prepares you for the State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License for K-12.

Preparing You For Success

You’ll participate in classroom field experiences your first year, then gain additional field experiences in your sophomore and junior years. These prepare you for the senior year student teaching experience. Bradley faculty and your supervising teachers are valuable mentors throughout the process. You’re also anchored in the music department as you complete the bachelor of music degree in music education.

The Department of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The teacher education department is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. It also is a member of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

By the time you graduate, your experiences may include:

  • Courses in music history, theory, ear training and sight singing
  • Expertise in instrumental, piano or vocal music, depending on your area of specialization
  • Professional development and licensure in K-12 music
  • More than 500 hours of field experience and student teaching in local classrooms
  • Instruction and mentorship from faculty who have taught on six continents, published 30 books on education and served in educational leadership at state and national levels
  • Opportunities to perform and travel with exceptional ensembles in your area of expertise (instrumental and/or vocal)
  • Networking with professional and possible performance opportunities with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Municipal Band, Central Illinois Jazz Society and other regional organizations
  • Use of classroom technologies such as Smart Boards, virtual reality and recording technologies

Making Your Mark

Music education teachers are in demand. Recent music education students who completed the program and graduated boast a 100 percent pass rate on Illinois licensure tests, including the national edTPA portfolio evaluation. That success means you can enter the teaching profession soon after Commencement. Many graduates are working for school districts in the Midwest.

Sample Program Plan
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Major Requirements

Bradley Core Curriculum - 36 hrs. (Choose 2 from different areas QR, HU, SB, NS)

  • COM 103 (OC): The Oral Communication Process (COM 103 is required for Advancement) - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 101 (W1): English Composition (ENG 101 is required for Advancement) - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 300-306 (W2): Advanced Writing - 3 hrs.
  • ETE 115 (MI): Multi-discipline Integration
  • ETE 280 (GP): Global Systems or World Cultures
  • MTH 111 or 101 (QR): Quantitative Reasoning (MTH 111 or MTH 101 is required for Advancement) - 3 hrs.
  • Humanities (HU): - 3 hrs.
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences (SB): - 3 hrs.
  • Science Reasoning (NS): - 3 hrs.
  • Elective 1 from GP, QR, HU, SB, NS (Choice 1 and 2 from different areas) - 3 hrs.
  • Elective 2 from GP, QR, HU, SB, NS (Choice 1 and 2 from different areas) - 3 hrs.

Bradley Core Practice (WI)

  • ETE 310:Teacher Performance Assessment - 1 hr.
  • MUS 380, 381, 382, 383 - 3 hrs.

Bradley Core Practice (EL)

  • ETE 301:Novice Teaching Experiences in Music Classrooms K-8
  • ETE 493: Student Teaching For Music K-12

Music and Music Education

Taken By All Music Education Students

  • APL: Applied Lessons (Must take each semester) - 14 hrs.
  • MUS 001: Recital Laboratory EACH SEMESTER - 0 hrs.
  • MUS 002: Senior Recital - 0 hrs.
  • MUS 141: Orchestra - 1 hr.
  • MUS 142: University Bands - 1 hr.
  • MUS 143: Bradley Community Chorus - 1 hr.
  • MUS 144: Bradley Chorale
  • MUS 341: Orchestra - 1 hr.
  • MUS 342: University Bands - 1 hr.
  • MUS 343: Bradley Community Chorus - 1 hr.
  • MUS 344: Bradley Chorale
  • MUS 115: Voice Class SPRING ONLY - 1 hr.
  • MUS 125: Diction (MUEVOT only) FALL ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 161: Music Theory I FALL ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 162: Music Theory II SPRING ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 163: Elementary Ear-Training and Sight Singing FALL ONLY - 1 hr.
  • MUS 164: Elementary Ear-Training and Sight Singing SPRING ONLY - 1 hr.
  • MUS 165: Keyboard Skills-Class Piano FALL ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 166: Keyboard Skills-Class Piano SPRING ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 380: Western Music to 1750 FALL ONLY - 3 hrs.
  • MUS 381: Western Music 1750-Present SPRING ONLY - 3 hrs.
  • Choose one:
    • MUS 382: Music and World Cultures FALL ONLY - 3 hrs.
    • MUS 383: History of American Music SPRING ONLY - 3 hrs.
  • MUS 261: Music Theory III FALL ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 262: Music Theory IV SPRING ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 263: Advanced Ear-Training and Sight Singing FALL ONLY - 1 hr.
  • MUS 264: Advanced Ear-Training and Sight Singing SPRING ONLY - 1 hr.
  • MUS 265: Advanced Keyboard Skills-Class Piano FALL ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 266: Advanced Keyboard Skills-Class Piano SPRING ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 323: Marching Band Techniques MUEINT only FALL ODD YRS - 1 hr.
  • MUS 375: Opera Workshop MUEVOT only SPRING ONLY - 1 hr.
  • MUS 401: Orchestration MUEINT only FALL ODD YRS - 2 hrs.
  • MUS 480: Vocal Literature MUEVOT only SPRING ODD YRS - 2 hrs.

Music Education Coursework

  • MED 101: Introduction to Music Education FALL ONLY - 1 hr.
  • MED 155: Brass Technique, Materials and Methods SPRING EVEN YRS - 2 hrs.
  • MED 251: String Technique, Materials and Methods FALL EVEN YRS - 2 hrs.
  • MED 257: Percussion Technique SPRING ODD YRS - 2 hrs.
  • MED 301: Alternative Ensemble Techniques FALL ODD YRS - 2 hrs.
  • MED 321: Conducting I FALL ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MED 322: Conducting II SPRING ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MED 331: Piano Pedagogy MUEPIT only SPRING ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • MED 354: Woodwind Technique FALL EVEN YRS - 2 hrs.
  • MED 433: Piano Literature MUEPIT only SPRING ONLY - 2 hrs.

Professional Education

All courses count toward your GPA in Education and all must be a C or better.

Courses Taken Before Advancement - 11 hrs.

  • ETE 115: Schools and Schooling in American Society - 3 hrs.
  • ETE 116: Field Experience – Introductory Field Experience - 1 hr.
  • ETE 210: Human Development from Birth to Young Adulthood - 3 hrs.
  • ETE 219: Human Development and Effective Field Experience - 1 hr.
  • ETE 280: Exploring Diversity: Learners, Families & Communities - 3 hrs.

*Advancement Requirements:

  1. Must have passed COM 103, ENG 101, AND MTH 101 or MTH 111 with a C or better
  2. Must have a 2.5 or better GPA overall and in Education courses
  3. Pass the Dispositions Assignment
  4. Pass Criminal History check
  5. Pass Mandated Reporter
  6. Demonstrate appropriate pre-professional behaviors.
  7. Must have completed the Professional Program Application and Interview Process (usually during the 4th semester).

Courses Taken Anytime Before Student Teaching - 4 hrs.

  • ETE 100: (MED101 counts for this requirement) - 1 hr.
  • ETE 232: Meeting the Needs of All Students within the Disciplines FALL ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • ETE 270: Physical Development and Health - 1 hr.

Courses That Require Advancement To Candidacy - 26 hrs.

  • ETE 301: Novice Teaching Experience in Music K-8 (Taken with ETE 310, ETE 351) FALL ONLY - 1 hr.
  • ETE 302: Novice Teaching Experience in Secondary Music (Taken with ETE 310, ETE 352) SPRING ONLY - 1 hr.
  • ETE 351: Elementary School Music Methods for Music Majors (Taken with ETE 301) FALL ONLY - 3 hrs.
  • ETE 352: Secondary School Music (Taken with ETE 302) SPRING ONLY - 3 hrs.
  • ETE 368: Content Area Reading for All Students FALL ONLY - 2 hrs.
  • ETE 493: Student Teaching For Music K-12 EL (Taken after all other required ETE courses are completed) - 12 hrs.