What you will study
UCM’s Bachelor of Music Education degree features classes in conducting, pedagogy,
technology, music theory and music history. You’ll also have the chance to work directly
with UCM ensembles as both a performing musician and guest conductor.
In addition to developing your own instrumental performance skills, you’ll take a
range of classes on how to be an effective K–12 music teacher. Classes for Music Education
majors at UCM include:
- Introduction to the Teaching Profession: Develop skills in instructional planning, student assessment and creating a productive
classroom environment.
- Education of the Exceptional Child: Learn to identify gifted music students and provide them with resources to support
their talents.
- Methods of Teaching Elementary School Music: Acquire methodologies for teaching young music students topics in note and rhythm
reading, instrumental practice techniques and more.
Excellence in Music Education
- Top 15%: Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
- A Most Focused College for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 8%: Most Popular Colleges for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 15%: Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in instrumental music
UCM’s Instrumental Music Education majors hone their teaching and classroom management
skills through real-world scenarios both on and off campus:
- Field experiences: Students in UCM’s Bachelor of Music Education degree program complete three field
experiences in the Warrensburg community. Two provide classroom observation opportunities
at a local public school. The third experience requires co-teaching alongside a music
instructor in a K–12 setting, often in Kansas City or elsewhere in the state of Missouri.
- Event networking and planning: Take on event planning tasks and logistics during our annual Festival of Champions
and Invitational Band Festival events. With these optional events, you’ll get the
chance to develop the skills to maintain fruitful business partnerships in the music
industry or execute successful performance events at K–12 schools.
- Guest conducting: Lead some of UCM’s own ensemble classes as a guest conductor for project-based assignments.
These hands-on opportunities give you the chance to interact with skilled classmates
and receive feedback from professors on classroom management and conducting skills.
What can you do with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from UCM?
UCM’s Instrumental Music Education degree program will prepare you for K–12 teaching
positions and teaching certifications. Music educators are in demand across the country,
and UCM’s faculty can help you connect with prospective employers and schools — even
before you graduate. In fact, UCM’s Music Education program boasts a nearly 100% job
placement rate.
As a UCM graduate, you’ll also have the skills to seek advanced degrees at the master’s
and doctoral levels for a career as a professional musician, private music teacher
or college-level instructor.
Careers for graduates with a Bachelor of Music Education
Use the tool below to explore employment trends, salary potential, job outlooks and
other career data for Music Education majors.
Financial assistance options for your Bachelor of Music Education degree
UCM strives to support its students with robust financial aid offerings and guidance. As an Instrumental Music Education major, you may qualify for scholarships, grants,
assistantships and work-study programs that help you offset the cost of your bachelor’s
degree in Music Education.
Beyond UCM’s university-wide scholarships, Instrumental Music Education majors can
apply for more than 50 endowed scholarships available from the UCM Music Foundation
as well as for financial awards reserved for aspiring music educators, such as:
- Claude T. and Maureen Smith Music Scholarship
- Dr. Milton H. Genge Memorial Scholarship
- Edith M. Brooks Scholarship in Music
Learn more about program-specific scholarships by using the .
Meet Patricia Setser
Instructor, Music Education
Ms. Setser has taught music education classes at UCM since 2011. Her experience as
a music educator for 37 years in K–12 public school teaching includes 15 years as
the District Music Supervisor for North Kansas City School District. Students in her
Student Teaching Seminar, Methods of Teaching Music and other courses benefit from
her expertise as an educator, clinician and conductor.
Meet Shannon J.
BME Music Education - Instrumental, ’22
“Our atmosphere is absolutely wonderful. The music faculty care about us and our success
and will do anything to help. Every single student interacts with each other and they’ll
help you reach your goals. I’m so thankful that I chose UCM.”
Festival of Champions
UCM’s marching band competition
For more than 40 years, we’ve hosted the best bands in the region for competitions
in indoor percussion, indoor guard and field show performance. UCM students assist
with the event planning and execution, developing essential communication and organizational
skills commonly used in music education careers.
Meet Dr. John Rutland
Associate professor and Strings area coordinator
Dr. Rutland teaches violin and viola, conducts the UCM Symphony and actively performs
20th-century music. He has been guest conductor for All-District and All-Region orchestras
in the South and Midwest, the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra and the Midwest Chamber
Ensemble. His master’s and doctoral degrees in Violin Performance are from the University
of North Texas.
Meet Dr. Mark Bonner, Jr.
Assistant director of Bands, director of Athletic Bands
A music educator, composer and clinician with a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Instrumental
Conducting from the University of Missouri, Dr. Bonner arranged marching band/drill
music that received national recognition on ESPN and “The Office.” He creates diverse
opportunities through curated outreach concerts, performable editions of lost compositions
and more.
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