What you will study
Most classes in UCM’s Bachelor of Music Education - Vocal degree program are small,
ensuring that you get individualized attention for personal growth. You’ll gain competency
as a vocal teacher while studying foundational topics such as how the voice works
and addressing personalized student needs. You’ll also have many opportunities to
hone your performance skills by joining UCM’s choirs, ensembles and musical theatre
productions.
Some of the classes you may take include:
- Choral Techniques/Choral Conducting: In these two courses, you’ll learn how to be a choir teacher. Study the history, philosophy
and common practices of choral music education as you hone your skills to teach your
own students and become a conductor-teacher.
- Vocal Lessons: Study one-on-one with a classically trained professional singer. You’ll improve your
solo voice, explore music from all styles and periods and learn common lyrical languages
such as English, Italian, French and German. Most UCM students earning this singing
degree offer a full recital upon completing their program.
- Field Experience: Observe and work with the region’s top educators in your specialty area — then lead
your own lessons as a student teacher in your final semester.
Excellence in Music Education
- One of Missouri’s largest music schools, with more than 30 full-time and adjunct faculty. About 200 Music majors enroll in
the program each year.
- Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1947.
- Outstanding Contributor Award winner (Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) conference, 2022)
- Top 15%: Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 7.5%: Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 15%: Most Popular Colleges for Music Education (College Factual, 2022)
- A Most Focused College for General Music (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in vocal music education
At the University of Central Missouri, you’ll have many real-world opportunities,
both as a vocalist and an educator, to prepare you to achieve your goals:
- Guest conducting: Upper-level Vocal Music Education majors are encouraged to lead sectional rehearsals
and guest conduct major ensembles in the Music department. Your vocal degree will
prepare you to work with elementary and high school students, as well as with other
professional musicians.
- Study abroad: A month-long, faculty-led summer tour to Florence, Italy, held in coordination with
our partner school, Accademia Europea di Firenze (AEF), offers you the opportunity
to live, study and perform abroad. As you experience the culture, art and cuisine
of Italy, you can work directly with AEF faculty in addition to your UCM Applied Voice
professors.
- Professional connections: Participate in events, seminars and individualized programs with the industry’s leading
composers, educators, conductors and performers. Join our choirs, attend an opera
workshop and become a member of the UCM chapters of the American Choral Directors
Association, the Music Teachers National Association and other national groups. Combined
with your vocal degree, these valuable networking opportunities will help you build
a multifaceted career.
What can you do with a Vocal degree from UCM?
Each year, the teaching profession lists many more jobs than graduates are able to
fill, so your prospects for securing a teaching position are strong. Superintendents
and principals from regional schools view UCM Vocal BME graduates as excellent candidates
because of our quality programming and strong historical performance.
Many of our alumni teach K–12 music in Greater Kansas City and St. Louis school districts,
as well as throughout the United States. With your singing degree, you could also
continue your music studies at UCM or another music university.
A vocal degree from UCM also prepares you to work as a professional musician beyond
the classroom. Your coursework and training will connect you to conductors, composers,
vocal pedagogues and musicians from around the globe who can guide you to many opportunities
for careers in music.
UCM vocal degree graduates
Use the interactive tool below to explore your career options and salary potential
when you graduate with a Vocal Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University
of Central Missouri.
Financial assistance options for your Vocal BME degree
The University of Central Missouri offers many resources to help you finance your undergraduate education and keep your college costs and student debt low.
Beyond the awards and scholarships available through UCM, scholarships are available
specifically for Music Education majors in the Vocal degree program, including:
- Claude T. and Maureen Smith Music Scholarship
- Conan and Patricia Castle Vocal Music Scholarship
- The Eleanor B. Shockey Vocal Music Scholarship
- Dr. Jon Ferguson Music Scholarship
- Carla Maltas Music Education Scholarship
Learn more about program-specific scholarships by using the .
Professional Experience
Recitals, concerts and other performances
Join UCM’s award-winning choirs and ensembles to gain recording, performing and conducting
experience. You can audition for Concert Choir, Collegiate Choir, Rainbow Tones and
ensembles featuring vocalists. You’ll have opportunities to perform and compete in
solo, ensemble and theatrical settings and to engage in community service projects.
Meet Deborah B.
BME Music Education - Vocal Option ’15, MA Music ’19
“I teach K–5 music in the North Kansas City School District. I’ve hosted World Drumming
training sessions and presented workshops at NAfME conferences. I am now Subject Area
Lead Teacher for our district’s elementary music teachers. I’m SO proud to be a UCM
alumna — twice over! — and grateful for the opportunities I’ve received from of my
UCM education and professors.”
Meet Our Faculty
Impressive credentials, active performers
Learn from industry-leading professionals. UCM Music faculty present research nationally,
notably at the National Association of Teachers of Singing conference. They author
articles for the Missouri Music Teachers National Association; serve nationwide as
adjudicators, clinicians and guest conductors; and perform at venues such as the Metropolitan
Opera.
Faculty Bios
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