The Master of Music, Music Education Specialization - Kodály Emphasis Option is a graduate program designed for elementary classroom music teachers, independent music instructors, and secondary music teachers interested in developing their teaching, conducting, musicianship, and depth of knowledge about music education.
One unique aspect of this program is that it enables students to earn national certification in Kodály music teaching through CSU's Colorado Kodály Institute while earning a master's degree. The Colorado Kodály Institute (CKI) is one of the select programs endorsed by the Organization of American Kodály Educators. CKI faculty are among the top experts in the United States, and the University Center for the Arts location, at the foothills of the Rockies, provides an inspiring setting for personal growth.
The degree is designed to be completed over a time span of three summers with a minimum of 30 total credits (the degree is officially conferred at the end of the fall semester following the term in which all course work has been completed), with several online and/or evening courses required to be taken during the school year. Students have the option, therefore, of living remotely during the school year and traveling to Fort Collins for the core summer coursework. The majority of participants in this degree program teach either part or full-time during the school year, gaining relevant experience while pursuing the graduate degree. As a result, they are continually assimilating real-world teaching experiences into their academic coursework.
Program-level Learning Objectives
- Develop the skill, intellect, and musicianship necessary among those who wish to become the next generation of leaders in the field of Music Education.
- Develop a philosophical and pedagogical approach to utilize in all educational settings, and competency in techniques that embody the approach.
- Develop foundational skills in advocacy and leadership for school settings.
- Develop a method of score analysis that fosters success of learners in all educational settings.
- Develop a concept-based collection of pedagogical repertoires that is fully analyzed, researched both musically and culturally, and organized into a practical, retrievable curriculum.
- Develop the skills necessary to lead and conduct ensembles within K-12 schools with best-practice rehearsal strategies and methodology, including repertoire of varying difficulty levels, spanning multiple genres and time periods.
- Integrate best-practice rehearsal strategies with sound conducting technique into school music classrooms and/or community/professional ensembles.
Admission
Applicants are expected to be State-Licensed Music Teachers* and demonstrate excellent musicianship and interpersonal skills.
*Exceptions may be made by the Music Education area on a case-by-case basis. For information about the admissions processes to the Graduate School and School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, as well as information about the summer institute, please visit our website.
