Music Education Major

Lead the Next Generation

Our graduates have achieved recognition statewide and beyond and as a result many school districts actively seek to hire our students. Our compact four-year certification program attracts a growing number of student across the nation. Music education students can earn teaching certification in two or more of the following areas: Choral music 6-12, Instrumental music pre-K-12 and General music pre-K-12.

What will your experience be like?

  • Play a lead role in our ensembles: bands, choirs, orchestra, jam bands, jazz ensemble, pep band, and more.
  • All students study with our distinguished performance faculty, who will guide you in weekly instrumental or voice lessons.
  • Field experiences in school music programs are built into every year of our music education program.
  • Our unique music foundations program focuses on creatively applying theory skills through performance and composition.
  • Prepare for the 21st century classroom with courses in music entrepreneurship and technology

To supplement the instrumental and vocal music education programs, SNC students have the option to perform pop/rock music in the Jam Bands and learn teaching techniques that will help them reach the broadest range of students. In fact, SNC is innovating as a leader in the “modern band approach,” in which students learn to play and teach music they are passionate about that doesn’t typically find a home in the traditional band, choir, and orchestra classrooms.

Featured Alumni in Music Education

"The supportive environment in the Music Department at St. Norbert helped shape me as an individual inside and outside of the classroom. I had the opportunity to connect with different languages and cultures through instrumental and vocal ensembles. I was provided many opportunities to connect with others on campus and out in the community. I was able to practice my lessons inside the classroom before I left for student teaching in all different grade levels. It was these opportunities that helped me build strong connections outside campus that launched me into the teaching position in the Green Bay Public Area Schools."

Madeline Schaefer '24

Choral and General Music Teacher, Southwest High School

Featured Faculty in Music Education

Full Music Faculty

Dr. Taylor Giorgio

Orchestra, Applied Strings, Music Education

Dr. John Hennecken

Music Program Director, Composition, Theory, History

Dr. Philip Klickman

Director of Bands, Horn, Instrumental Music Education

Dr. Sarah Parks

Head of Choirs, Voice, Music Education

Dr. Jamie Waroff

Jam Bands, Trumpet, General Music Education

More Academic Paths within the Music Degree:

Music Performance Major:

Music performance majors benefit from a supportive environment and receive the mentorship necessary to pursue a career and study at the graduate school level.  Our performance majors have gone on to graduate school at institutions such as Belmont University, Berklee College of Music, New York University, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, University of Oregon, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and many more.

Music Composition Emphasis

Weekly lessons cover the techniques of counterpoint, harmony, form, and all the elements that will help students to write the best music possible in their unique voice. Every spring, a professional chamber ensemble premieres and records new student work. Interested students may be part of the Sacred Composition Initiative by composing liturgical music for Old St. Joe's Campus Parish. In addition, SNC large ensembles are supportive of student compositions and have premiered several in the past.

Music Liberal Arts Major:

For anyone majoring in music music-liberal arts, this paths of study allows room to consider adding a minor or even another major. SNC also offers a pre-music therapy concentration that can be added on to the music liberal arts major. It includes coursework in areas such as psychology and biology that will transfer to music therapy equivalency programs.

Arts Management Certificate

Music majors who are interested in working for arts organizations or owning private teaching studios should consider the Arts Management certificate program. This experience will supplement your music major with courses in business and an internship with one of Northeast Wisconsin's premier arts organizations.

Course Plans of Study for Music Programs

Quick Links

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