Musical education in the USA

To make music is a widely spread occupation in the United States of America, and opportunities allow the people of all ages to receive instruction in performance and other music-related activities. Private tuition is widely available, and music is a regular subject to be learned both at the primary and at the secondary school, at the latter usually in the form of performance groups - choirs, orchestras, chamber music groups, bands, jazz bands, ethnic ensembles and the like. General music classes are the norm in elementary and junior high (or middle) schools. They include such areas as singing, movement, music reading and rhythm experiences. The aim is to develop music concepts. Experiences with choirs, bands and small orchestras also begin at this level. There is an ever increasing inclusion of non-western music into the curriculum.

Courses in music at universities are normally to last for four years. It is possible to get one of the following categories there:

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music. This is the liberal arts program in which up to two-thirds of it may consist of music subjects to be studied as major. This program includes also general studies.

Bachelor of Music Education (BME). This is a program for those wishing to gain certification for teaching music at schools. The emphasis is typically on either choral or instrumental teacher preparation, with some programs also preparing students to teach general music classes. Most music education programs integrate music and education subjects throughout the stated four years of course. In practice most students need five years duration, the teachers training component has to occupy the fifth year of the course. Music education major programs include such areas as music subjects and skills for music teachers - conducting, methods and materials, instrumental and choral techniques and the like. Completion of the Music Education qualification alone may not give the right to teach music in schools. Each state has its own requirements for teacher accreditation and usually approves university and college programs for this purpose, often in conjunction with the Department of Music. These programs include such areas to be studied as educational psychology, principles of education and supervised teaching practice.

Bachelor of Music (BM). Students take professional music studies in various areas, together with general educational subjects. A range of ensembles groups is available for students to participate in university music groups, such participation being a requirement for most degree programs.

Analogwise the university system of two-year colleges is known as community colleges or junior colleges. They include courses to provide music study and lead typically to the qualification of Associate of Arts (AA) or of Associate of Science (AS). Completion of AA or AS allows students to pass on to the third year of Bachelor’s degree.

Master’s and doctoral degree programs are completed frequently by a dissertation to be written. By the way, they normally require proficiency in at least one foreign language.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-02