This summer, more than 30 music educators from around the region gained professional experience or pursued a master’s degree at NDSU. The Summer Symposium in Music Education, held July 30-Aug. 3, featured NDSU music education faculty and nationally renowned guest instructors.
Titled “Effective Teaching: Instrumental, Choral, Elementary,” the symposium, offered three hours of credit toward the Master of Music in Music Education degree or continuing education for those interested in enriching their teaching.
Participants attended keynote and breakout sessions, had performance opportunities and could tailor their schedules to learn from instrumental, choral and elementary music tracks. “We try to create sessions that apply to teachers from various teaching situations,” said Charlette Moe, assistant director of choral activities.
Robert Duke, professor of music and learning at the University of Texas, Austin, and Mary Goetze, recently retired from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, worked with participants on issues such as skill learning, challenges in teaching a diverse population and using technology in music education. “Dr. Goetze was able to share a large research project with us,” Moe said. “She used projectors and an iPad to detail how different apps can be used to get organized in the classroom and used as teaching tools.”
Don Casey, dean of the DePaul University School of Music, taught a session on important ideas in music education. Attendees also had performance opportunities. “During the school year they often are so busy they don’t get a chance to perform by singing or playing their instrument,” Moe said.
The Master of Music in Music Education is designed for practicing teachers pursuing a master’s degree that is convenient to accomplish through online classes and short summer sessions. About two-thirds of the program is available online with the remaining coursework offered on campus at NDSU, including the symposium. “Because of music’s nature of performance, we wanted people to come to campus and meet their colleagues and faculty,” Moe said. “It’s really rewarding to meet them face-to-face.”
For more information about the symposium or the Master of Music in Music Education program, contact Moe at charlette.moe@ndsu.edu or 1-6165 or Warren Olfert at warren.olfert@ndsu.edu or 1-7266.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.