Music education at Lawrence University is a comprehensive, collaborative, and forward-thinking pre-professional training program that prepares you to transform young lives through exceptional music teaching. The Wisconsin K-12 Music Certification you will receive is one of the nation’s most rigorous, respected, and portable teaching certificates.

 

At Lawrence we believe that music is a birthright. We believe that everyone is a musical being that deserves to unlock their inner musician. We know that music education has the transformational power to change lives, even to save lives.  Teaching music is one of the most important, challenging, and rewarding professions there is.  We take teacher training very seriously, but we also have a lot of fun in the process. Our cutting-edge music education program is designed to prepare the next generation of innovative, forward-thinking, world-changing music educators for the challenges of the 21st century classroom. 

  • Helping the world see why music—like

    reading, writing, and speaking—is a birthright.

  • Lighting the fire for music in people of all ages and abilities.
  • Continuing to grow as a musician yourself.
  • Cutting edge and innovative approaches to teaching music.
  • Learning how to teach from expert
    musicians.
  • An instrument in one of our applied studios (required)
  • Music performance  
  • Music theory  
  • Music composition  
  • Social sciences 
  • English  
  • Languages

 

Life After Lawrence

Lawrentians can enjoy careers in...

Education (elementary, middle, secondary, and higher ed); orchestral directing; band directing; school counseling; ministry and pastoral work; business and sales; private music instruction

Recent employers include...

The program has historically enjoyed a 100% placement rate in rural and urban schools and programs throughout Wisconsin, as well as all over the world. Lawrentians are also working at Georgetown University, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Knights on Broadway, RBC Wealth Management, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Suzuki Violin, and the U.S. Air Force

Lawrentians can earn advanced degrees in...

Music education, music performance, education, journalism, computer science

Recent schools include...

Baylor University, University of Chicago, Hamline University, Loyola University, Northwestern University, Queens College, Wesleyan University, Western Michigan University

Learn from professors who will motivate you as a teacher and musician.

Unlike at most large music programs, here you will study directly with our professors—themselves national leaders in music education and music performers—who lead by example, inspiring you to grow as a musician and a teacher. All instrumental techniques courses are taught by our studio professors, enabling you to teach best-in-class methods to your own students.

Perform at the same high level as performance majors.

You will benefit from the same music performance preparation as our performance majors, ensuring that you will graduate as an educator who can model excellent musicianship for your students.

Study in an inclusive and expansive music curriculum.

From traditional Western classical music to jazz, world music, the Irish dance club, to Gamelan ensembles, Deep Listening, Afro-Cuban drumming, body beats and improvisation group, you will develop a broad music vocabulary to connect with and inspire students of all ages and backgrounds.

Educate all learners as a student teacher.

Through the Lawrence Academy of Music, a nonprofit division of Lawrence, you can teach students of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. You can expand your civic engagement through music with programs like Appleton Boy Choir, the Appleton Boys and Girls Club or a special needs program through the Fox Valley Symphony—not to mention your own student teaching experience.

Components of the Major

Psychology of Learning

Sociology of Education

Ethnicity, Cultural Diversity, and Education

Educating all Learners—Music

Introduction to Music Education
 
Conducting Principles

Advanced Methods in Teaching Music

Student Teaching for one semester

One natural or physical science course

One mathematics course
Ten courses other than in music

At least six terms of applied individual instruction

Ensemble participation every term in Appleton

Additional coursework in general music, choral music, instrumental music, choral/general, or instrumental/general. 

Course descriptions and more courses

The Chandler Senior Experience

Student teaching is the culminating Senior Experience for music education students. You will be placed for a period of 18 weeks at the secondary and/or elementary level, and will work closely with a mentor teacher to gain professional knowledge and skills to prepare you for state certification licensure in Wisconsin. You will also create a professional electronic portfolio that includes lesson plans, a philosophical statement, resume, assessments, audio and video examples of your teaching—all of which will demonstrate your range and scope as a top-class music educator. Some music education students have also studied Suzuki in Argentina, Ewe drumming and dancing in Ghana, samba drumming in Brazil, and penny whistle pedagogy in Ireland as part of their distinctive Senior Experience projects.
 

Music Education Department Video (Con Brio)
Music Education Department

Faculty

  • Matthew R. Arau
    Matthew R. Arau Profile Picture
    Assistant Professor of Music Education and Associate Director of Bands
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6619
    Education: University of Colorado Boulder DMA in Instrumental Conducting and Literature, May 2015 Southern Oregon University MS in Arts and Letters in Music Education, August 2003 Lawrence University BM in Mus
    Interests: Leadership, Potential, Learning Theory, Talent Research, Music Education, Motivation, Stravinsky, Engagement in Rehearsals, Paul Taffanel Chamber Wind Society in Paris 1879-1893, Jazz, Wind Ensembles,
    Campus Address: Conservatory of Music West Room 104 Conservatory of Music
    Website: http://www.lawrence.edu/conservatory/faculty/matthew_arau
    CV: http://www.lawrence.edu/conservatory/faculty/matthew_arau
    Years at Lawrence: 2014 -
  • Karen L. Bruno
    Karen L. Bruno Profile Picture
    Director of the Academy of Music
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6635
    Education: A.B., Smith College M.Mus, Boston University
    Interests: choral music education, student-centered pedagogy
    Campus Address: Academy of Music
    Website: http://go.lawrence.edu/academy-girlchoir
    Years at Lawrence: 1997-
  • Nick Keelan
    Nick Keelan Profile Picture
    Associate Professor of Music
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6630
    Education: Henderson State University, B.M.E.; University of Northern Colorado, M.Mus.
    Interests: trombone performance, trombone pedagogy
    Campus Address: Shattuck Hall of Music Room 14 Conservatory of Music
    Years at Lawrence: 1985-
  • Brigetta F. Miller
    Brigetta F. Miller Profile Picture
    Associate Professor of Music
    Campus Phone: 920-832-7696
    Education: Lawrence University, B.Mus.; Silver Lake College, M.Mus.
    Interests: elementary and secondary education, multicultural education
    Campus Address: Music-Drama Center Room 266 Conservatory of Music
    Years at Lawrence: 1996-
  • Leila Ann Ramagopal Pertl
    Leila Ann Ramagopal Pertl Profile Picture
    Music Education Instructor, Lawrence University & Performing Arts Director, Appleton Public Montessori & Harp Instructor, Lawrence Academy of Music & Music Education Curator, Mile of Music
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6632
    Campus Address: Academy of Music
    Years at Lawrence: -
  • Stephen M. Sieck
     
    Associate Professor and Co-director of Choral Studies
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6620
    Education: A.B. (Music), University of Chicago M.M. and D.M.A. (Choral Conducting and Literature), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Interests: Inclusive pedagogy for choirs, diction pedagogy, vocal pedagogy
    Campus Address: Conservatory of Music West Room 205 Conservatory of Music
    Years at Lawrence: 2010-
  • Phillip A. Swan
    Phillip A. Swan Profile Picture
    Associate Professor of Music and Co-Director of Choral Studies
    Campus Phone: 920-993-6282
    Education: Concordia College, B.A.; University of Texas at El Paso, M.Mus.
    Interests: choral conducting, music education, jazz
    Campus Address: Conservatory of Music West Room 209 Conservatory of Music
    Years at Lawrence: 2002-
  • Matthew L. Turner
    Matthew L. Turner Profile Picture
    Instructor
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6951
    Education: B.M. Lawrence University, 1989 M.M. New England Conservatory of Music, 1991
    Interests: Improvisation, Jazz, Composition, Music Education, New Music, Avant-Garde, Experimental Music
    Campus Address: Shattuck Hall of Music Room B-35 Conservatory of Music
    Website: http://www.improvcellist.com
    Years at Lawrence: 2010-

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