Music Education
Why UVic Music Education?
In an era of innovation and resourcefulness, the choice to enter Music Education and become a music teacher has never been more exciting or rewarding. As one of the most respected and sought-after music education programs in Canada, Music Education at UVic is widely respected for its emphasis on student engagement, experiential learning, and professional outcomes. Our graduates are working in diverse education settings all over the world — from elementary schools to universities — in teaching and administrative roles, making a difference to the lives of students, families, and communities.
Who is it for?
The Bachelor of Music with major in Music Education Secondary (Instrumental or Choral emphasis) is the ideal program if you wish to teach as a music specialist and work in elementary, middle, and secondary schools as band/orchestra director, choral director, and teach music-related subjects.
What will I study?
Students learn core Music Education philosophies and explore these through methods, techniques, and pedagogy courses in both Instrumental and Choral areas to be capable of teaching music in any setting. Within a diversity of school teaching settings, Music Education students learn:
- Foundations in philosophical and theoretical approaches to Music Education
- Conducting Instrumental and Choral ensembles
- Applied Methods in Brass, Woodwind, String, Percussion, Voice, Keyboard, and Guitar
- School teaching methods and pedagogy
- Learning sequencing, lesson planning, and assessment
- Music literature, repertoire, and education-focused methods
- Jazz pedagogy and improvisation
- Teaching alternative methods and approaches including creativity and composition in the classroom
- Approaches to decolonizing music education First Nations Principles of Learning (FNSCE) in music education, issues in music education addressing access, diversity, inclusion and equity
Do I get to work with children in schools?
In Music Education at UVic, we are highly focused on experiential learning which means we offer many hands-on opportunities and our students are working with children and teachers in local schools throughout the entire program.
How will I connect with other Music Education students?
At UVic, we are extremely proud to have a very active Music Education student’s association, the (UVSMEA). The UVSMEA is an energetic group of students that meet weekly and organize many events on and off campus as well as projects that give students opportunities to engage more deeply in Music Education.
Will I get a job at the end of the degree?
Whether you wish to teach music in schools or the community or simply want to study more about learning and teaching music, the Music Education program offers excellent career prospects. When followed by the Secondary Post-Degree Professional program* in the Faculty of Education, all graduates seeking placement in education have successfully found jobs to meet their lifestyle and career goals.
First Year Students
If you’re an incoming Music student and want to major in Music Education, please click here to learn more about the Music Education program in your first year, including which courses to register for and how to get involved with Music Education activities and events.
Music Educators' Association
Music education students are actively engaged in professional development and learning networks. For more information, please see the website.
Secondary Post-Degree Professional program
To become certified to teach music in middle and secondary schools within British Columbia, graduates of the BMus (Music Education Secondary)* must complete an additional 16 months in the Secondary Post-Degree Professional program in the Faculty of Education. The Secondary PDPP confers a Bachelor of Education (30 units). Graduates are eligible for professional teacher certification from the BC Ministry of Education's Teacher Regulation Branch.
Refer to the Faculty of Education's Secondary PDPP website for all program and admission requirements as well as application deadlines.
*Graduates of BMus programs with a different major must take additional School of Music music-education related courses to become elgible for application to the Secondary PDPP. Please see the Head of Music Education in the School of Music and an education advisor for more information. In addition to courses in approved English and demonstrated written English competency, an entrance interview is required.
Contacts
Undergraduate Music Education (BMus degree)
For more information or questions about the undergraduate Music Education program, please contact the Head of Music Education, Dr. Steven Capaldo musiced@uvic.ca
Secondary Music PDPP (BEd degree)
For information or questions about the Post-Degree Professional Program in Secondary Music, please contact the Education Advising team in the Faculty of Education at adve@uvic.ca