Taking the Long View toward Music Teacher Preparation: The Rationale for a Dual-Degree Program.

MUSIC education; MUSIC teachers; TEACHER training; UNIVERSITIES & colleges; MUSIC theory; MUSICAL performance; INSTRUMENTAL music; VOCAL music; CERTIFICATION

The article focuses on many issues that affect student learning, teacher learning, and teacher retention in the U.S. Preparation and assessment of teachers should be multifaceted, based on real-world contexts that reflect how students actually learn. Today's music teachers need to be prepared in music theory, history, literature, and performance practice, instrumental and choral techniques. More training and preparation is needed, not only in music but also in educational theory, philosophy, and pedagogy. Some states have revised or are in the process of revising their licensing requirements for teachers in all subject areas, including the arts. Several colleges and universities have attempted to solve the problem of having to prepare teachers to obtain a more general certification with innovative programs. Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant has expanded its bachelor of music education degree to four-and-a-half or five years, but it still maintains both a vocal and instrumental track. Chapman University in Orange, California, retains both a vocal and instrumental track for its bachelor of music precertification degree. The University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, offers a precertification bachelor of music with an emphasis in music education, either instrumental or vocal.