Why study Music: Music Education (Choral/K-12 General Music or (Instrumental/K-12 General Music) at APSU?
There are many reasons to study Music at Austin Peay State University. Some of those reasons include: Personal attention, faculty will know your name! State-of-the-art facilities, faculty mentors who are also gifted performers/scholars who are highly-respected in their disciplines, celebrated and award-winning ensembles which tour and record on a regular basis and a "family" atmosphere. Our fraternities, our music education (MENC) student chapter, and ensembles (large and small) help younger students feel like they belong to a caring community. New students soon feel comfortable in this environment which then allows them make the most of their musical and educational experience.
What will I learn?
The APSU music graduate will be able to perform in a healthy, dynamic, energetic, and poised way. He/she will be able to sight-read, be able to recognize and adapt to various styles, and be able to perform comfortably as a soloist or in ensemble situations. By studying music at APSU, the student will be exposed to classical training—a fact that is not always obvious to incoming students. Being classically trained means that over the course of their degree program, students become “sophisticated” in the art of music, but that sophistication can be used in many different ways after graduation. Whether students choose a career in music or not, their training will allow them to perform well in any musical style they choose.
The Freshmen Seminar degree requirement completed by most students is UNIV 1000. The course is delivered in a small-class setting with like-minded students led by a faculty member and a peer leader. The interdisciplinary course is intended to support first-semester students and provide them with a foundation for university success. Emphasis is placed on student engagement, university learning success strategies, support services, library literacy, financial literacy, and academic and career planning. The first class meeting of UNIV 1000 during fall semesters is on Freshmen Convocation Day.
The general education core is designed to develop critical competencies in written communication, oral communication, mathematical analysis, and critical thinking skills. Students at APSU select coursework in the general education core in the areas of Communication, Humanities and Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, History, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics. While the general education core requirements for graduation can be met by choosing courses from each of these areas, some programs of study require lower division courses that serve as prerequisites for upper division courses. Students should consult the sample 4-year plans and confer with their academic advisors as they choose their general education core courses.
What engagement opportunities are available to APSU students?
APSU fosters a positive campus environment that encourages active participation in university life.
APSU students engage in HIP curricular and co-curricular experiences that advance their learning and knowledge. Opportunities include first-year seminar, first-year learning communities, common reading experience 'The Peay Read', undergraduate research, study abroad, service and community-based learning, internships, e-portfolio development, and capstone courses & projects.
What Do Music: Music Education (Choral/K-12 General Music or Instrumental/K-12 General Music) Majors Do After Graduation?
After graduation, our majors are able to apply for any job (music or otherwise) requiring a bachelor's degree. They are also qualified to apply for entrance into a master's program in music performance or in another field. Musicians tend to be creative thinkers and good project managers (and time managers). Music majors are typically leaders with an ability to work well with others to achieve group goals, and they are disciplined and dedicated workers. This means that they are valuable assets for many companies and institutions. Therefore, those who graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in music degree have many options. Some go on to teach music (in private studios or in public/private schools). Some choose to use the bachelor’s degree to go into the music business, studio recording, or arts management. Finally, some go on to non-music careers like medicine, law, or business. The fact is that a Bachelor of Arts can lead to many different career paths.
- Teach
- Studio Recording
- Music Business
- Arts Management