School of Music

All students are reminded that, in addition to meeting School requirements for a major leading to a baccalaureate degree, they must also meet the University's General Education requirements. The minimum number of credits required for the degree is 120.

*Note: Students without instrumental experience may substitute MUE 112 Percussion Techniques for one semester of Concert Band or Orchestra. Students are expected to audition for Concert Band or Orchestra each semester and may be placed in the percussion section of either ensemble following successful completion of MUE 112 and successful audition. Guitarists will complete three additional semesters in any ensemble: chorale, chamber singers, concert band, or orchestra.

Admission to Upper Division in Music Education

Upper division music courses are typically designated by course numbers in the 300 or 400 range.

In order to enroll in upper division music courses, a music student must:

• Earn a grade of C- or better in all MUS courses.*
• Earn a grade of B- or better in all MUE and MUP courses.*
• Earn a Level II on the applied music jury.
• Pass Praxis I.
• Successfully complete EYE (if required), College Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning Core courses.
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better.

*Note: These standards are in effect for all MUS, MUE, MUH, MUT, and MUP courses in both the lower and upper divisions of the program.

In March of the sophomore year students will complete the application for admission to Upper Division. This application and review are part of the advising process within ProSeminar IV. Students who fail to meet the above requirements may not enroll in upper division courses.

Senior recital requirements: Presentation of a solo recital in the senior year (or junior year with special permission). The recital contains 30 minutes of music including at least 25 minutes of solo performance; the remainder may be chamber music. Normally the program will be shared with another MUE senior or MUP junior recital. Programs exceeding 30 minutes of music require the special approval of the faculty. A student may not perform the required recital during the semester of Professional Internship.

The Professional Internship

This is a field-based student teaching experience. Students are placed with music educator mentors on a full-time basis in order to gain multiple guided and independent teaching experiences. In preparation for the Internship, students in music education must:

• Successfully complete all required coursework prior to the Internship;
• Successfully complete all performance juries and the recital prior to the Internship;
• Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or above;
• Submit passing scores on the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills test (must be completed by the sophomore year);
• Have taken the Praxis II Music content exam; and
• Submit proof of successful completion of Maine Department of Education required fingerprinting and background check.

The Capstone project for Music Education

This is the Professional Portfolio. The Professional Portfolio provides students with an opportunity to reflect upon their own growth and development in the teaching profession. The portfolio will include materials that demonstrate fulfillment of the USM Teacher Certification Standards. Upon completion, the Professional Portfolio is a document suitable for presentation and future reference.

The Professional Education Council, comprised of deans, department chairs, faculty, and school representatives from all programs offering initial teacher preparation, is the governing body for program review and evaluation for all initial-level teacher education programs at USM.

For the purposes of field placements in schools during the educational cluster and internship year, students are required to complete and show documentation of the fingerprinting process outlined by the Maine Department of Education: http://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/fingerprinting/

All students must formally declare their entry into a teacher certification concentration by completing the declaration procedures found on the Office of Educator Preparation web site at http://usm.maine.edu/educator-preparation. Passing Praxis I scores, subscription to Tk20, and two recommendation forms are necessary to complete the declaration process.

Tk20 Subscription:

All undergraduate and graduate students who matriculate into an Educator Preparation program or pathway in USM summer 2013 or later and are accepted as a candidate for their internship year are required to subscribe to the Tk20 online data management system once being accepted as a teacher education candidate and prior to their internship year. The subscription allows students to use the system for assessment, advisement, field-experience, and career portfolio management. The subscription fee covers some of the expenses related to the administration and assessment of the program. For loan purposes, it will be eligible for consideration as part of costs. The subscription is a one-time payment and must be made by each student after they have passed their candidacy process and before the first semester of their internship year. Subscription instructions are posted on the Office of Educator Preparation web site:http://usm.maine.edu/educator-preparation 

Please note Professional Education Council Policy:  In order for USM’s Education Preparation Unit program completers to be recommended by the institution to the state for certification or licensure, the candidate must provide evidence of meeting all certification requirements including proficiency on the standards relevant to his/her state approved professional program and this evidence must be compiled and assessed within the context of the Unit’s data management system (i.e., Tk20). 

Admission to the Music Education degree is based on the following criteria:

1. Performance audition on the applicant's major instrument.
2. Tests of aural comprehension, rhythmic recitation, and sight singing administered individually by a member of the staff.
3. A diagnostic written test of music fundamentals, including intervals, scales, chords, and key signatures.
4. A brief interview with the Music Education faculty.

Audition Information