Music Education: Instrumental K-12
Undergrad Majors & Programs Music Majors & Minors Music Education Major
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- Media and Performing Arts Minor
- Music Department Scholarship
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Music remains an important part of enriching our lives. With Bethel’s instrumental K-12 emphasis, you’ll learn how to effectively teach students on more than 15 instruments.
Why should I study instrumental music education?
Youth of all ages enjoy music, and music is a vital part of education. The Music Education: Instrumental K-12 degree will allow you to apply your passion to music to help youth grow in their appreciation of music and develop into skilled instrumentalists.
What can I do with this degree?
Our students fill a variety of positions at schools:
- Classroom music teacher
- Band director
- Orchestra conductor
- Private lesson teacher
- Musical arts administrator
- Composer
What skills will I develop?
- Methods of teaching brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments
- Music theory fundamentals
- Composing
- Arranging
- Principles of conducting
- Methods of teaching elementary and secondary music
- Education theory
- Musical performance
What unique experiences or opportunities will I have?
Hands-On Learning Opportunities: You’ll start learning in the school setting near the start of the program. Additional hands-on learning opportunities throughout the program include practicums, observations, and a semester of student teaching.
Collaboration with Faculty: Work one-on-one with your professors to hone technical skills and collaborate on research and performances.
Musical Tours: Participate in a music group that travels across the United States and abroad. Previous locations have included Singapore, Malaysia, Poland, Sweden, France, and more.
Festival of Christmas: Multiple music groups participate in this popular, large musical festival every year. You’ll perform in Benson Great Hall, a premier performance venue with over 1,700 seats.
300+
students involved in musical activities
Students have won a national composition prize and a statewide vocal competition.
Recent News
Bethel Celebrates 67th Festival of Christmas
December 12, 2023 | 9 a.m.
Upcoming Events
APR 4 2024
Growing Minds: Bethel University Virtual Education Fair
6:30 p.m. CT
Join us online to learn more about our Education programs at Bethel University!
APR 5 2024
Lucia Chorum & Royal Register Spring Concert - "Singing Through the Storm"
7:30 p.m. Benson Great Hall
Featuring choral works by Dan Forrest, Elaine Hagenberg, Elizabeth Gerken '24, and more!
APR 12 2024
Chamber Orchestra Spring Concert
7:30 p.m. Benson Great Hall
Featuring works by Alexander Borodin, Gustav Holst, Matthew Gelfter, and more!
I was constantly performing through departmental events such as: weekly "Music Hour Recitals," orchestra and band concerts, solo and chamber recitals, semi-annual solo competitions, and yearly ensemble tours. I fell in love with the intensity of practicing and performing.
Lindsay Flowers '07Oboe/English Horn in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Evansville Philharmonic; Citizen Musician Fellow under the mentorship of Yo-Yo Ma; Doctoral Candidate in Oboe Performance at Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University.
I started at Bethel in my 50s, in pursuit of a lifelong dream. Now retired, I am involved with several Twin Cities community theatres, acting (including several lead roles), directing and playwriting. It's never too late to follow your dream!
Ginny Leutgeb '13Actor
Bethel's liberal arts curricula greatly prepared me for graduate work in musicology. Already accustomed to making interdisciplinary connections, I was able to think more creatively about my research and to synthesize what I had learned with more insight and clarity.
Eve Ruotsinoja '08Grad school: Finished M.M. in musicology from the University of Houston, 2013
The theater department really taught me how and why to pursue the best version of myself. Not only did they educate me on the history, practice, and art of theatre, but how it impacts the world and my relationships today.
Josh Palmer '15Videographer at ACR Homes
At Bethel, integrating faith and learning isn't just talk. The faculty are working musicians bringing a Christian perspective to their everyday work. My education prompted deep thought about music's role in Christian experience and clarified my calling to share music.
Nathan Cornelius '12Grad school: Lilly Graduate Fellow pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts degree in guitar performance, concurrently with a Master of Music in music theory pedagogy, at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University; Earned M.M. in composition and guitar performance from the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver.
Everything I learned at Bethel prepared me for a life I could never have imagined, in music and ministry both.
Bruce Leafblad 61Professor of Church Music and Worship at B.H. Carroll Theological Institute in Arlington, Texas
Bethel provided me with an invaluable foundation in critically thinking and communicating about music, faith, and culture. Most of my colleagues have never had the opportunity, as I did, to regularly perform in an excellent venue like Benson Great Hall.
Madeline Veenker '10Current job: Choir and Bell Director at St. Paul church and runs private vocal studio; earned an M.M. in vocal performance from University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The faculty takes a genuine interest in helping you develop as a student and as a person. The way I approach my students today is largely influenced by how the Bethel professors interacted with me on a daily basis.
Wes Myers '07Current job: Orchestra, Guitar, Music Technology Teacher 4-12 and Assistant Marching Band Director at Marshall Public Schools, Marshall, MN
The classes were informative and practical. I often find myself using concepts I learned in acting classes to help with presentations even outside of theatre.
Erin Lorentz '13Current job: Student Alumni Programming Coordinator
The performing arts world is very dark, overall. Bethel prepared me to defend my faith and be an excellent performer. Graduate school thrust me into a cutthroat, competitive environment. But my identity doesn't rest on my musical successes or failures.
Kathryn Voelker '06Current job and grad school: Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education and Piano at Liberty University and finishing D.A. in wind conducting from University of Northern Colorado
Students have opportunities to meet industry professionals through faculty, performances, master classes, or auditions. By graduation, I had completed master classes with individuals from NYC, Minnesota Opera, and Orchestra Hall.
Ruthanne Heyward '11Current job: Working as a performing artist and actor in NYC
When I studied theatre at Bethel, I gained more than just a piece of paper. The program features talented professors who care wholeheartedly about their students' success and provide an exceptional experience on-stage and off.
Amy Shadis '06Dance Instructor