Music Education
Major (BME) | Minor

Music Education at North Park
Share your passion for music and inspire others to discover a love of music by earning a degree in music education. Guide students as they build confidence, expand their imaginations, and develop skills they’ll carry into any career. Teach in public or private schools at all grade levels, or share your expertise in community organizations, camps, churches, and through private instruction.
Featured course
MUS 3170–Conducting I
Beginning and intermediate conducting skills: beat patterns, baton technique, use of face, eyes, left hand; basic rehearsal planning; score preparation; psychology of conducting. An introduction to choral and instrumental methods and materials.
Your path to teaching
You’ll prepare to teach in choral, instrumental, and general music settings. You’ll choose a specialization in either instrumental music or voice/piano. All tracks have the same graduation and certification requirements.
North Park’s program offers hands-on classroom experience, including:
- Targeted observations during the methods course
- Teacher aiding (50+ hours)
- Mini-teaching (7 weeks)
- Student teaching (10–16 weeks)
Performance opportunities
As a member of North Park’s signature ensembles, you’ll perform throughout the year on- and off-campus, including at special annual events like the Festival of Lessons and Carols, Chamber Music Showcase Competition, and Opera/Oratorio.
Certificate in Music for Social Change and Human Values
This undergraduate certificate is the first of its kind in the nation, providing preparation for music majors to teach through the El Sistema-inspired philosophy of music instruction. This certificate evolved from an ongoing collaboration with The People’s Music School and is available in conjunction with any music degree program. Learn more

“For an incoming music major, the advantage of a smaller school is that you get all the opportunities. You get to be in an orchestra if you’re good enough to make our orchestra. concert band, jazz ensemble—you have places to perform, places to be involved.”
—Dr. Joseph Lill, professor of music
Contact
College of Arts and Sciences
School of Music, Art, and Theatre
Wilson Hall
3231 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
smat@northpark.edu
(773) 244-5630