Music Education at CSUB.
By Martin Ramos
Many schools offer music as a major, but not every school offers a major in Music Education. Students in the Music Major at most schools usually have to decide between composition or performance based track. CSUB students are fortunate enough to have the Music Education program offered on campus. But what is the Music Education major? How is it different from a regular music major? What students is this major directed towards? Where is a good place to begin?
Mr. Alex Gonzales, a ’96 CSUB Alumni who now teaches music in the Delano High School District gave a little background on the history of music education at CSUB, “Back then (1996) there was no Music Education track. If you were a music major you either picked composition or performance. I think if they had offered it while I was attending it would have helped a great deal. They offer so many other classes, such as pedagogy. Dr. Doug Davis was an extraordinary professor while I attended CSUB. I have received several awards and recognitions throughout my career, such as Kern County Teacher of the Year; but all of that stems from somewhere, and in many ways reflects the demands that were placed on me by Dr. Davis at CSUB. I try to teach the way he did. His humanness and musical intelligence left an impression, and are the reasons CSUB had such a positive impact on my education. I learned a lot about being a facilitator. I respect students as humans, but at the same time can’t be too cool or relaxed with them. I have to hold my students accountable. This is by far the best job I have ever had and will have. ”
According to the CSUB Course Catalog, “Any undergraduate accepted into the University may undertake this major. Continuation in the major is contingent upon satisfactory progress in all coursework, both in and out of the major.” The course catalog also provides a description of what courses students are required to take for the Music Education Major, as well as the General Music Major. Angel Gonzalez, a Junior Music Education major at CSUB, says that there isn’t too much of a difference between General Music Majors and Music Education Majors until you start getting into the upper division courses. Music Education students take the same core music classes as General Music Majors.
Several years ago, the question of finding employment upon graduation was a big issue. Fran Peterson, the advisor for the single subject credential program, said there is actually a demand for music educators at the moment. “A few years ago if you had said you were going to Major in music, there weren’t too many jobs and wasn’t often recommended, but now theres a lot of funding going towards music programs leading to a higher demand for teachers, so it’s actually not a bad idea to become a music teacher right now.”
Mr. Gonzales also expressed similar views, but noted that students should pursue the Music Education Major if they are passionate about teaching, “The political winds are in our favor, so we gotta get while the gettin’s good, but also be creative, passionate, and demanding. You have to assess your strengths in regards to music, and decide who you want to work with. If you do it just for the paycheck, you might not end up liking the job very much, you gotta have a passion for this.” The General Music Major still offers students the opportunity to study music, but upon graduation students will be expected to perform as opposed to teaching, and those who place emphasis on composition will write music after graduating as opposed to teaching.
Angel Gonzalez recommends students who are unsure which path to take also consider the Music Minor, as students can later switch to the major, and classes from the minor can be transferred towards the Major, both General Music and Music Education. This is good advice for incoming freshmen, or current freshmen or sophomores who have a background in music but have not yet decided on a major.
The Music Education program at CSUB is something that should not be taken for granted. Other schools only offer music composition or performance, meaning other credentials must be attained before being allowed to teach music. CSUB helps students by giving them a more efficient path towards becoming a music educator, while also providing them with tools specific to music teachers and teaching in that environment. If we can provide our educators with better tools and teaching methods, perhaps the next generation of music students will have much better outcomes and educational opportunities in the field of music.
