Become a Next-Generation Music Educator
Hybrid Summer Master of Arts in Music and Music Education
Earn your master’s in music education in an innovative hybrid format with online coursework and summer residencies. Advance your career, inspire the next generation of students, and create a new future for music education.
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Empower Students To Perform and Create
The Hybrid Summer Master of Arts in Music and Music Education (M.A. M&ME) at Teachers College, Columbia University, offers you an intellectually rigorous and creatively engaging education that prepares you for the challenges and rewards of teaching music in the 21st century.
This is an exciting time for music education. New voices, ideas, and technologies are giving rise to widespread cultural transformation, and music is playing a pivotal role in this sea change. Current generations are reinventing the way music is produced and consumed, and today’s educators are transforming the way music is taught.
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To learn more about the Hybrid Summer Master of Arts in Music and Music Education (M.A. M&ME) at Teachers College at Columbia University, fill out the fields to download a free brochure. You may also call us at (646) 733-4006 to speak with an enrollment specialist.
About the Hybrid Summer M.A. in Music and Music Education
The Hybrid Summer M.A. M&ME has no parallel., offering both in-person summer residencies and an online learning experience. Teachers College, Columbia University, is the only Ivy League institution with a postgraduate Music and Music Education program and one of just a few universities that offers a hybrid M.A. in this area of study. With our M.A. M&ME, students get the best of everything: a world-class education, online coursework during the academic year, and two immersive Summer Residencies in New York City—one of the world’s premier cultural hubs.
As part of Teachers College, the music education master’s program gives you the opportunity to develop musical, pedagogical and leadership skills—in tandem. As a cohort-based program, it immerses you in a community of thinkers, practitioners, and scholars. You will share experiences and form bonds that impact your life throughout your time at Teachers College and long after you graduate.
I entered the program for selfish reasons. I was thinking about my need for an intellectual boost and how good the program would be for me professionally. I didn’t expect it to alter my teaching in such concrete and impactful ways. I became more invigorated and excited as an educator, and my students became more engaged and motivated.
Andrea Maas, Hybrid Summer M.A. M&ME Graduate, Teachers College, Columbia University
Learning Outcomes of a Music Education Master’s Program
In the music education master’s program you will grow as an educator, as a scholar and as a musician, with skills you can immediately apply to your classroom or studio. This graduate degree provides:
- A comprehensive understanding of music education, including the historical, philosophical, psychological, and sociological foundations of music education.
- Pedagogical flexibility that readies you to teach in a variety of educational settings, including K-12 schools, colleges, private studios, and communities.
- Inclusive and adaptive teaching skills so you can create inclusive learning environments and adapt teaching strategies to meet the needs of all students.
- A greater cultural awareness and global perspective of music's role across cultures, allowing you to teach effectively in diverse, multicultural settings and champion a wide range of musical traditions.
- The ability to incorporate technology in music education — such as MIDI, synthesizers, apps and other digital music tools — as well as strategies to stay up to date with technological advancements.
- Increased research and critical thinking skills that enable you to conduct in-depth research and then integrate these findings into your educational plans.
- Improved performance skills, developed through participatory vocal and instrumental courses that enhance both your teaching abilities and your own musical talent.
- Growth as an educator and a musician, encompassing both your professional knowledge and personal identity, complemented by strategies for reflective practice and self-assessment.
- A supportive community of music educators who can be sources of collaboration and inspiration during the master’s in music education program — and long after you graduate.
Program Highlights
- Program Curriculum – Our cutting-edge curriculum includes fieldwork, ensemble experiences, and classroom training, equipping you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to excel in 21st century educational settings. Read more about the MA in Music and Music Education curriculum.
- Experiential Learning – We support your personal career goals through a student-centered approach to learning that includes opportunities to take Teachers College courses outside the music education master’s program.
- Summer Residencies – Students experience two exhilarating four-week Summer Residencies that offer robust learning experiences; weekly lunches with faculty and peers; and field trips to landmark institutions, as well as to venues off the beaten path.
- Scholarships – All admitted students have the opportunity to be awarded a minimum scholarship covering six credits/points* of coursework. Learn more about scholarships on our Tuition page.
*Please note that Teachers College uses the word “point” to reference what may be more commonly known as a “credit”.
Who is This Program For?
The Hybrid Summer M.A. is geared toward music teachers with global perspectives who work in private, public, charter, and international schools, as well as studio and community settings. They seek to earn a valuable credential from a top music education program while continuing to teach. Students are intellectually curious and eager to develop their pedagogical skills to become better teachers, advance their careers, and become agents of change in music education.
“The M.A. in Music and Music Education program helped me to better my practice and learn how I can continue to meet the needs of every student I teach.”
—Jeanel LeBlanc, Hybrid Summer M.A. M&ME, Teachers College, Columbia University
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do you call it the Hybrid Summer M.A. in Music and Music Education?
We use the descriptor “hybrid” to indicate that students can complete the program while continuing to work through a combination of online courses during the academic year and on-campus courses during two Summer Residencies.
I teach in a public school in the state of New York. Does the Summer Hybrid Summer M.A. lead to professional certification in New York?
For teachers who hold Initial Certification in New York State, earning a master’s degree — such as the Summer M.A. in Music and Music Education — can fulfill state requirements for professional certification.
What can you do with a master’s in music and music education?
A master’s in music education can allow musicians and music teachers more flexibility in their careers. Graduate education is a great option for those who wish to teach a different grade, move to a different state or expand their skills. It is also helpful for musicians who’d like to transition into teaching.
Explore careers you can pursue with a master’s degree in music education.
Why Teachers College?
Online Flexibility With Summers in NYC
Get the best of both worlds. Complete your degree in two years while continuing to work.
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Distinguished Faculty
Work with internationally renowned faculty who are leaders in music education, widely published scholars, and passionate educators and advocates.
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Holistic Admission
With no GRE or GPA requirements, our admission process considers the whole person.
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Always Within Reach
Upon graduation, you will join the Teachers College global network of 94,000 alumni.
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Online Flexibility With Summers in NYC
Get the best of both worlds. Complete your degree in two years while continuing to work.
Read More