Cambridge, MA
- Graduate Degree, In-Person
- 1 year, 40 credit hours required for graduation
- Preparation for initial teaching licensure in Massachusetts
- Fully accredited
“ Every child is entitled to be inspired by positive musical experiences and to find a ‘home’ and connect with others through music. Just as our close community of music education faculty and students inspire each other, we will prepare you to do the same for your future students—to influence their lives in ways you have always imagined. ”
— Erin Zaffini
Dr. Erin Zaffini (DMA, Boston University) is an adjunct music and music education professor at Keene State College, where she supervises student teachers, and teaches undergraduate music courses in general music education, music curriculum and assessment, and adaptive music. She is also a faculty member for the University of New Hampshire’s Professional Development Department, where she teaches in-service teachers how to integrate music and movement into their classroom, as well as teaches Early Childhood Music and Movement. In addition, she currently teaches K-5 general, vocal and instrumental music at Stoddard and Washington Elementary Schools in New Hampshire. She has taught preK-8 general music, choral music, instrumental music, hand bell ensemble, and musical theatre. She is an active clinician around the country, serves as the Eastern Division Representative for NAfME’s General Music Council, is the Collegiate Coordinator, General Music Chair and Mentor Program Coordinator for the New Hampshire Music Educators Association, and sits on the Advisory Committee for the Music Educators Journal. Dr. Zaffini is the project leader for instituting music educator mentor training within the Society for Music Teacher Education and the National Association for Music Education. She is the recipient of the Keene State College Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Performance Awards. She has recently published articles in General Music Today, Music Educators Journal and Update: Applications of Research in Music Education.
Ellie MacPhee joined Longy’s inaugural class of the Master of Music in Music Education program. She grew up in South Carolina and began her path as a musician with traditional folk and bluegrass tunes, which propelled her to study classical violin. She has integrated her strong convictions about prison reform and community engagement—with her own artistry and leadership—to make a serious impact.
Longy’s In-Person Master of Music in Music Education degree was built for experienced performers like you who want a powerful graduate studies program rooted in socially engaged and culturally responsive music education for the classroom. Graduate with your Master’s in just one year, plus we’ll prepare you for initial teaching licensure in Massachusetts public schools! This program will broaden your skillset and possibly help you secure a stable job in the public schools. The program is open to inspired artists from all musical backgrounds—classical, pop, world, folk, jazz, instrumental, vocal, conducting, and more.
The MM/ME curriculum explores the pedagogy foundational to the El Sistema teaching programs that are changing the lives of children in underserved communities through intensive music instruction. You’ll gain immediate experience, working with underserved youth in Greater Boston-area public schools and El Sistema-inspired sites. Plus, you’ll have full access to the resources of Longy’s conservatory campus, including studio lessons, ensembles, and performance opportunities in a musically rich, supportive environment.
Learn more about Longy’s Music Teacher Education Program, including a fully Online Master of Music in Music Education degree program—designed especially for educators who seek an advanced degree without taking time off from their careers—and Teacher Education Summer Professional Development workshops.
Teaching is much more than a profession; it is a calling. Many music educators enter the field hoping to instill a love of music in others. Some wish to give students the opportunities they wish they had themselves growing up, to ensure that all students have access to a quality music education, regardless of where students come from. Still others want to feel content in their professional lives, hoping to do more with the gifts they have been given.
Regardless of your “why,” consider Longy as a path to get you there. The one-year, research-based, on-campus Master of Music in Music Education program is designed with teaching artists and musicians in mind. With a focus on social justice, access, equity and inclusion in pre-K-12 music education, the program prepares all students to successfully enter the field of music education as practicing educators ready to make their mark in public and private schools, as well as community organizations around the world.
With an eye towards the future of schooling, our progressive faculty prepare students to successfully meet the needs of both national education mandates and pre-K-12 students, including over 400 hours in the classroom during the program. Upon graduation, students are poised to become pre-K-12 certified experts and leaders in the field of music education, where they serve as models of culturally responsive and relevant teaching in today’s schools. There is no time better than the present to turn your “why” into “why not?” Let us give you the tools to help you get there! We look forward to welcoming you into our community!
Audition
Video recording required.
Please prepare 10 minutes of music that best represent your artistic interests, focus, and profile. There are no repertoire limitations. The MM/ME program welcomes musicians of all backgrounds (classical, jazz, folk, world, etc.). Your audition portfolio should be focused on your primary instrument or concentration but may include examples of your teaching background to supplement your application (optional). Video recordings can be uploaded individually by piece or as a single file.
SUMMER
Historical Foundations in Music Education
Initial Licensure
Conducting I
Creating Music in the Music Classroom
Learning by Design: Music Curriculum and Assessment
FALL
Choral Methods and Repertoire
Conducting II
Ensemble Arranging
Brass and Woodwinds Methods
Keyboarding Skills
Pre-Practicum (with local pre-K-12 school internship placements)
WINTER
Technology in Music Education
Culturally Responsive Music Education: Teaching for Social Justice
Strings Methods
Percussion Methods
SPRING
Creative Approaches to Music Education
Adaptive Music Methods
Student Teaching Seminar
Student Teaching (full-semester pre-K internships)
2021–2022
WINTER SESSION (4 weeks) | |
Monday, January 3 | First Day of Winter Session |
Monday, January 17 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (buildings open, no regularly scheduled classes or lessons) |
Friday, February 4 | Last Day of Winter Session |
SPRING SESSION (13 weeks) | |
Monday, February 7 | First Day of Spring Session |
Monday, February 14 – Friday, February 18 | Public School Vacation Week- No Practicums (Cambridge campus still in session) |
Monday, April 18 – Friday, April 22 | Public School Vacation Week- No Practicums (Cambridge campus still in session) |
Friday, May 6 | Last Day of Spring Classes |
Monday, May 9 – Friday, May 13 | Examination and Jury Period |
Saturday, May 14 | Commencement |
2022–2023
SUMMER SESSION (3½ weeks) | |
Tuesday, August 2 | New Student Orientation |
Wednesday, August 3 | First Day of Summer Session |
Monday, August 8-Friday, August 12 | Add/Drop Period |
Friday, August 26 | Last Day of Summer Session |
FALL SEMESTER (14 weeks) | |
Thursday, September 1 | First Day of Fall Semester |
Thursday, September 1-Friday, September 9 | Add/Drop Period |
Monday October 10-Tuesday, October 11 | Fall Break (buildings open, no regularly scheduled classes or lessons) |
Wednesday, November 23 – Sunday, November 27 | Thanksgiving Recess (no regularly scheduled classes or lessons, buildings closed Thursday & Friday) |
Monday, December 5 | Last day of fall classes and studio instruction |
Tuesday, December 6 – Tuesday, January 3 | Holiday Break |
WINTER SESSION (3 ½ weeks) | |
Tuesday, January 3 | First Day of Winter Session |
Wednesday, January 3-Wednesday, January 11 | Add/Drop Period |
Monday, January 16 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (buildings open, no regularly scheduled classes or lessons) |
Friday, January 27 | Last Day of Winter Session |
SPRING SESSION (13 weeks) | |
Monday, January 30 | First Day of Spring Session and Student Teaching |
Monday, January 30-Monday, February 6 | Add/Drop Period |
Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 | Public School Vacation Week- No Student Teaching (MMME classes still happening) |
Monday, April 17 – Friday, April 21 | Public School Vacation Week- No Student Teaching (MMME classes still happening) |
Friday, May 5 | Last Day of Spring Classes and Student Teaching |
Monday, May 8 – Friday, May 12 | Student teaching make-up time (if needed) |
Saturday, May 13 | Commencement |