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Graduate Studies for Music Educators
Townsend School of Music offers graduate degrees in performance, conducting and church music. While we do not offer a specific graduate degree in music education, most music educators do not need a graduate music education degree to fulfill their professional goals.
A master's degree in music education is an excellent research oriented degree leading to a doctoral degree in music education or educational administration (Ph.D. or Ed. D. degree). A master's degree in performance or conducting leads choral directors, band directors, and elementary music educators to continued study at the doctoral level in performance or conducting (D.M.A. or D.M. degree). As for certification, musicians who are certified teachers automatically obtain graduate certification status (T5 certification in Georgia) when they complete a masters degree in performance or conducting. For example, choral directors with teacher certification (BME or BA with certification) automatically move to graduate pay scale and certification status when they complete either a Master of Music in Choral Conducting or a Master of Music in Vocal Performance degree.
Your career path is a personal choice. Townsend School of Music is here to assist you as you prepare to be the best possible musician/teacher/leader. We elected to offer residence-only degrees instead of online, evening or weekend degrees. This is a pedagogical choice. We believe music is an apprenticed art that must be developed in a live, interactive, personal, and dynamic environment. The performance and conducting degrees are 33 hours, and can be completed in two to four semesters of study.
Contact Dr. John E. Simons, Director of Graduate Studies, with any questions concerning certification or graduate studies. We encourage you to peruse the graduate offerings and continue your development as a musician and teacher.
Dr. John E. Simons
Director of Graduate Studies
(478) 301-4012
simons_je@mercer.edu