Music Education

PERFORMING ENSEMBLES

The Music Department offers numerous vocal and instrumental ensembles that are open to all students, regardless of major. Some ensembles—such as the Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, and Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra—require an audition. For descriptions and a complete list of Muskingum music ensembles, visit our Ensembles page.

LESSONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Private lessons in voice, keyboard, brass, woodwind, and string instruments are available to all students regardless of major. Music majors may also take composition and conducting lessons in their junior and senior year. Although private lessons incur an addition fee, all students are eligible to apply for music scholarships to cover these costs.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Muskingum University’s chapter of Collegiate NAfME, the National Association for Music Education, is a professional organization for music education majors. The chapter hosts lectures, workshops, and attends the annual OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) Professional Development Conference.

Muskingum’s student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association exists to support the choral arts on campus. The chapter raises awareness about choral concerts and events, and hosts guest clinicians and presenters.

FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS

Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) is an international music honorary that supports and encourages women musicians of all ages, races, and nationalities, and promotes successful and innovative educational programs in music for all stages of life.

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (PMA) is a men’s music fraternity, and the largest music fraternity in the world, with over 200 college and university chapters. PMA encourages brotherhood, friendship, and musicianship among its more than 150,000 initiates across the world.

EMPLOYMENT

The Music Department has work study positions available to students, including office workers, assistants to ensemble conductors, and load crew members. Several area churches hire music students as pianists, organists, and “scholarship singers” in their choirs. In the summer, some Muskie musicians have held paid positions at music camps such as Interlochen and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

TRAVEL

Muskingum musicians enjoy numerous opportunities to take their music on the road. The Wind Ensemble embarks on an annual domestic tour, while the Concert Choir rotates between national and international tours. Recent destinations have included Chicago, Nashville, New York City, and Washington, DC (nationally); and Berlin, Prague, London, and Edinburgh (internationally). Individual students have also furthered their studies through semesters abroad, such as at the University of Perugia in Italy.