What is Music Education?

The Bachelor in Music Education provides for the academic, artistic and professional requirements of those wishing to become music teachers at secondary school level (including Northern Ireland). Not all graduates choose to teach however. Some, on graduation, pursue further study at master’s and doctoral levels in performance, conducting, and composition and quite a few pursue postgraduate courses in the media and in the music business.

Graduates teach in the most vibrant and progressive music departments in schools in Ireland and abroad. Highly sought after for their academic and musicianship skills, graduates are also prominent in curricular design, in-service education and choral and instrumental leadership at national and international levels.

The degree is taught in partnership with the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and, on alternate years, with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. The degree is an integrated course of study designed to equip students with a high standard of performance in their principal instrument (including voice) and a competence in related musical skills e.g. conducting, keyboard skills, performance in choral, orchestral and chamber music groups. The course also provides for a solid grounding in harmony, counterpoint, composition, orchestration, analysis, history of music and Irish traditional music. The majority of subjects are based on the traditions and practices of classical (or art) music, from the medieval period to the present day. However, there are regular lectures in other musical traditions, including Irish traditional music, jazz, contemporary and popular music.

Music Education: Is this the course for you?

If you love sharing music, already have a competent standard of music performance, and wish to combine these qualities with a teaching career, then this course is ideally suited to you. Whether your interests are primarily academic or practical, your experience of this vast and rich discipline will be greatly advanced. As an academic study, music fosters independence of thought, creativity and critical and analytical skills. This course offers opportunities to perform music, to share your music with others in your teaching and performing and to conduct a number of different ensembles.

Music Education @ Trinity

Trinity is the only university in Ireland which offers the Bachelor in Music Education degree. Current students study both music and education to honours degree level (level 8) leading to a professional qualification in post-primary teaching which is accredited by the Teaching Council of Ireland. One of the strengths of the Music Education course at Trinity is the commitment to individual and small group teaching.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

Music Education is a professional degree accredited by the Teaching Council of Ireland. Graduates have an excellent employment record. Most graduates choose post-primary teaching, many garnering reputations as inspirational music teachers; others choose instrumental teaching both privately and in conservatoires. Graduates also go on to work in areas such as professional development, instrumental and vocal performance, academia, agencies associated with the arts, and in fields such as music therapy and music technology. Many students take postgraduate courses majoring in areas such as music education, musicology, performance, and composition. Occasionally graduates pursue disciplines such as accountancy, law and medicine! Recent graduates are working in primary, post-primary and third-level teaching posts in Ireland, in countries throughout Europe, the USA, Dubai, China and Singapore as well as with international companies such as Google.