Overview
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 post-primary level (including Northern Ireland). Not all graduates choose to teach however. Some, on graduation, pursue further study at masters and doctoral levels in performance, conducting, and composition and quite a few pursue postgraduate courses in the media and in the music business.
The degree is taught in partnership with the Technical University of Dublin Conservatoire of Music and Drama (TU Dublin Conservatoire) and, on alternate years, with the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM). Students registering for the course in September 2023 will study at Trinity and the TU Dublin Conservatoire. 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.
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 music with others via teaching and performing, and to conduct a number of different ensembles.
Music Education at Trinity
Trinity College Dublin is the only university in Ireland which offers the Bachelor in Music Education degree. Students study both music and education to honours degree level 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. The facilities in the Associated Colleges include recital rooms, practice rooms with pianos, music studios, excellent listening equipment, and a substantial lending collection of print and audio resources.
The staff at TU Dublin and RIAM has a wide range of experience in vocal and instrumental music, composition, music technology and musicology. The staff at Trinity’s School of Education has a wide range of expertise in all aspects of education including educational research, the psychology of education, philosophy of education, sociology of education and music pedagogy. Students also have access to the largest research library in Ireland.
Graduate skills and career opportunities
Music Education is a professional degree accredited by the Teaching Council of Ireland. Graduates have excellent employment records. 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.
Your degree and what you’ll study
A basic feature of the programme is personal development in music, supporting the ability to awaken the interest and enthusiasm of pupils. Students are encouraged to engage in ensemble work at a level appropriate to their ability. Opportunities to perform are provided, offering realistic individual goals for all, including the exceptionally gifted. Structured school placement in all aspects of classroom practice both at primary and post-primary levels is provided, as well as instrumental/vocal practice.
In addition to individual instrumental/vocal tuition, there are approximately fifteen hours of lectures per week, comprising music and education.
First year
Instrumental Performance; Musicianship; Compositional Techniques; Music History; Music Education, including Co-teaching; Curricular Development
Second year
Instrumental Performance; Musicianship; Compositional Techniques; Music History; Music Education; Irish Educational History and Policy; School Placement
Third year
Instrumental Performance; Musicianship; Compositional Techniques; Music Education; Research Methods; Philosophy of Education; School Placement; Sociology of Education
Fourth year
Capstone project*; Aural Perception; Compositional Techniques; Applied Psychology in Education; Introduction to Assessment and Examinations in Post Primary Education; School Placement; Inclusive Education; Digital Learning
* In Year 4, students may specialise in either music education research, composition or performance.
Click here for further information on modules/subject.
Study abroad and internship opportunities
The B. Mus. Ed. has strong links abroad, including active participation in the Erasmus exchange programme with universities in Scotland, France and Hungary. It allows second year students the option of spending one semester studying abroad. As already mentioned, the School has an excellent record of students going on to study at postgraduate level, in Ireland and abroad, and of graduates obtaining employment in Europe, New Zealand, Middle East and in North America.
Do you enjoy…
- Performing, composing and sharing music?
- Learning how to inspire others with your musicianship?
- Exploring how to influence the next generation of musicians?
