Shape the future of music teaching and learning in New York City’s diverse schools and communities, while earning New York State certification to teach music in schools across the state. Through courses focused on musicianship and innovative pedagogies, you’ll move beyond traditional models to embrace culturally sustaining practices, technological innovation, and critical inquiry.
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Degree Details
Official Degree Title
Master of Arts in Teaching Music, All Grades: Initial Certification
Format
Full-time or Part-time
Credits
32
Start Date
Fall
Application Deadline
Graduates of this program become innovators, advocates, and leaders in music education, equipped to transform how music is taught and learned in New York State, with New York City as a central site of training and opportunity.
- Comprehensive Pre-K–12 Certification: Prepare to teach general, instrumental, and choral music across all grade levels, qualifying for New York State Initial Certification.
- Contemporary Curriculum: Master the advanced musicianship, culturally responsive pedagogy, technology integration, and inclusive teaching practices you’ll need to flourish as a highly qualified and creative music teacher.
- Extensive Fieldwork: Gain valuable experience through intensive fieldwork and two semesters of student teaching, under the close supervision of experienced music educators.
- Innovative Coursework: Engage with coursework designed for modern classrooms, including General Music Pedagogy: Creative Approaches, Technology and the Creative Arts, and Musicianship in a Global Classroom.
- Direct Mentoring: Learn in an intimate cohort environment with individualized guidance from faculty who are active scholars, practitioners, and leaders in music education.
You'll graduate eligible for New York State initial teaching certification as a teacher of music in all grades (Pre-K–12). Learn more about teacher certification and our degree's accreditation.
You’ll emerge well-equipped to serve in a variety of career paths, including Pre-K–12 music teacher, band or choral director, teaching artist, arts coordinator, and school music curriculum specialist. No matter which pathway you choose, you’ll benefit from NYU Steinhardt’s strong reputation and robust career support.
- 100% Graduate Employment Rate: Benefit from the Music Education program’s proven track record, with 100% of recent certification graduates securing teaching positions, working in related educational fields, or pursuing advanced study within one year of graduation.
- Direct Path to Certification: Graduate fully eligible for initial certification as a teacher of music in all grades (Pre-K–12), opening the door to careers in public, charter, and independent schools nationwide.
- Professional Portfolio: Leave with lesson plans, teaching videos, curriculum materials, and reflective artifacts that showcase your readiness for the profession.
- High-Demand Job Market: Launch your career at a historic moment of investment in arts education, driven by New York State class size reduction mandates and expanded funding for NYC school music programs.
Immersed in NYU Steinhardt’s unparalleled cultural and educational opportunities, you’ll develop as a creative leader and changemaker, ready to reimagine music education for the next generation.
- Train in New York City: Complete your fieldwork and student teaching in the nation’s largest public school district, learning and growing in a vibrant, diverse testing ground for modern music education.
- Cross-Arts Collaboration: Experience innovative interdisciplinary coursework and combined classes alongside peers in Educational Theatre, Dance Education, and other practitioners in the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions.
- Institutional Partnerships: Tap into deep faculty connections and ongoing partnerships with premier cultural institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Belongó, Carnegie Hall, and leading NYC public and independent schools.
Questions
If you have any additional questions, please contact music.education@nyu.edu.