Why Major in Vocal Music Education?
The vocal music education major certifies students to teach in K-12 classrooms. The degree includes techniques to be a successful choral conductor, knowledge about the philosophy of music education and the opportunity to take private voice lessons from highly qualified faculty. In addition to learning about the philosophy of music, students learn to play the piano.
Students in this major have opportunities to participate in the award winning Tower Choir, University Chorale, Madraliers, Celebration Show Choir and musical theater.
Instrumental Music Education Extended Certification
The Instrumental Music Education extended certification can be added onto the Vocal Music Education major. This is not a major or minor, but an extended certification that meets Missouri teacher certification requirements in instrumental music K–12.
Career Ready. Day One.
Northwest ensures students are career ready, day one through internships, field experiences and networking opportunities. Read Anna's story »
Profession-Based Learning Experiences
Education majors get experience in the classroom during their freshman year. The Northwest education programs are dedicated to ensuring students are career-ready and prepared for the first day of school.
Freshman-year observation provides students an opportunity to observe a teacher for 30 hours during their first year. Students interact with professionals in the field and learn the operations of a classroom and good teaching practices.
During the sophomore year, students participate in a field experience that involves outlining a unit plan and teaching lessons in grades five through nine.
During the junior-year practicum experience, students spend 90 hours in the classroom, teaching lessons, integrating technology and literacy, engaging learning strategies and using assessment to guide education.
During the senior-year student teaching experience, students prepare lessons and teach in a classroom for 16 weeks.
Spring Break Tours
Tower Choir is known for traveling and performing concerts throughout the United States during Spring Break. Past destinations include Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, South Padre Island, New York City and Florida.
Choral Ensembles
University Chorale is Northwest’s largest choral ensemble and is open to all students on campus. The Chorale provides an opportunity for all students to participate in a high-quality singing organization and experience the joy that accompanies the art of vocal music.
Below is a list of Northwest's Choirs:
- Tower Choir
- Madraliers and Celebration Show Choir
- Musical theater
Learning Resources
Horace Mann Laboratory School is a clinical teaching environment on the Northwest campus that provides students with profession-based opportunities and skills for careers in education. Horace Mann, which serves children ages 3 through sixth grade provides hands-on, project-based learning for Northwest students to ensure they are career-ready upon graduation.
Northwest faculty work collaboratively with surrounding elementary schools, middle schools and high schools, ensuring students have opportunities to participate in classrooms as early as their freshman year at Northwest.
Northwest has two large theaters where students perform. The 549-seat Charles Johnson Theater, housed inside the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building, is named for the first chairman of the Spring Festival of the Arts, which evolved into the University's Encore performances series.
Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts contains Mary Linn Auditorium that seats 1022, the Studio Theater and other facilities related to the dramatic arts, including a black box performance space, classroom, scene shop, costume shop, green room and faculty offices.
Study Abroad
Study Abroad is an opportunity for students to apply hands-on international experience to their own academic development. Faculty members supervise short-term study abroad programs that prepare students before, during and after the program. Two types of study abroad programs are available – faculty-led and traditional study abroad.
The traditional program can be a semester, summer or year-long program and is taught by Northwest’s international partner institutions.
The Northwest Difference
Founded in 1905, Northwest is a traditional campus with more than 7,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in the middle of everywhere, Maryville is two hours from Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, Missouri and 2 ½ hours from Des Moines, Iowa.
The Bearcat Advantage provides out-of-state students the opportunity to earn in-state tuition rates that can save more than $7,500. With the average undergraduate financial aid award of $3,588 for in-state students and $9,804 for out-of-state students, Northwest offers a quality education at an affordable price.
At Northwest, the American Dream Grant covers 100% of the tuition and fees for Pell-eligible students.
Save more than $7,200 over four years through our textbooks and laptop program.
Laptop Program Information
Nearly $22 Million in scholarships and grants awarded annually.
Scholarship Information
Students organizations, internships and profession-based learning experiences ensure students are Career Ready, Day One.
Read student stories
Graduation Rate: 90th percentile of Northwest's national peer group.
