INTRODUCTION

(INSTRUMENTAL K-12 AND VOCAL/GENERAL MUSIC K-12) GRADUATE PROGRAM 2009/2010

This program operates progressively in two stages: (1) a strong undergraduate preparation in music through Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music including a limited number of introductory professional education courses that are available to anyone in the undergraduate community at Vanderbilt, and, most importantly, three supervised practicum experiences in schools and community groups with children, resulting in the degree, with a major in Musical Arts; and (2) a year in Peabody’s Master of Education degree program to focus fully on professional education at the graduate level, culminating in a student teaching/internship semester in K-12 school settings and readiness for licensure recommendation.

Admission to Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music is highly competitive. The numbers of graduates continuing for a year of professional education preparation have been small, but are growing. Assistant Dean Dwayne Sagen directed the program during the time of the last re- accreditation visit; since 2002, Professor Tom Verrier has served as program director. Dr. Verrier joined the Blair faculty as a result of a national search. His background in teaching music in public schools was one of many key components of his experience before coming to Blair. Gavin Smith, who is also the Assistant Director of the University Bands, assists with supervision of field work and teaching in the program. Annual spring practicum experiences expose the students to a variety of public, private, and community teaching opportunities with K-12 students in the Nashville area and are key to the strong undergraduate foundation that Blair students have before entering the master’s degree program to focus on professional preparation. The Sophomore Review, done by Blair faculty, is similar to the Screening I assessment for undergraduates who are enrolled in an undergraduate teacher education program and who are requesting Screening I Formal Admission to Teacher Education. Because of the annual spring supervised practicum and the Sophomore Review, Blair students who are preparing as undergraduates for the master’s level teacher preparation have extensive field work experience and have been assessed by the Blair faculty in a variety of ways beyond what usual assessments are in place for music majors who are not planning to teach. With three years of practicum experience already accomplished in schools, these students have already had extensive opportunity to reflect upon their commitment to the profession of teaching music.

All music programs in the Blair School of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Instruction and supervision of the Blair graduates enrolled in the Master of Education program is shared between Blair and Peabody faculty. Supervision of student teaching and the weekly seminar is done by Blair faculty in collaboration with Peabody faculty in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Both faculties have input for licensure recommendation upon each student’s completion of the program.

Students who complete this program demonstrate strong accomplishment in music education as evidenced in PRAXIS II testing detailed as follows:

1 Instrumental/General Music K-12 PRAXIS Scores

Average scores earned by program completers who took the PRAXIS II exams required for licensure with a music endorsement (Instrumental/General Music K-12) during the past three years are as follows:

Music: Concepts and Processes (code 111) (state required score: 145) 2007 score of 165 n = 1 2008 score of 170 n = 2 2009 score of 165 n = 5

Music: Content Knowledge (code 113) (state required score: 150) 2007 score of 165 n = 1 2008 score of 181 n = 2 2009 score of 183 n = 5

PLT 7-12 (code 524) (state required score: 159) 2007 score of 165 n = 1 2008 score of 177 n = 2 2009 score of 175 n = 5

Vocal/General Music K-12 PRAXIS Scores

Average scores earned by program completers who have taken the PRAXIS II exams required for Tennessee licensure with a music endorsement (Vocal/General Music K-12) during the past three years when there was enrollment for this endorsement are as follows:

Music: Concepts and Processes (code 111) (state required score: 145) 2006 score of 170 n = 1 2007 score of 180 n = 1 2009 score of 165 n = 1

Music: Content Knowledge (code 113) (state required score: 150) 2006 score of 190 n = 1 2007 score of 174 n = 1 2009 score of 197 n = 1

PLT K-6 (code 522) (state required score: 155) 2007 score of 195 n = 1

PLT 7-12 (code 524) (state required score: 159) 2006 score of 181 n = 1 2009 score of 189 n = 1

As of the fall of 2009, there are 29 students enrolled at Blair School of Music who have chosen to pursue teacher education.

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