Music Education (B.M.)
Share Your Love of Music
Why the Music Education Program at Seton Hill University?
As a student in Seton Hill's Music Education (B.M.) Program, you will:
- Benefit from practical teaching opportunities and fieldwork in varied music classroom environments beginning in your freshman year.
- Prepare to earn your Pre K-12 music certification in Pennsylvania.
- Learn to teach in all music subjects, including band, orchestra, choir and general music.
- Enjoy state-of-the-art facilities in our Performing Arts Center.
- Become a member of Seton Hill's Collegiate Chapter of the National Association of Music Education.

- Experience all of the benefits of our Apple Distinguished School, including a MacBook Air laptop for all traditional full-time freshmen.
- Develop professional relationships with your music faculty members that will support your education and your career.
100% Placement for Seton Hill Music Education Graduates!
All of Seton Hill’s recent music education graduates have moved forward by accepting scholarships and assistantships for graduate studies and/or positions as music educators in schools throughout the country. Where will a degree in music education from Seton Hill take you?
Your Career in Music Education
Seton Hill's Music Education Program prepares graduates to teach in all forms of in-school music programs, from early childhood and preschool through to high school. As a music education student at Seton Hill, you'll have the opportunity to complete all coursework, required student teaching, and academic requirements for state teacher certification within four years.
Seton Hill's award-winning Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) will work with you, your professors and local, regional and national employers to prepare you with the career preparation skills, internship opportunities and placement services that you need - as a student and after you graduate.
Expert, Experienced Faculty
As a student in Seton Hill University's Music Education Program, you will work with skilled faculty from both the School of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Education and Applied Social Sciences.
Our award-winning full-time faculty, Dr. Jessica Vaughan-Marra and Dr. Christopher Marra have successful and extensive music teaching backgrounds in public education. Dr. Vaughan-Marra has recently been named one of Yamaha Music's "40 Under 40" Music Educators for excellence in the field.
Overall, Seton Hill music education faculty have:
- More years of experience than most university music educators.
- A wide variety of experiences with different instruments and ensembles.
- Taught and performed across the country.
- Served extensively in professional music teacher organizations, and present regularly at regional, national and international conferences.
Courses That Will Prepare You for (Almost) Anything
The goal of the Music Education Program at Seton Hill is to make you a skilled and confident music educator - no matter where your career takes you. Key courses within the Music Education Program include:
- Foundations of Music Education - In addition to gaining insight into the history of the profession, in this course you will learn foundation skills for teaching music education and visit a broad spectrum of classroom settings.
- Brass, Woodwinds, Strings and Percussion Methods - Learn to play and teach multiple instruments within each family of instruments.
- Music Teacher Learning, Presence and Motivation - This course prepares music education students to develop teaching content that supports social emotional learning (SEL), as well as other core practices that promote authentic engagement for all students in the classroom.
- Music Methods for the Inclusive Classroom - Learn music education skills and teaching practices with equity, diversity and inclusion in mind. This course examines early childhood music making up through high school general music programs, and demonstrates how technology and popular music can help students connect their in-school and out-of-school learning experiences.
- Elementary & Secondary Methods - Learn skills and methods for each area of music teaching. These courses are grounded in real-life teaching experiences through fieldwork and collaboration with local teachers. You will benefit from the opportunity to work with groups and observe all ages and grade levels from early childhood music education experiences through to high school ensembles.
Ensembles
Seton Hill University's Music Program offers a full range of large and specialized ensembles, in which all music majors are involved. Most ensembles are also open to non-music majors.
Admissions and Aid
At Seton Hill University, we offer streamlined admissions requirements and a comprehensive aid program.
In addition to the University's requirements for admission, all music majors must successfully audition for Seton Hill's music faculty to be admitted into the Music Program. Consideration for music scholarships is determined by the quality of the audition.
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Faculty
Ted DiSanti
Music Department Chair, Coordinator of Commercial Music, Associate Professor of Music, Trumpet
Laurie Fox
Coordinator of Music Therapy, Associate Professor of Music Therapy
Mark A. Boyle
Director of Choral and Vocal Activities, Associate Professor of Music, Voice
Clinton Bleil
Assistant Professor of Music
Crystal Stryker
Instructor of Voice
Kathleen Campbell
Instructor of Saxophone
Thomas Glovier
Instructor of Commercial Music, Jazz Piano, and Jazz Theory
Edward M. Kuhn, Jr.
Associate Professor of Music, Piano
Kelly Lynch
Instructor of Voice, World Music, Opera Workshop
Ronald Heid
Instructor of Percussion
Lisa Thackrah
Instructor of Clarinet
Sarah McMeekin
Assistant Professor of Music, Music Therapy
Maureen Miller
Instructor of Voice
David Anderson
Instructor of Music Theory, Staff Accompanist
Josie Merlino
Instructor of Music History and Piano; Staff Accompanist
Jessica Vaughan-Marra
Coordinator of Music Education, Assistant Professor of Music, Oboe
Christopher M. Marra
Director of Instrumental Activities, Assistant Professor of Music, Euphonium
Jacqueline Herbein
Instructor of Musician Wellness
Grace Houde
Instructor of Bassoon
Patrick Forsyth
Sinfonia Director
Amanda Sage
Instructor of Flute
Kala Williams
Instructor of Secondary Choral Methods
Stephen Weiss
Instructor of Viola
Louise Daniels
Instructor of Oboe
Cara Garofalo
Instructor of Violin
Jason Allison
Instructor of Horn
Michael Long
Coordinator of Sacred Music, Assistant Professor of Music, Organ, Director of Music Ministry, University Organist
Algirdas Matonis
Instructor of Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba
Raymond Myers
Instructor of Guitar
George Elliott
Instructor of Double Bass
Lisa Bleil
Coordinator of Commercial Music Ensemble Vocalists, Instructor of Voice