The Northwest Difference
The instrumental music education major certifies students to teach in K-12 classrooms. The degree includes instruction in choral classes, basic knowledge of all musical instruments, knowledge of teaching and curriculum design, classroom management and working with students of special needs and diverse populations.
Vocal Music Education Extended Certification
The Vocal Music Education extended certification can be added onto the Instrumental Music Education major. This is not a major or minor, but an extended certification that meets Missouri teacher certification requirements in vocal music K–12.
Career Ready. Day One.
Northwest ensures students are career ready, day one through internships, field experiences and networking opportunities. Read Dalton's story »
Career Opportunities
100%
placement rate
100% of students who graduate with a degree in instrumental music education find employment or continue their education within six months of graduation.
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.
Instrumental Ensembles
Bearcat Marching Band (BMB) is one of the most visible student organizations at Northwest and performs to more than 50,000 adoring fans annually. The BMB includes the BMB Drumline, Northwest Color Guard, Bearcat Steppers and a twirler. The BMB performs at all home football games, the Homecoming parade and in exhibition for regional high school marching band festivals.
Below is a list of instrumental bands offered at Northwest.
- Bearcat pep band
- Wind symphony
- Symphonic band
- Orchestra
- Jazz ensemble
- Studio jazz ensemble
- Chamber ensembles
View a list of all music-related ensembles »
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 have networks and work collaboratively with surrounding grade schools, middle schools and high schools, ensuring students have opportunities to participate in classrooms as early as their freshman year at Northwest.
Student Testimonial
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Andrea Goering-Stafford
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The students of Benton High School Band came on a Saturday to practice for music contest, and decided to make a Harlem Shake video afterwards. The picture reflects the chaos of the video. I am so grateful for this opportunity.
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.
For more information about study abroad opportunities »
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 textbooks and laptop rental programs save students nearly $7,300 over four years.
Ranked as the top moderately selective regional university in the "25 Best Colleges" by U.S. News and World Report for third time in four years.
The Bearcat Advantage provides out-of-state students the opportunity to earn in-state tuition rates that can save more than $6,000. With the average undergraduate financial aid award of $5,467 for in-state students and $8,286 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.
Students organizations, internships and profession-based learning experiences ensure students are Career Ready, Day One.
