Why Choose Nazareth for Music Education?

The music education degree program at Nazareth College prepares future teachers through the direct experience of teaching and performing, as well as intensive academic study. Liberal arts courses enrich and deepen the learning experience. Students have the opportunity to participate in workshops and conferences, and to teach pre-college students in the Community Music Program and various extensive sites in Rochester.

The Music Department adheres to the philosophy that to teach well, you must also perform well. Students are required to achieve a high level of musical artistry on their primary instrument. Through this combination of musicianship, academics, and pedagogy, Nazareth students are well-prepared to educate and inspire the musicians of the future.

Program Highlights

• The music education degree program prepares students for initial certification (PreK-12 Certification in Music) from the New York State Department of Education.
• Curriculum includes professional courses in instrumental, choral, and general music methods, as well as liberal arts courses, culminating in a Senior Experience that includes a Senior Recital and a Senior Comprehensive Examination.
• The student teaching experience serves as the experiential capstone for this program.
• Emphasis on practice-teaching experiences throughout the course sequence.
• Extensive collection of music teaching materials and resources.
• Opportunity to participate in student chapters of The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and The American Choral Directors Association, American String Teacher Association, as well as a mini conference that is held on campus annually.
• Perform in our new, state-of-the-art, 550-seat Glazer Music Performance Center. The new building is designed to provide excellent acoustics for large instrumental and vocal ensembles, to integrate multimedia collaborations, and to enable live recording.

Program Contact

Keith A. Koster

Associate Professor in Music

585-389-5164

kkoster8@naz.edu

Arts Center 1D

Bio

Education: Ph.D., University of Missouri; M.M., Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University; B.S., Quincy College

Teaching and Research Interests: Exploring the art and science of effective teaching, music literacy, music teaching methodologies, and gender and music. 

Read full bio.