The Conservatory of Music and Dance aims to meet or exceed the educational standards set by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for the training of undergraduate music students. To that end the Conservatory endorses the acquisition of skills in musicianship, education, and general studies.

Musicianship:

Every musician functions to some extent as:

• Performer
• Listener
• Historian
• Composer
• Theorist
• Teacher

Therefore students are required to be exposed to and develop basic competencies in all of these areas. The content of this area includes:

• Sight-singing
• Ear-training
• Harmony
• Keyboard skills
• Counterpoint
• Orchestration/arranging
• Conducting
• Music literature
• Performance practice

Undergraduate musicianship studies focus on:

1. Conceptual understanding of musical components and processes.
2. Continued practice in creating, interpreting, presenting, analyzing, and evaluating music.
3. Increasing understanding of various musical cultures and historical periods.
4. Acquiring capacities to integrate musical knowledge and skills.
5. Accumulating capabilities for independent work in the music professions.

Education:

The UMKC Teacher Preparation program seeks to prepare teachers who:

• Have a strong liberal arts education and who are well-grounded in their content field(s).
• Demonstrate the development of pedagogic skills.
• Possess a professional and caring commitment to education.

Program goals are based on a set of key principles and express knowledge, skills and dispositions. These goals reflect the current knowledge base of teacher education as well as a commitment to the preparation of teachers who will be able to practice in schools as they are, and schools as they might be.

Program Goals:

1. The beginning teacher understands the discipline(s) he or she will teach and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of the subject matter meaningful to students.
2. The beginning teacher is able to engage in long range planning and curriculum development and evaluation based upon district, state and national performance standards.
3. The beginning teacher understands how children learn and develop, and can provide opportunities that support their intellectual, social and personal development.
4. The beginning teacher understands and respects students’ differences and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
5. The beginning teacher is able to use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners’ development of critical thinking, problem solving and process skills.
6. The beginning teacher creates a productive learning environment through the use of individual and group motivation that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
7. The beginning teacher models effective communication techniques (verbal, non-verbal, media, etc.) and facilitates student communication, collaboration and supportive interaction in the classroom.
8. The beginning teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, emotional and physical development of the learner
9. The beginning teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his/her choices and actions on others and actively seeks opportunities to grow professionally.
10. The beginning teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents and educational partners in the larger community to support student learning and wellbeing.
11. The beginning teacher understands theories and applications of technology in educational settings and has adequate technological skills to create meaningful learning opportunities for all students.

General Studies:

Studies in other areas of human achievement are important in the education of musicians. As a result, students are required to develop an awareness of basic ideas and concepts in:

• Natural and physical sciences
• Social sciences and communication
• Other areas of the arts and humanities

Students are encouraged to view the combination of musicianship and general studies as a means of developing a broad foundation for future artistic and intellectual development.