Music Education

Music education is strong, flexible major that can be completed in four years. Graduates are equipped to teach a range of music classes—from band to choir to orchestra to general music—to students of all ages, K-12.

Our music education graduates are highly sought-after, resulting in a 100 percent job placement rate in K-12 schools.

Requirements Careers Faculty

Music Education

Prepare for a career as a music educator

The study of music education at Lake Forest College combines music theory, history and culture of music, and music performance with rigorous study in the practical art of teaching strings, winds and percussion, elemental and secondary general music, and instrumental and choral ensembles.

The College’s award-winning education program is one of the best in Illinois, with a high post-graduation employability rate: last year, 95% of Lake Forest education grads got jobs in educational settings.

Education

Why study music education at Lake Forest College?

Lake Forest College's music education program offers students the opportunity to teach in some of the finest K-12 band, orchestra, choir, and music classrooms in the country, beginning as soon as their first semester at the College. Our students complete field work in diverse schools and settings, equipping our graduates with the ability to teach music in diverse classrooms.

With small class sizes, accomplished and experienced professors, access to the latest music technology and resources, and a robust network of professionals, our students are prepared to lead in the field of music education.

Plus, the College offers competitve music scholarships and generous financial aid.

Pedagogy and Preparation

Our graduates apply pedagogical knowledge and skills appropriate to the teaching of music, including issues of diversity, gender equity, and the needs of diverse student abilities. They are prepared to meet the standards articulated in the Illinois State Board of Education’s standards, including the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and Music Content Area Standards.

Social Emotional Learning

We train our students to prioritize the education of students as a whole. Graduates apply the knowledge and skills necessary to embed the dispositions and practices associated with Social Emotional Learning into their teaching.

Musical Literacy and Performance

Our music education majors learn to create and perform music while gaining an understanding of the vocabularies of music and education.

Fieldwork for music education majors

We make sure our music education students aren’t just learning how to teach music in a classroom at the college. They are in real K-12 classrooms beginning their first semester in music education. Every course involves fieldwork in the schools resulting in an unparalleled amount of practical experience. The Chicagoland area boasts some of the finest K-12 music programs and music educators in the country. Our music education students are learning from the best, both at the college and in the schools.

Areas of fieldwork include: