Applications are being accepted for a new program at the University of South Carolina School of Music for musicians who wish to support music learning for all students in South Carolina schools.
Thanks to the generous support of School of Music donors Fred and Dinah Gretsch, ten musicians will be awarded a full scholarship* to participate in the program, which includes coursework, mentoring, individual observation, and paid attendance to the SC Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference.
The new Music Teaching Artist Certificate Program acknowledges the current music teacher shortages facing South Carolina and a deficit in opportunities for some students to learn musical instruments. The program also seeks to expand music learning opportunities that promote the heritage of South Carolina communities.
The Music Teaching Artist Certificate Program begins in January 2025 and concludes with teaching observation and demonstration in the spring/summer of 2025. An overview of the content and timeline is below.
The application process is specialized and not a part of the USC undergraduate or graduate admissions. Application questions are available as a downloadable PDF to assist applicants with their preparation. We recommend preparing answers to all questions in a local document and then copying and pasting answers into the fields in the online form.
The application deadline is December 6, 2024. Scholarship recipients will be notified on December 16, 2024.
| Course | Description | Student Hours |
|
Teaching Methods and Practicum for Teaching Artists Hassan Anderson, Amanda Schlegel and Dr. Alice Hamel (guest) |
Class sessions will help students design, create, and implement an effective classroom curriculum. Students will learn to develop syllabi, curriculum overviews, large scope and sequences, and weekly lesson plans. Furthermore, students will learn the skills and strategies for delivering high-level instruction in the classroom environment. Students will:
|
3 hours per session USC School of Music Dates/Times: |
|
Society and Music Education Dr. Gail V. Barnes |
Participants will explore many factors influencing music participation: home environment, schools, teachers and the community. |
One 60-minute online session TBD |
|
Guided and supported attendance to SCMEA state conference |
The Teaching Artist Certificate Program will guide and support students in attending the state-wide music education conference presented by the South Carolina Music Education Association (SCMEA). This annual gathering of music education professionals in Columbia, SC, is a critical experience for connecting with music learning opportunities and best practices and exploring ways teaching artists can align with music education in schools. Students will:
|
Pre-conference online meeting: TBD Conference attendance: Post-conference meeting: TBD |
|
Final Project |
Students will observe experienced music teachers and reflect on best practice(s) and demonstrate effectiveness as teaching artist
|
Spring, Summer 2025 |
*Full scholarship value = $5,000
Named the Yale School of Music 2019 Distinguished Teaching Artist of the Year, American oboist Hassan Anderson is a soloist, chamber musician, conductor, and teacher. He is the Co-Artistic Director of The East Coast Contemporary Ensemble (ECCE) and is an Assistant Professor of Oboe and Coordinator of Teaching Artistry at the University of South Carolina.
Gail Barnes teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in stringed instrument methods and orchestra literature. She also teaches graduate courses in topics such as Introduction to Research in Music Education, Administration and Curriculum of Music Programs (with a focus on the Sociology of Music Education). Her research interests include community and school orchestra programs and access to music education for under-served youth.
Alice Hammel, Virginia (USA) Grammy Award Nominated Music Educator, 2023 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Lowell Mason Fellow, Virginia Music Educators Association Outstanding Music Educator of the Year (2018), and current President of the Virginia Music Educators Association, is a widely known music educator, author, and clinician whose experience in music is extraordinarily diverse.
Amanda Schlegel is assistant professor of instrumental music education at USC. Her research interests surround music perception and cognition as a function of instrumental music teacher/conductor effectiveness, music teacher education, and affective and emotional responses to music.
Wendy Valerio’s research interests include early childhood and elementary music development. She is a frequent presenter at national and international music education professional development conferences. Valerio supervises a variety of early childhood and elementary music practicum experiences for undergraduate music education majors, and she advises dissertations and theses.
Mary Luehrsen serves as Professor of Practice in the School of Music at the University of South Carolina and supports music majors as they develop as musical and artistic leaders in communities and organizations. Mary was the director of public affairs and government relations for NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants for 23 years and was the founding executive director of the NAMM Foundation (2006).