Music Education majors may choose between a vocal/elementary general music track or an instrumental (band/orchestra) track.
The major in music education is the joint concern of the School of Music in the College of Fine Arts and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. Admission to the program is granted only after the successful completion of an audition in the student's performance area. In addition to completing the required courses, the student must present a half-recital or the equivalent on the major instrument or in voice during or after the sixth semester of study.
Except for a series of three professional education courses, all classes are taught by music professors. The Music Education program at the University of Kentucky is an integrated P–12 initial preparation program. Although music education students may specialize in a given area such as vocal/general or instrumental, all students are certified to teach P–12 music in the state of Kentucky.
For music education majors at UK, even though preparation for teaching is a primary goal, it is equally important that all students are expected to be well-trained musicians. In most cases, there is minimal difference between the performance and academic expectations for music education majors and those who are classified as performance majors. An outstanding performance faculty in voice, keyboard, strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion provides superior instruction for all music education majors. Relative to the development of musicianship for all music education majors is the experiences of playing in outstanding performing organizations, including the University Chorale, University Choristers, the Men’s and Women’s Choirs, the Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, the Wildcat Marching Band, and two nationally renowned Jazz Ensembles.
UK prides itself in educating not only superior teachers but superior teachers/musicians as well. Currently, approximately 50% of the undergraduate music majors at UK are music education majors.