Music Education Master's Degree | Northern State University in South Dakota

The NSU online Master of Music Education can help you enhance your career, develop your professional skills and fulfill your passion for music.

About The Program

If you're a choral, instrumental or general music teacher, Northern's Master of Music Education's online format is designed to fit into your busy life. It offers a flexible way to complete your advanced degree in two years while you retain your current job. You'll be stimulated, challenged and ready to move forward in the classroom and your career.

The online program is practice-oriented and covers the essentials of research in music education, music theory, performance practices, conducting, pedagogy and music education management.

Learn from recognized leaders: Courses are taught by experienced and highly qualified faculty with years of successful classroom experience
Expand your knowledge, develop new skills and excel as a music educator with comprehensive instruction in choral, instrumental and general music

Courses

Students will take 30 credits, most online; and spend one week each summer at Northern's beautiful campus (ask about our on-campus housing options). Students will complete two courses each fall, spring and summer term.

Music Education (MME) Course Requirements

Sample Plans of Study

Music Education (MME) Plan of Study

Program Success/Outcomes

A music teacher in a blue shirt gestures to the class

"The MME program... looked accessible while I still taught full time. The online portions allowed me to work on my coursework when I could, and the on-campus portions were conveniently scheduled during the summer.”

-- Mallory Scott, NSU Master of Music Education graduate and music specialist at Aberdeen's May Overby Elementary School

Contact Information

For more information about this online degree, contact Tim Woods or call 605-626-7758.

Our Faculty

Terry Beckler

Ph.D. University of Minnesota

M.M.E. University of Northern Colorado-Greeley

B.M.E. South Dakota State University

Dr. Terry Beckler, NSU professor of percussion and associate director of bands, previously was director of bands at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn., and at Huron University. He also has 10 years of public school experience as band director for the Red Rock Central (Lamberton, Minn.) and Sioux Valley (Volga, S.D.) school districts.

Dr. Beckler was a member of the 147th Army Band based in Mitchell, S.D., for 36 years, retiring as Chief Warrant Officer 5. He enlisted in 1986 as a percussionist, took over command in 1998 and completed his career as Chief, Army National Guard Bands. In January of 2006, the 147th Army Band was awarded the Howard Citation of Musical Excellence from the John Philip…

B.S. North Dakota State University

M.M., G.P.D. Peabody Conservatory of Music

D.M.A. North Dakota State University

A captivating and compelling performer, soprano Dr. Darci Bultema has performed on the operatic stage in a variety of roles, such as La Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Cleopatra in Handel's Giulio Cesare, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, The Female Chorus in Britten's The Rape of Lucretia, and Lavinia in Bononcini's Camilla. Originally from North Dakota, she has brought talent and versatility to opera companies across the United States via Florida Grand Opera, Tulsa Opera, Washington Opera, Baltimore Opera, Natchez Opera, Peabody Opera, and the Fargo Moorhead Opera.

In addition to her operatic repertoire, Dr. Bultema has appeared as a soloist in an assortment of orchestral works with The Florida Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Miami Chamber Symphony, Peabody Symphony…

Maturita, Conservatory, Prague, Czech Republic

Absolutorium, Academy of Musical Arts (terminal degree) Prague, Czech Republic

A native of the Czech Republic, Dr. Marcela Faflak has taught in the music schools in Prague and at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. She is active as a performer, accompanist, and adjudicator in the upper Midwest. She has been a member of Northern's music faculty since 1996.

D.M.A., Michigan State University

M.M., Wichita State University

B.M., Concordia College

Dr. Marla Fogderud, a native of North Dakota, is an active stage performer and recitalist throughout the United States and Europe. She was an apprentice artist with the Des Moines Metro Opera and has performed roles with Opera Kansas, Wichita State University Opera, Fargo Moorhead Opera, and Michigan State University Opera. She has been a soloist with the Cincinnati International Chorale, Wichita Symphony, Wichita State University Orchestra, Greater Grand Forks Symphony, Michigan State University (MSU) Concert Band, MSU Philharmonic and MSU Symphony.

Dr. Fogderud has appeared on the Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., faculty recital series; Minnesota Public Radio Regional Artist broadcasts; North Dakota Museum of Art Summer Concert Series; Plymouth…

B.M. University of Wisconsin-Madison

M.M. University of Cincinnati

D.M. Indiana University

Dr. Grant Manhart holds a doctor of music degree in trumpet literature and performance with minors in music history and jazz studies from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He holds a master’s degree in trumpet performance with a minor in jazz studies from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Wisconsin.

His extensive performing experience includes classical, jazz and popular music. Before his arrival at NSU in 1998, he toured with the famed Buddy Rich Band and Broadway’s "Dreamgirls;" lived in Puerto Rico and performed with the Latin Jazz group Picante; and performed with many other luminaries including Carol Channing, Herb Jeffries, Rita Moreno, June…

D.M.A., Arizona State University

M.M., Florida State University

B.M., Western Washington University

Dr. Audrey Miller is an associate professor of clarinet at Northern State University in Aberdeen. At Northern, Dr. Miller teaches applied clarinet, music theory and concert band. She regularly participates in community outreach, teaching clarinet workshops to young, aspiring musicians.

Before coming to Northern, Dr. Miller lived in Phoenix, Ariz., where she was an active chamber musician and clarinet teacher to students of all ages. She performed throughout Phoenix area as part of Classical Revolution PHX, Clarinets for Conservation, Kaleidoscope Winds reed quintet, Paradise Winds, and many more.

Dr. Miller had her international debut in Belgium in 2011 and spent the summer of 2013 teaching and performing in Tanzania…

Ph.D. Northwestern University

M.A. University of Minnesota

B.A. Valley City State College

William Wieland, Musician and Educator

Bill Wieland, a native of North Dakota, is an educator, composer and pianist. His compositions have received numerous awards and performances and he is often featured as a piano accompanist in the region. Dr. Wieland earned a bachelor of arts in composite music (piano) from Valley City State College in 1986, a master of arts in theory and composition from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in 1988 and a doctor of music in composition from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., in 1991. He has taught at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, De Paul University and Northwestern University.

He began teaching music…

A.B. Harvard University

M.M., DMA University of Arizona

In addition to conducting the Collegiate Choir, Chamber Singers, and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Dr. Timothy Woods teaches music history, vocal pedagogy, choral conducting, and applied voice. He holds a doctor of music degree in choral conducting with a minor in vocal performance as well as a masters in conducting from the University of Arizona.

Dr. Woods is a member of ACDA, NATS, and the Center for Black Music Research. He is a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, and has performed tenor solos with the Arizona Opera, Tucson Symphony and Denver Symphony Orchestra.