DANBURY, Connecticut — The Department of Music at Western Connecticut State University has announced the creation of two new Master of Music (M.M.) degree programs: Music Education and Jazz Pedagogy. The Music Education concentration is ideal for current K-12 music educators seeking to maintain certification as they are advancing their careers, while the Jazz Pedagogy concentration is suited for performers and music educators alike aiming to deepen their expertise in performing, researching and teaching jazz. Classes will begin in Fall 2025, and applications are now being accepted.
Both the Music Education and Jazz Pedagogy 30-credit programs are tailored to the needs of working professionals, with flexible course offerings delivered in a hybrid format. The objective is to equip students with advanced pedagogical, theoretical, conducting and performance skills necessary for careers in music education and jazz pedagogy, while also preparing them for a terminal degree in music.
Coordinator of Choral Activities and Graduate Studies Dr. Jeremy Wiggins said, “For almost 30 years, WestConn has had a Master of Science in Music Education, and it’s been very successful. A lot of Connecticut music educators have earned their M.S. from WCSU. In 2019, we decided to revamp the program because it is difficult for working professionals with young families to physically come to campus for in-person classes during the fall/spring semesters. Since most of our students are practicing music educators, they have to get their master’s degree to meet certification requirements in Connecticut and neighboring states, and this is a way for them to accomplish that without having to travel to campus after a busy day teaching.”
Wiggins continued, “Our structure will include online classes in the afternoons and evenings during the fall and spring semesters. During the pandemic, we became really adept at tailoring our coursework to online offerings without feeling like we were losing any of the academic value. In the summer, courses that do not function well online like conducting or music methods, will be in-person and hands-on, so students may take up to six credits during our two-week summer intensive sessions and can generally complete the program in two years.”
The Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy will benefit improvising performers who wish to gain more experience and insight into teaching, as well as music educators employed in K-12 school districts, independent schools, and private or group lesson formats.
Professor of Music and Co-Coordinator of Jazz Studies Dr. Jimmy Greene said, “The program will strengthen their performing and pedagogy skills specific to jazz music – a uniquely American art form – and is centered on the strategies and techniques used to teach students at different age and ability levels. WCSU’s Jazz Pedagogy master’s degree will be the first of its kind in the Northeast. Our campus’ proximity to New York City offers unlimited opportunities for connection to the epicenter of the professional jazz music community. There’s a great need for this type of program.”
Regardless which program a student chooses, Wiggins said affordability is what sets WestConn’s new Master’s in Music programs apart. “At the graduate level, this plays even more importance,” Wiggins said. “Music teachers can get a great education at a reasonable price in our state-of-the-art facilities. We have great classrooms, wonderful performance spaces, a recording studio that supports commercial music-making, and an amazing faculty. Both degrees are based on the philosophy that our courses are practical and will provide new tools for an educator’s toolbox.”
Applications for the fall 2025 are rolling and are now being accepted. To learn more about prerequisites and objectives, visit https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/grad/master-of-music/. To apply, go to https://www.wcsu.edu/admissions/apply/.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.