Music Education

Why choose music education at North Central College?

You’ll combine your performance training with classroom teaching experience as early as your first year. And you’ll complete your degree in just four years (most comparable programs require five).

You’ll also enjoy more face time in front of students—150 clinical teaching hours—than typically required. Why? Because we know the additional teaching and conducting experience will hone your skills, boost your confidence and help lead to competitive full-time teaching positions. Graduates of North Central enjoy a nearly 100 percent placement rate.

You can also:

Choose to perform in a variety of campus venues and ensembles—our more than 20 student groups range from small to large instrumental ensembles and choral ensembles.
Student-teach in Naperville-area high-performing school districts; you’ll use their new technologies, learn from their great teachers, and make valuable connections with their administrators.
Learn to teach in high-need areas through our partnerships with schools in Aurora and Chicago (scholarships and incentives are often available).
Attend the Chicago Symphony Orchestra or Lyric Opera every week, as some students have done—Chicago is just a short train ride away.
Earn scholarships with most ensembles.

North Central College alumni honored for teaching excellence in Naperville schools

Two alumni of North Central College’s music education program are being recognized by Naperville Community Unit School District 203 for excellence in teaching.

Jonathon Kirk, assistant professor of music

Kirk gives talk, showcases original work

Jonathon Kirk, North Central College assistant professor of music, gave lecture on re-imagining Bach’s canons and premiered composition at Auburn University.

Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams to address North Central College Commencement

Aaron Williams, director of the Peace Corps, will deliver the address June 9 at the 147th Commencement ceremony of North Central College.

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Careers

Music education graduates have found positions at:

Aurora schools district #204, which includes Grammy Signature Schools (Gold Status)
Central Illinois districts such as Paxton and Gibson City
Plainfield, Aurora, Downers Grove and St. Charles schools
Community schools, churces, and organizations such as The Young Naperville Singers, Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus (now Anima), Music Makers of Western Springs, Our Savior's Lutheran of Naperville and Visitation Church of Elmhurst

Feature

Kateri Tumminello

Music Education, choral and instrumental

Kateri considered large universities for studying music education but decided North Central was a perfect fit. “I loved the idea of a well-rounded, liberal arts education. Here you have the ability to gain leadership skills and study outside your major.”

In her music studies, Kateri pursued both choral and instrumental education and participated in choral, instrumental and jazz ensembles. “North Central is a place where I could dabble in an area like vocal jazz in addition to classical vocal. Gaining a wide variety of experiences prepares you better because you never know what you might end up doing in a school setting.”

In preparing for her student-teaching assignment at a middle and high school, Kateri says the expertise of North Central’s faculty and close mentoring helped ready her for the classroom. “They are really great educators themselves, so they’re good role models as you prepare to go into that field.”

Feature

Eliseo Martinez

Music education major

Eliseo received two job offers upon graduation and he accepted a position teaching music at an Aurora elementary school where he student-taught.

His story began with North Central's professors and teaching opportunities, which he describes as second to none. "Our teachers look for potential in you, not just musical expertise, and they give you one-on-one attention and freedom to design your own individual program," he says. "I set my own goals and studied voice, piano, clarinet and conducting. I also loaded all my music education classes and ensembles into my first couple years so I could decide where I wanted to focus. At larger schools with larger classes, you don’t get the chance to customize your program or take lots of lessons."

Eliseo also gained significant teaching and mentoring experience by working with the Junior/Senior Scholars program, North Central’s yearlong college readiness program for disadvantaged youth in high-need communities. He was Golden Apple Scholar during his four-year North Central career.

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