Music Education
Have you ever wanted to conduct a choir or stand in front of an audience and belt out an aria? A music degree at Central College might be the right fit for you. Central offers students the opportunity to develop their musicianship through ensembles, applied lessons, coursework and the department’s wide array of concerts. Central offers two degree options for those interested in music. A degree in music provides the foundation necessary for further study or work as performers, music scholars, church musicians music business executives and other professionals. The music education major allows students to receive certification in elementary and secondary education, instrumental or vocal music.
Faculty
- Mark Babcock, M.M., associate professor of music, babcockm@central.edu
organ, voice, music education, church music, Director of Choral Activities, Dept.Chair
- Carol lei Breckenridge, D.M.A., professor of music, breckenridgc@central.edu
piano, fortepiano, piano pedagogy, music literature
- Charlie Eekoff, director of Music Connection, eekhoffc2@central.edu
piano
- Stephen Lane MA, adjunct instructor or music,
lanes@central.edu
cello, bass
- Stanley Dahl, M.M., assistant professor of music, dahls@central.edu
percussion, music technology, Caribbean music, Steel Drum Band, Percussion Ensemble
- Gabriel Espinosa, M.M., associate professor of music, espinosag@central.edu
jazz theory, jazz band techniques, improvisation, applied theory, Jazz Band, Vocal/Instrumental Combos
- Mark Hartman, D.M.A., assistant professor of music, hartmanm@central.edu
violin, viola, theory, aural skills, College-Community Orchestra, jazz guitar
- Colleen Jennings, adjunct instructor of music, jenningsc@central.edu
voice
- Mitchell Lutch, M.M., assistant professor of music, lutchm@central.edu
conducting, instrumental music education, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, College-Community Band, Pep Band
- Cynthia Krenzel Doggett, D.M.A., professor of music, doggettc@central.edu
music history, world music, clarinet, saxophone
- Susan Odem, M.M., adjunct instructor of music, odems@central.edu
bassoon, oboe, flute
- Anne Petrie, D.M.A., professor of music, petriea@central.edu
voice, diction, vocal pedagogy
- Terri Snyders Crumley, D.M.A., adjunct instructor of music, crumleyt@central.edu
voice
- Matt Driscoll, M.M., adjunct instructor of music, driscollm@central.edu
lower brass
- Dennis Peddle, D.M.A., adjunct instructor of music, peddled@central.edu
upper brass
- Davis Folkerts, D.M.D, professor emeritus
accompanist
- Mary Foss, M.M., adjunct intructor of music
harp
Successful Careers
- Cory Alexander, director of choirs, Central Florida. Community College, Ocala, Fla.
- Seth Banwell, assistant band instructor, Newton Senior High School, Newton, Iowa
- Jodi Vander Wilt, elementary music teacher, Oak Creek Elementary School, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Julie Vander Woude, music director, Excel Academy, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
- Andrea Kapusinski, Orion School District, Orion, Ill
Internships
Looking for experience? An internship might be the answer. When it comes to future employment or entrance into graduate school, students with internship experience have a proven track record in a professional environment. In today's competitive job market, proven experience is a priceless commodity. Recent music majors have completed internships at the London Philharmonic and the Ingersoll Dinner Theater in Des Moines.
Learn more about internships at Central.
Courses
- Music in time
- Art of music
- World music
- Beginning keyboard I and II
- Theory and aural I and II
- Applied theory I, II, III and IV
- Jazz theory I and II
- Studies in music
- Music history I and II
- Intermediate keyboard I and II
- Theory III and IV
- Italian diction
- German diction
- French diction
- Elementary school music
- Church music
- Counterpoint
- Orchestration
- Methods and materials of instrumental literature
- Methods and materials of choral literature
- Advanced literature seminar
- Conducting
- Advanced choral conducting
- Advanced instrumental conducting
- Marching band techniques
- Jazz band techniques
- Piano pedagogy
- Vocal pedagogy
- Methods for elementary music
- Instrumental methods: single reeds
- Instrumental methods: flute and double reeds
- Instrumental methods: upper brass
- Instrumental methods: lower brass
- Instrumental methods: violin and viola
- Instrumental methods: cello and double bass
- Instrumental methods: percussion
- Church music field experience
- Piano pedagogy field experience
- Vocal pedagogy field experience
- Elementary music field experience
- Central College-Community Chorus
- Central College-Community Band
- A Cappella Choir
- Symphonic Wind Ensemble
- Central College-Community Orchestra
- Jazz Ensemble
- Chamber Ensemble
- Chamber Singers
- Piano Ensemble
- Accompanying
Get more details from the course catalog! (Note: this is a PDF file)
Sample Schedule
Freshman year
- Fundamentals of musicianship
- World music
- Beginning keyboard I
- Theory I
- Applied theory I
- Studies in music
- Beginning keyboard II
- Theory II
- Applied theory II
- Music lessons
- Performance group
- Core courses and electives
Sophomore year
- Music history I
- Intermediate keyboard I
- Theory III
- Applied theory III
- Music history II
- Intermediate keyboard II
- Theory IV
- Applied theory IV
- Music lessons
- Performance group
- Core courses and electives
Junior year
- Conducting
- Advanced literature seminar
- Music lessons
- Performance group
- Core courses and electives
Senior year
- Music lessons
- Performance group
- Core courses and electives
Facilities
The Cox-Snow Music Center houses a newly renovated 200-seat recital hall, as well as rehearsal hall, classrooms, faculty studios, practice rooms and an electronic keyboard/computer lab. Included as part of the music facilities is the Center for Keyboard Studies. Unique in Iowa, the center allows students to play instruments appropriate to each period: including a double-manual Flemish harpsichord, Viennese fortepiano, Fazioli concert grand piano and Brunzema tracker-action organ. The building contains a 14-station Macintosh/keyboard lab used for music technology courses, piano class, etc. The recital hall includes a state-of-the-art sound system including live CD-recording capabilities.
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s eight international programs to enhance their development as global citizens, or with Central’s Chicago program and the Washington, D.C., program. Learn more about about Central’s study abroad programs.
Back to TOP
Ensembles
Both music majors and nonmajors may audition for any of the many ensembles on campus. These groups include:
- A Cappella Chior
- Brass Ensemble
- Chamber Singers
- Clarinet Enseble
- College-Community Band
- College-Community Chorus
- College-Community Orchestra
- Flute Choir
- Handbell Choir
- Jazz Band
- Flying Pans Steel Drum Band
- Pep Band
- Percussion Ensemble
- Piano Ensemble
- String Ensemble
- Symphonic Wind Ensemble
- Vocal/Instrumental Jazz and Pop Combo
- Wood Wind Ensemble
Central’s performing groups tour annually. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble has traveled to Mexico, British Columbia, Quebec, New York, Florida and Texas. Central’s A Cappella Choir has toured the East Coast, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico.
Mu Gamma Pi, Central’s honorary music service organization, plays an active role in promoting interest in and appreciation for music on campus. Many Central music majors attend regional and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference, the American Choral Directors Association, the Iowa Bandmasters Association and the Music Teacher’s National Association. Trips to Des Moines, Ames and Iowa City are also frequently arranged.
