Music and Music Education

If you've got the music in you, Central College offers multiple opportunities to develop musicianship through coursework, lessons, ensembles and a wide array of concerts. Our music major gives you the foundation for performance, scholarship, music business, church music and other professions. Our music education students can earn licensure to teach instrumental or vocal music in elementary and secondary schools — and build valuable mentoring relationships with local teachers. In addition, music students have access to courses in arts administration, entrepreneurship and not-for-profit management.

choral, instrumental and chamber ensembles

Students perform on tour — recent destinations include Europe, Mexico and Brazil
Majors can gain professional experience through internships in performing arts and arts administration

The Real World

Successful Careers

Director of choral activities, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Odessa
Professional saxophonist, Long Beach, Calif.
Director of bands, Knoxville High School
Associate director of graduate admission, Roosevelt University School of Music, Chicago, Ill.
Grade 6-12 vocal music director, Van Meter Community Schools
Director of operations, Des Moines Symphony Orchestra
Executive director and special assistant to the president, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque
Manager, Celebrity and Entertainment Engagement at American Red Cross

Organizations

Mu Gamma Pi (honorary music service organization)
11 choral, instrumental or chamber ensembles

Central has a student group for you! Learn how you can get involved with groups and organizations at Central.

James Skretta

Saxophonist James Skretta ’09 won the national Young Artist Performance Competition in the Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA) woodwind division for 2013-2014.

The University of Iowa, doctoral degree in saxophone
Roosevelt University, Chicago College of Performing Arts, voice
Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, N.J., choral conducting
University of Kansas, master's degree in clarinet
Kansas State University, percussion
Truman State University, music theory/trumpet

Internships

Development department, Philharmonia Orchestra, London, England
Des Moines Symphony
Des Moines Civic Music Association
BMG Records

Courses & Faculty

Music majors at Central gain a firm grounding in the theory, history and practice of Western art music, augmented by study of jazz, contemporary commercial music and various non-Western traditions. In addition, music education majors gain hours of hands-on experience in elementary and secondary schools through Central’s highly respected teaching licensure program.

Both music and music education majors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Central’s study abroad programs, some of which have excellent opportunities for music study and participation.

Learn more about health and safety for musicians:

Learn more about music and music education in the course catalog.

Music and Music Education photo

Meet the faculty:

Claudia Anderson, D.M.A., , interest areas include flute
Mark Babcock, B.A., M.M., M. Joan Kuyper Farver Endowed Chair in Music and Associate Professor of Music, interest areas include organ, music education and church music
Steven Charlson, B.A., Adjunct Faculty, interest areas include double bass
Stanley Dahl, B.M., M.M., Senior Lecturer of Music, interest areas include percussion, music technology, Caribbean music, Flying Pans Steel Band, Percussion Ensemble.
Kris De Wild, Lecturer of Music, interest areas include harp, choral accompanist
Stephen Dorff, B.M., M.M., Adjunct Faculty and Cello Section Leader with the Orchestra, interest areas include cello
Matt Driscoll, B.A., M.M., D.M.A., Adjunct Faculty, interest areas include low brass
Gabriel Espinosa, B.A., M.M., Associate Professor of Music, interest areas include jazz theory, jazz band techniques, improvisation, applied theory, jazz band, Vocal/Instrumental Combos
John Helmich, B.M., M.M., Adjunct Faculty and Orchestra Consultant/Violin Section Leader, interest areas include orchestra and upper strings
Megan Hofeldt, B.M., M.A., Adjunct Faculty, flute, interest areas include flute, piccolo and Central College Flute Ensemble
Steven Kennedy, B.M., M.M., Adjunct Faculty, interest areas include guitar
Cynthia Krenzel, D.M.A., Associate Professor of Music, interest areas include clarinet, saxophone, music history, world music
Mitchell Lutch, B.M., M.M., D.M.A., Associate Professor of Music, interest areas include conducting, instrumental music education, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Pep Band
Allison McGuire, M.M., Adjunct Faculty, interest areas include piano
Charles Miranda, Adjunct Instructor of Music
Susan Odem, B.M., M.M., Adjunct Faculty, interest areas include woodwind methods and oboe
Dennis Pedde, B.M., M.M., Adjunct Faculty, interest areas include trumpet, French horn
Anne Petrie, B.M., M.M., D.M.A., Professor of Music, interest areas include art song, opera and music of Central and Eastern Europe, especially Russia
Christian Schrock, B.M., M.M., Adjunct Faculty and Orchestra Artistic Director, interest areas include orchestra
Sarah Van Waardhuizen, B.A., M.M.E., Ph.D., Instructor of Music, interest areas include voice, music education

The Central Difference

Ensembles

Central has 11 music ensembles accessible to all students regardless of major. Many of the groups tour domestically and internationally. View full information about ensembles here.

A Cappella Choir
Chamber Singers
Vocal/Instrumental Jazz and Pop Combo
College-Community Chorus

Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Jazz Band
College-Community Orchestra
Flying Pans Steel Drum Band
Pep Band
Handbell Choir
Percussion Ensemble

Music Awards

Central offers music awards of up to $5,000 for music majors and up to $2,000 for students who participate in music ensembles. Awards are renewable for four years. Auditions for music awards are held in February, or earlier by arrangement with the admission office. More information on music awards here.

Facilities

The Cox-Snow Music Center features a 200-seat recital hall and a rehearsal hall as well as classrooms, faculty studios, practice rooms and a keyboard lab. Douwstra Auditorium houses a 9-ft. Fazioli concert grand piano, and the Chapel houses a double-manual Flemish harpsichord, Kawai RX-6 piano and a Brunzema tracker-action organ. The Roe Center features the Fine Arts MIDI computer lab incorporating the latest in music notation software and sequencing programs.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s international programs to enhance their development as global citizens, or with partner programs in Chicago, Washington, D.C. or New York City. Learn more about Central’s study abroad programs.

Central Music Students

Learn More

Want to find out more about music and music education at Central? Contact us to learn more about this major and our other strong academic programs. Visit campus to observe classes and experience The Central Difference firsthand.

Name:

E-mail:

Phone:

Street address:

City:

State/
Province:

Zip/Postal Code:

High School:

Year In School:

Questions: