Music Education
The Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree at UNC Charlotte includes a rigorous, research-based curriculum with two concentrations: Instrumental/General Music and Choral/General Music. Both concentrations prepare candidates for teaching general music, orchestra, band, and choir while leading to K-12 Music licensure in North Carolina. Our program provides in-the-field teaching opportunities beginning with the second semester of study. These experiences include community service, directed observations, lab teaching, and full-time student teaching and allow our students to gain experience teaching students of varying abilities and diversities. We sponsor a chapter of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education (CNAfME) for which professional development workshops and opportunities are realized throughout the academic year—including attending our state music education conference in Winston-Salem (NCMEA In-Service). To date, our job placement rate for graduating students who seek teaching positions is 100%. Others choose to pursue graduate-level degrees and have entered into graduate programs at prestigious Schools of Music.
Our program prepares…
- Professionals to be knowledgeable, effective, reflective, collaborative, and responsive practitioners who are leaders in their fields.
- Highly effective and ethical professionals who have a positive impact on children, youth, families, communities, and schools.
- Professionals for success in a wide range of teaching situations, including urban, suburban, and rural settings.
- Students to develop an educational environment where all feel safe, valued, represented, and supported.
Our faculty are committed to…
- Providing our students with the highest quality of music teacher preparation through carefully sequenced, research-based curricula, projects, and authentic pedagogical experiences.
- The advancement of music through research and scholarly activity in order to implement best practices in all teaching/ensemble learning situations.
- Respecting and welcoming the presence and participation of individuals with varying backgrounds and experiences.
- Offering equal access to opportunities along with fair, just, and impartial treatment in an environment where all feel welcomed, accepted, and respected.
- Establishing and developing professional relationships with our students as we guide them to become teachers, professionals, scholars, and leaders.
Our Concentrations & Music Education Faculty
- Dr. Evelyn Orman, Professor of Music Education
- MUED 2200 Foundations of Music Education
- MUED 2241 Music Development & Learning
- MUSC 2151 Introduction to Music Technology
- MUED 3270 Teaching Discipline: Assessment & Behavior in the Music Classroom
- MUSC 4094 Instrumental Ensemble Techniques
- Dr. Fred Spano, Coordinator of Music Education
- MUED 4190 Choral Methods
- MUED 4190L Choral Methods Lab
- MUED 4192 General Music Methods
- MUED 4192L General Music Methods Lab
- MUED 4467 Student Teaching in Music (General Music and Choral)
- MUSC 4090 Choral Ensemble Techniques
- Dr. Jennifer Whitaker, Professor of Music Education
- MUED 2100 Introduction to Music Education
- MUED 4194 Instrumental Methods
- MUED 4194L Instrumental Methods Lab
- MUED 4467 Student Teaching in Music (Instrumental)
- MUPF 1117 Instrumental Lab Ensemble
Collegiate NAfME (CNAfME)
The Department of Music sponsors Chapter 891 of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education (CNAfME), the only professional organization that involves all types of music educators (i.e., general music, band, choir, orchestra). However, membership is open to all students in the Department. Each year collegiate members attend the annual North Carolina Music Educators Conference (NCMEA) in Winston-Salem at a reduced conference price. The NCMEA Conference is an exceptional music education event that includes high-quality honor ensembles; choir, band, and orchestra performances; along with a wealth of professional development workshops, research sessions, and music vendor exhibits addressing all aspects of music teaching. During the conference, collegiate members are able to network with NC teachers and assist with the Department of Music’s exhibitor booth.
The CNAfME chapter at UNC Charlotte also sponsors events for members including on-campus workshops in music education and fundraisers for local school programs. Members also gain valuable experience working with the UNC Charlotte Invitational Honor Bands. Social events have included game nights, caroling, and informal dinners.
Festivals & Community Outreach
- UNC Charlotte Invitational Honor Bands
- Charlotte Youth Wind Ensemble (CYWE)
- UNC Charlotte’s Children’s Choir (as part of MUED 4192L)
- UNC Charlotte’s Youth Choir (as part of MUED 4190L and MUSC 4090)
Music Education Alumni Accomplishments
If you are a music education alum of UNC Charlotte, we’d love to hear from you! Share what you are doing now with us by completing this form. We’re proud of all our music education alumni! Here’s what a some of our recent graduates have shared with us (in alphabetical order):
Kevin Brawley: 2019 CMA Foundation National Music Teachers of Excellence (one of thirty)
Emily (Golden) Bumgarner: 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist; 2024 American School Band Directors Association Ed Rooker ENCORE Award, North Carolina Bandmasters Association; 2022 Beginning Educator Excelling Award, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Nicholas Carl: 2023 American School Band Directors Association Ed Rooker ENCORE Award, North Carolina Bandmasters Association
Regan (Sawyer) Eudy: 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist; 2021 Rookie Teacher of the Year, Mallard Creek STEM Academy, Charlotte NC
Edward Harper: 2017 American School Band Directors Association Ed Rooker ENCORE Award, North Carolina Bandmasters Association
Dareion Malone: 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year, Union County Public Schools, NC
Emmanuel Ross: 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year, Porter Ridge High School, Union County Public Schools, NC
Derek Smith: 2022 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist; 2022 American School Band Directors Association Ed Rooker ENCORE Award, North Carolina Bandmasters Association; 2017 Teacher of the Year, Veterans of Foreign Wars, South Central Region, NC
Tucker Smith: 2019-2020 Apple of Excellence Outstanding First Year Teacher, Asheboro City School District, NC
Kevin Still: 2019 American School Band Directors Association Ed Rooker ENCORE Award, North Carolina Bandmasters Association
what Some of our music ed alumni have been up to
Regan Sawyer Eudy, a 2020 graduate, is an elementary general music teacher at Central Elementary School (Albemarle, NC). During her first year of teaching, Mrs. Eudy received the 2021 Rookie Teacher of the Year for the Mallard Creek STEM Academy Elementary School. She is also a quarterfinalist for the 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator Award.
Laudatory remarks included, Mrs. Eudy “has brought so much joy to our school through music, including our very first choir, Treble Makers. She is passionate about music and does an exceptional job making music education fun and engaging for all learners.” Mrs. Eudy is a member of the National Association for Music Education and regularly attends the North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference.
Dareion Malone. When Malone’s corporate job was eliminated in the 2008 economic downturn, he decided to return to school to pursue his first love, music. A baritone, he enrolled at UNC Charlotte and received a BM in Music Education in 2013. In 2019, he received the College of Arts + Architecture Distinguished Alumni Award in Music.
Malone was the Union County Public Schools 2020-21 Teacher of the Year. Selected from among 10 finalists, he was praised by Union County Public Schools officials for his “ability to connect with all students, regardless of their background or musical abilities,” he said in an article on the UCPS website.
Emily Golden-Bumgarner currently serves as the Director of Bands at East Burke High School in Connelly Springs, North Carolina. Within her role, she leads and directs the Marching Cavaliers, the East Burke High School Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensembles. Each year of her tenure, the Wind Ensemble has received “Superior” ratings at their NCBA Music Performance Adjudication (MPA). In 2022, Emily was awarded the “Beginning Educator Excelling” award by Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. She is also a quarterfinalist for the 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator Award.
Tucker Smith, a 2019 graduate, is Director of Bands at Asheboro High School. During his first year of teaching, Mr. Smith was named the 2019-2020 “Apple of Excellence” award winner for Outstanding First Year Teacher in the Asheboro City School District. He is involved in teaching all of the AHS band ensembles including the Comet Blues Jazz Ensemble.
“I am certain I would not feel as prepared as I am to be a new teacher without the education, guidance, and support I have received from the UNC Charlotte Department of Music and the Music Education Faculty.”
For more information on our music education programs, please contact Dr. Fred Spano, Coordinator of Music Education.
For questions related to admissions, please contact Arts Education Specialist Courtney Mervine.