While the University of Southern Mississippi is home to hundreds of music students, many outside the School of Music may be unaware of the rigorous demands placed on those pursuing a degree in music education.
The program, which includes both choral and instrumental concentrations, requires more than the standard academic load. While most USM students typically take 15 credit hours per semester, music education majors often carry 18 to more than 20 hours. Many of their required commitments, such as rehearsals and performances, do not count toward credit hours but still consume large portions of their time.
“We’re required to practice 10 to 15 hours a week,” said Bella Williams, a music education major focused on bassoon. “You should probably be practicing anywhere between two to three hours a day. Sometimes I would be here for over 12 hours.”
Beyond coursework and practice, music education majors are evaluated through juries each semester—performance-based finals before faculty members that determine students’ standing in the program.
“If you get a C or below, that basically means you should probably change your major, and you could also get kicked out of the School of Music if you don’t do good enough on it,” Williams said.
“They tell you you’re not a good fit for the program, and you pretty much switch your major after that,” added Kelby Wingo, a choral music major.
These assessments, administered as early as a student’s first semester, may have long-term consequences. Students often invest in costly instruments and rely on scholarships tied to their major, making a poor jury performance impactful beyond academics.
The pressure to succeed can also affect students' mental well-being.
“Whenever I play now, I think about all the little things that I’m doing wrong,” Williams said. “It really affects my self-image, since I’m around all these great musicians all day, every day and then these great professors who travel the world and play. It just makes me feel bad about myself sometimes and I have to remember that my self-worth is not based on how well I play my instrument but it can be really hard not to think about that.”
Some students say the intensity of the program is often overlooked by peers in other disciplines.
“I do not think music majors get the credit that they deserve whatsoever,” Williams said. “We’re definitely underappreciated in terms of people just don’t know. I guess people just don’t know what goes into that, you know? I think that itself is kind of underappreciated.”
Although time-consuming and mentally demanding, many students stay in the program out of a deep commitment to music and education.
“I’m here to get a degree, learn these instruments, and be proficient on my instrument so I can go off into the world and teach people and give people an outlet that is my outlet, even though all this work has made it less of my outlet,” Williams said.
Your donation will support the student journalists of University of Southern Mississipi. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
USM Music Ed Majors Face Heavy Demands – Student Printz
RELATED ARTICLES