Welcome to Arkansas State University!

A-State Music Education

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A-State offers both a Bachelor of Music Education-Instrumental and a Bachelor of Music Education-Vocal degree. Students that successfully complete all undergraduate degree requirements, and pass their Praxis Music Content Knowledge Test, will be eligible for their Arkansas Music K-12 Teaching License.  Graduates of the A-State Music Education program leave their degree podium-ready with the knowledge and skills to thrive as a teacher in an elementary and secondary school setting.

A-State also offers a Master of Music Education degree. Graduates will earn a degree that provides them a foundation in music education research, as well as offers supplemental practioner information that will build on the skills and knowledge they have acquired in their undergraduate degrees. Graduates of the A-State MME will be ready for their next professional step, whether that be entering or returning to the elementary/secondary school classroom or going on in higher education to earn a doctoral degree.


  • Music Education Faculty

    Dr. Heather Coleman, Elementary Music Education Specialist
    hcoleman@astate.edu

    Dr. Nick Balla, Coordinator of Instrumental Music Education
    nballa@astate.edu

    Mr. Michael Medrick
    mmedrick@astate.edu

    Dr. Colleen McNickle, Vocal Music Education Specialist
    cmcnickle@astate.edu

    Mr. Trey Reely
    rreely@astate.edu

    Dr. Steven Riley
    striley@astate.edu

    Dr. Ryan Sullivan
    rsullivan@astate.edu

  • Highlights of the Bachelor of Music Education Degrees
    • The degrees can be earned in four years without summer courses and without coming in with AP or concurrent credit.
    • We offer a variety of instrumental techniques courses that are taught by the applied faculty who are experts in those instruments:
      • Double Reed Techniques
      • Flute Techniques
      • Guitar Techniques
      • High Brass Techniques
      • High String Techniques
      • Low Brass Techniques
      • Low String Techniques
      • Percussion Techniques
      • Single Reed Techniques
    • We offer a variety of pedagogy courses so graduates leave prepared be an effective educator in any music teaching situation they find themselves in:
      • Methods and Materials for Teaching Elementary Music
      • Methods and Materials for Teaching Concert Bands
      • Methods and Materials for Teaching Jazz Bands
      • Methods and Materials for Teaching Marching Band
      • Methods and Materials for Teaching Orchestra
      • Methods and Materials for Teaching Vocal Music
    • All undergraduate music education majors are required to take a two-course conducting sequence that not only teaches them how to use gesture effectively but also how to study a score, become an efficient rehearsal technician, error detect, conduct vocalists and instrumentalists, and get more proficient on a secondary instrument.
    • A music education major’s student internship is tailored to their personal and professional goals.  Students that want to teach elementary music are given a longer elementary placement while students that want to teach secondary music are given a longer secondary placement.  The Professional Education Programs office that makes internship assignments collaborates with the professors in the Department of Music so that placements are made with the student’s best interest in mind.
    • All undergraduate music education majors leave A-State with a resume and cover letter that are ready to be used for applications. Mock interviews are embedded into coursework, so all students feel prepared to apply and interview for jobs.
    • Individual musicianship is honed through private, one-on-one study with our outstanding applied faculty as well as through participation in our renowned large ensembles.
    • Music education faculty are well connected throughout the region so they can help connect current students to professional opportunities in elementary and secondary schools while they are earning their degree. Opportunities afforded to A-State students include but are not limited to gigs supplementing high school choirs, bands, and orchestras, private lesson and sectional teaching, marching band instruction, drum major audition adjudication, and more!
  • Highlights of the Master of Music Education Degree
    • The degree can be earned in two years.
    • Music Department and Band Area Assistantships are available to help with the cost of the degree.
    • Master of Music Education students have flexibility in their degree plan to make the degree tailored to their future personal and professional goals.
    • Master of Music Education students can supplement their degree with experiences that will help to build up their teaching resume.  Those experience can include but are not limited to conducting a concert ensemble, leading a pep band, writing drill for the Sound of the Natural State, guest lecturing with the A-State NAfME chapter, and more!
    • The degree can culminate with either a master’s thesis or a master’s project, depending on a student’s personal and professional goals.
  • Recent Alumni Accomplishments
    • Grant Harbison, Jonesboro Band Director, received the 2022 Milken Educator Award
    • The Highland High School Band led by A-State alumni Greg Bruner, Hope Bruner, and Faith Serna was the 2022 4A State Concert Band Champion
    • The Bentonville Wind Ensemble under the direction of Tim Hendrix was the 2022 7A State Concert Band Champion
    • The Paragould High School Marching Band led by A-State alumni Richie Williams, Carlos Serna, Josh Mobley, and Cody Ballard was the 2021 5A State Marching Band Champion
    • Peggy Jeffries, Nettleton Band Director, was named 2021 Bandmaster of the Year
    • Kim Webb, Greene County Tech Band Director, was named 2021 Arkansas Young Band Director of the Year
    • Adam Hartness, Harrisburg Band Director, and Timothy Gilbee, a music teacher in the Benton Harmony Grove District, were selected as two of the 2021 Raymond and Ruth Brandon Scholarship recipients

A-State Music Education
Contact The Coordinator of Music Education

Dr. Nicholas Balla

Phone: (870) 972-3811

Room: 135
Fine Arts Center