Music

Music ensembles and tours - Bel Canto Singers, Men's and Women's Chorus, International Chorale
Keyboard studies
Performance Opportunities
Student Experiences
Hesston College music faculty
audition for Hesston College music
music festivals
Music Department majors

Music Education major

What is music education?

Music education is the field of teaching and learning in music.

Success factors

Students with a love and passion for music and bringing the skills involved with music making to others will thrive in music education. Music education majors require a high level of personal organization and commitment to personal practice. The development of keyboard, aural and ensemble skills are essential. Future educators also have a passion for teaching musical skills to others.

Career possibilities

Music education majors prepare to teach music in a school setting or as a private teacher. Students usually pick a major area of focus, such as elementary music education, secondary choral music education or secondary instrumental music education, and prepare for state certification in those areas upon transfer to a four-year institution.

“At Hesston, I was able to completely immerse myself with individual attention and emphasis in many different areas. I got to choose where I wanted to grow rather than having to focus on something of which I wasn’t sure.”
— Matthew Lind, class of 2015, music and math student at Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.)

Majoring in music education

Hesston music students experience the two-year advantage, receiving the same high quality of instruction as the best four-year colleges and universities and all the premiere performance and leadership opportunities in the freshman and sophomore years. This makes Hesston graduates exceptionally well prepared to succeed as upper level music education majors. Hesston College music students can:

  • Join a music ensemble: Bel Canto Singers, Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Chamber Orchestra, Pep Band and tour each year.
  • Enroll in private music lessons in any instrument or voice.
  • Perform in regular department recitals and master classes.
  • Travel abroad with the International Chorale every other year.
  • Develop proficiencies in keyboard and guitar and complete an exit portfolio, including a sophomore recital, in preparation for the next step.
  • Complete a field experience practicum in a public school music classroom as a freshman or sophomore.
  • Participate in musical theatre productions each year.
  • Students enrolled in voice lessons can participate in the regional National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS) Vocal Competition (six regional finalists from Hesston in the last five years.)
  • Use and learn in the newly renovated performing arts building that provides outstanding rehearsal and performance spaces.

Sample curriculum – associate degree in music education

Holly Swartzendruber teaches a voice lesson

Music Performance major

What is music performance?

Students of music performance perfect their skills as musicians. Lessons, classes and recitals help students develop a personal style and prepare them for performing careers as soloists, ensemble members and accompanists.

Success factors

Majoring in music provides students with a sense of aesthetics and an understanding of human expression valuable to many employers. Confidence, personality, a positive attitude and a love of music are important to success in many arenas of music. Music performance majors require a high level of personal organization and a commitment to personal practice. The development of keyboard, aural and ensemble skills are also essential.

Career possibilities

Finding positions in the music industry requires combination of talent, training, connections and persistence. Performance: instrumental, vocal, conducting, composing and arranging; Music Education: teaching, private lessons; Music Therapy; Music Journalism; Music Law; Music Libraries; Behind the Scenes: audio technician, recording engineer; Music Industry and Business: administration, publishing and editing, recording, engineering, artist/talent representation, publicity, marketing, retail sales; Communications (broadcasting): music/program direction, promotion, copyright/clearance administration

“I, like many students, was not sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew that I wanted to do something with music. Hesston gave me a solid foundation to continue my musical puruits, not only academically, but also emotionally. Through affirming instructors and supportive friends, Hesston gave me the confidence to pursuce music as a career.”
— Nathan Snyder, class of 2010, apprentice artist at Opera Fort Collins (Colo.)

Majoring in music performance

Hesston music students experience the two-year advantage, receiving the same high quality of instruction as the best four-year colleges and universities and all the premiere performance and leadership opportunities during the freshman and sophomore years.
Hesston College music students can:

  • Join a music ensemble: Bel Canto Singers, Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Chamber Orchestra, Pep Band and tour each year.
    Enroll in private music lessons in any instrument or voice.
  • Perform in regular department recitals and master classes.
  • Travel abroad with the International Chorale every other year.
  • Develop proficiencies in keyboard and guitar and complete an exit portfolio, including a sophomore recital, in preparation for the next step.
  • Complete a field experience practicum in a public school music classroom as a freshman or sophomore.
  • Participate in musical theatre productions each year.
  • Students enrolled in voice lessons can participate in the regional National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS) Vocal Competition (six regional finalists from Hesston in the last five years.)
  • Use and learn in the newly renovated performing arts building that provides outstanding rehearsal and performance spaces.

Music performance curriculum

Drawing on a century of rich tradition, the Hesston College Music Department nurtures musical growth, encourages creativity and provides a solid musical foundation for students pursuing a passion for music. The department provides many opportunities for performance, musical growth and leadership.

Sample curriculum – associate degree in music performance

Masataka Miyake practicing piano

Music Therapy major

What is music therapy?

Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals.

American Music Therapy Association

Success factors

Students with a love and passion for serving others at a personal level through music will thrive in music therapy. Cross-disciplinary interests are also very helpful. Coursework focuses on developing skills in music, biology, psychology and social sciences to prepare music therapists to assist clients in clinical settings.

Career possibilities

Work in: (from the American Music Therapy Association)

  • psychiatric hospitals
  • rehabilitative facilities
  • medical hospitals
  • outpatient clinics
  • day care treatment centers
  • agencies serving persons with developmental disabilities
  • community mental health centers
  • drug and alcohol programs
  • senior centers
  • nursing homes
  • hospice programs
  • correctional facilities
  • halfway houses
  • schools
  • private practice
“I experienced the normal anxiety around transferring to a four-year university after Hesston, but my fears were greatly reduced when I realized how sufficiently Hesston had prepared me for a higher musical education. The expectations set for me at Hesston were the same or even higher than the ones I had to meet as a junior at a four-year university. At Hesston, I knew my instructors truly cared about my personal success as a music student and Christ follower, and I always felt amazingly supported.”
— Rachelle Adrian, class of 2015, earned bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Minn.)

Majoring in music therapy

Hesston music students experience the two-year advantage, receiving the same high quality of instruction as the best four-year colleges and universities and all the premiere performance and leadership opportunities in the freshman and sophomore years. Hesston students completing the two-year pre-music therapy curriculum will be prepared to transfer to a four-year institution where they will complete junior and senior-level course work and a clinical internship to complete become a Board Certified Music Therapist.

Hesston College music students can:

  • Join a music ensemble: Bel Canto Singers, Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Chamber Orchestra, Pep Band and tour each year.
    Enroll in private music lessons in any instrument or voice.
  • Perform in regular department recitals and master classes.
  • Travel abroad with the International Chorale every other year.
  • Develop proficiencies in keyboard and guitar and complete an exit portfolio, including a sophomore recital, in preparation for the next step.
  • Complete the pre-requisite courses in psychology and biology necessary for a music therapy major.
  • Participate in musical theatre productions each year.
  • Students enrolled in voice lessons can participate in the regional National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS) Vocal Competition (six regional finalists from Hesston in the last five years.)
  • Use and learn in the newly renovated performing arts building that provides outstanding rehearsal and performance spaces.

Sample plan of study – associate degree in music therapy

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