Graduates of UVM’s music education program begin work in their field as finely tuned to teach as the instruments their students are learning to play. They embark on their careers expertly equipped to offer their own students a chance to learn about themselves and the world and to express themselves through music.
UVM brings together exceptional faculty in music and education to offer a major in music education. The degree leads to an endorsement for state licensure to teach music for pre-K through 12th grade. Graduates are poised to teach in all areas of the discipline, including a wide array of general music settings, instrumental, and vocal ensembles, all with an emphasis on providing musical experiences to engage all learners.
“The partnership between the College of Education and Social Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences allows us to offer a nationally accredited teacher-preparation program while keeping a central focus on musical skills, practices, and pedagogies through the Program in Music,” says Andrea Maas, Ed.D., program coordinator and senior lecturer in music education. “Meaningful and intentional musical learning, particularly in childhood, provides the foundational experiences that we know through research are critical to lifelong health and well-being. Music educators study, practice, and apply the core skills and concepts required to facilitate these experiences.”
Here, we feature four recent graduates of the program who have joined the ranks of these music educators in imparting the wisdom of musical learning. We also hear from a current student who is complementing her study with advocacy for the importance of music education in America.
Nick Sears ’24
What he’s teaching: 4th–6th-grade band
Where he’s teaching: Village Elementary School, Marblehead, MA
Nick Sears (shown above) says that two of the best parts of the UVM music education program were the opportunities to engage with students outside of class time and the support he received. “I felt like my peers were always willing to lend a hand, and my advisor, Andrea Maas, was always ready to talk through what it means to be an educator in any given space,” he says. He feels he gained a lot of confidence in his teaching because he knew he had people alongside him ready to help him and challenge him further.
“I really do love my job,” Sears says. He especially enjoys the sense of community between students and teachers. Sears, who helps run the after-school sports program twice a week, adds that he also loves having the opportunity to engage in more than just music with his students. “We can joke and laugh together, but we also have high expectations for each other. We practice empathy, teamwork, and leadership every day while we make music. It’s the best.”
Arianna Belfield ’23
What she’s teaching: K–4th-grade general music
Where she’s teaching Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax, VT
“I love that I am helping young musicians to explore musical dimensions not only by singing, but also by moving, playing, and listening,” Belfield says. She adds that working with elementary-level students gives her the opportunity to explore musical concepts through many mediums, including games, songs, and worksheets, that enhance their musical understanding. “I also just have a lot of fun with my students, who are positive, curious, and open to trying new things in my classroom.”
Belfield says she enjoyed going through UVM’s music education program because it offered many opportunities to practice teaching in front of peers and planning a variety of lesson types. “There was a lot of project-based learning and applying possible real-life situations to our lesson plans, which helped to help us learn how to adapt in the classroom,” she says. “The student-to-professor ratio also made it easy to meet separately to ask questions and made the classes all feel like seminars with lots of hands-on experience.”
Marissa Jedziniak ’23
What she’s teaching: K–8th-grade general music and 5th–8th-grade band, chorus, and instrument lessons
Where she’s teaching Folsom Education and Community Center, South Hero, VT
Marissa Jedziniak says the UVM music education program taught her what it truly means to be a teacher, helping her understand the importance of supporting students in reaching their personal goals and celebrating their successes. “I learned that not every student learns the same way, and the program emphasized the need to be flexible in my teaching methods. It gave me the tools to adapt my approach to meet the unique needs of each student, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”
Jedziniak adds that she loves seeing her students take pride in their accomplishments, whether it’s mastering a new piece of music, performing confidently, or growing in their skills. “The joy on their faces when they create and experience music is incredibly rewarding,” she says. “Witnessing their excitement and sense of achievement reminds me of why I do what I do.”
Katie Loalbo ’23
What she’s teaching: Band
Where she’s teaching: Milton Middle School, Milton, VT
Katie Loalbo loves teaching middle schoolers. “They are so much fun!” she says. She adds that those just starting to play (typically fifth and sixth graders) learn and grow a lot over the school year and are so excited to learn their chosen instrument. Seventh and eighth graders see the skills they have worked hard to develop flourish into musicianship. “It is very rewarding to see students grow as both musicians and people over their time in middle school.”
Loalbo says that the UVM music education program allowed her to have a lot of freedom in who and what she observed and worked with, especially during her student teaching. “I learned the most by seeing many different teaching styles and content areas, and I am lucky enough to be teaching exactly what I experienced during my student teaching,” she says. She adds that there are vast connections to the education world within UVM’s program, which makes finding potential mentor teachers easier. “It has helped me grow a network as a first-year teacher.”
Kenna Lund ’25
What she’s teaching: Student-teaching K–8th-grade band and general music
Where she’s teaching: Shelburne Community School, Shelburne, VT (with mentors Tim Buckingham and Lori Marino)
Senior Kenna Lund, who started her student teaching this semester, is the outgoing president of UVM’s student chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), a nationwide organization that supports music educators and advocates for arts education in public schools. “Our collegiate NAfME chapter provides a space for music education majors—and anyone interested in teaching music—to collaborate, support one another, and grow as educators through workshops, festivals and conferences, professional development, networking opportunities, volunteer work, and field experiences,” Lund says.
As a student ambassador for NAfME, Lund represented UVM and Vermont music educators in Washington, DC, at the National Leadership Assembly and Hill Day advocacy summit last summer alongside three fellow student leaders. “We met with congressional staff from every Vermont representative’s office, including Becca Balint, Bernie Sanders, and Peter Welch, to discuss NAfME’s legislative priorities as well as state-specific concerns,” she says. The group spoke directly with policy makers about how funding decisions impact music and arts programs and brainstormed ways to help school boards and local governments recognize the critical role these programs play in students’ education.
Andrea Maas adds, “School and community programs that employ skilled and principled music educators and provide consistent opportunities for students to participate in music allow children to learn about themselves and the world through individual and collaborative expression of ideas.” The music educators graduating from UVM’s music education program are all playing their parts to ensure this critical learning continues and flourishes.