Situated in a top research institution, the Music Education program at Boston University School of Music uniquely provides students the opportunity to develop artistry and scholarship in the context of an academic epicenter in the vibrant, cultural city of Boston.
A student-centered program committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Music Ed program at BU emphasizes cutting-edge, research-based pedagogy while prioritizing opportunities for students to engage in various music teaching and learning contexts. With acclaimed faculty who serve in national and international leadership positions and author and edit publications, the Music Ed program is deeply connected to and influences contemporary practice around the world.

Top-Ranked, Fully Accredited Boston University
As the oldest degree-granting music program in the U.S., BU has shaped generations of music educators and the pedagogy of music education globally, earning a reputation for excellence.
Our program includes the first (and longest-running) online DMA in music education anywhere in the world. The diverse interests and expertise of BU’s music education faculty provide students with access to unparalleled depth and diversity of expertise. Offering a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities creates a distinct experience for students on-campus and online.
From preparing students as they enter the field of teaching to invigorating established educators with the latest technology and emerging methods, BU School of Music engages musicians in coursework and research including interdisciplinary studies, collaboration across programs, theory-to-practice methods, and immersive practice in a wide range of PreK-12 school environments.
Degrees Offered
Featured Faculty
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Alexandre Abdoulaev
Lecturer, Musicology
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Mark Berger
Lecturer, Music Theory
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Kelly Bylica
Assistant Professor of Music, Music Education
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Diana Dansereau
Assistant Professor of Music, Music Education
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André de Quadros
Professor of Music, Music Education
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Ruth Debrot
Lecturer, Music Education
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John Genovese
Lecturer, Music Theory
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Andrew Goodrich
Assistant Professor of Music, Music Education
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Karin Hendricks
Associate Professor; Chair, Music Education; Co-Director, Boston University Inclusive Pedagogy Initiative
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Brian Kellum
Lecturer, Music Education
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David Kjar
Lecturer, Musicology
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Jeffrey Leonard
Lecturer, Music Education
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Ulrike Präger
Lecturer, Musicology
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Gareth Dylan Smith
Assistant Professor, Music Education; Dissertation Progress Coordinator
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Jacqueline Smith
Lecturer, Music Education
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Tawnya Smith
Assistant Professor of Music, Music Education
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Katharine Stuffelbeam
Lecturer in Music, Musicology
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Kính Vũ
Assistant Professor of Music, Music Education
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John Wriggle
Lecturer, Music Theory

Meet Music Education Assistant Professor, Kelly Bylica
When Kelly Bylica first began her teaching journey, she could be found teaching music to middle school students in Chicago. It wasn’t until she was graduating with her Master’s degree in Music Education that she discovered another love – philosophical and research-oriented teaching in higher education.
In CFA’s Faculty Feature series, Bylica shares with CFA what she finds most rewarding in teaching music educators and her appreciation of working in an open and collaborative music education department.
“One of the things I love about both music education programs [online and on-campus] is that we have students from all over the world. It’s a real strength of BU that in every class we have a variety of experiences and ways of seeing the world that contribute to rich discussions which leads to dynamic applications in practice.“


Boston University offers a number of programs that lead to a professional license or certification. Provided here is state-specific licensure information regarding the Master of Music in Music Education degree program. This information also applies to the Bachelor of Music Education/Master of Music Education 4+1 program as well as the K-12 Music Education Certificate program.

