Music Education

 “All of the students and faculty within music education have been incredibly supportive and a wonderful small community to be a part of where I am challenged to think out of the box and push myself to learn more,” said Newton, who is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and participated in the Bullets Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Orchestra, Clarinet Ensemble, and Audeamus. The music education major and peace and justice studies minor plans to teach general music at an elementary school after graduation. “Gettysburg has helped me gain self-confidence in whatever I do, which has helped me immensely in building my teaching and lesson planning skills and leadership skills.”

“I am most proud of my senior recital, a culmination and celebration of four years in the music field. For my program, I sang 45 minutes of memorized music in six different languages, something I could not have imagined doing when I first arrived as a first-year,” said Charney, a music education major and peace and justice studies minor. “The Sunderman Conservatory has challenged me in ways I never thought possible, from internships with professors to an entire semester of student teaching.” Charney recently applied for a Fulbright Independent Research Grant, and if she receives the grant, she will study Herero music in Namibia for nine months after graduation.

“I entered Gettysburg with an intent to participate in music, but not major in it. I quickly found myself taking advantage of the liberal arts setting and all the ensembles and programs available to all students. It did not take long for me to realize that my then-deemed ‘hobby’ of music was truly my passion; I was enjoying playing music more than anything else.

“Through teaching small groups in music rehearsals during marching band, I realized I wanted to not just play music—I wanted to teach it. The music education major at Gettysburg College was the best college decision I made to help me continue learning and sharing my passion of music and music education with many more kids. Gettysburg College prepared me for teaching a wide variety of music classes and provided me with an adaptable skill set and supportive educator network to be able to find success teaching children anywhere I ended up working.

“Being an elementary music teacher allows me to inspire and be inspired by young musicians on a daily basis. Their enthusiasm for learning and exploring music in their lives is contagious.”