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Why choose UNF for your Master of Music Education?

The Master of Music Education degree program was established at UNF in the fall of 2018. Our Master of Music Education, Pedagogy and Research Concentration can be completed in as little as 15 months (summer, fall, spring, summer). We also offer a Master of Music Education, Professional Education Concentration for those with undergraduate degrees in music, but not music education, who wish to become certified teachers.

Classes are scheduled to accommodate working professionals. Most of our graduate classes meet during the evenings, once per week. Other course classes are offered during the summer semester when most teachers have the most scheduling flexibility. Our classes are small, which means faculty get to know you and are committed to your success.

The results speak for themselves. The accomplishments of the outstanding professionals who have completed the degree program include:

  • Employment

    K-12 Education

    • Moses Evans (2020), Band Director, Highlands Middle School, Jacksonville, Florida
    • Mara Eichin Mattheus (2021), Music Teacher, Palm Valley Academy, St. Johns, Florida
    • Garrett Anderson (2022), Avalon Middle/Legacy Middle Orchestra Director, Orlando, Florida
    • Rogina Carden (2022), Music Teacher, Chet’s Creek Elementary, Jacksonville, Florida
    • Misha Smeen (2022), Voice Studio, Jacksonville, Florida
    • Shaun Bennett (2023), Music and Steel Pan Teacher, Callahan Intermediate, Callahan, Florida
    • Aliana Morales (2023), Choir Director, Oakleaf Junior High, Orange Park, Florida
    • Alexx St. John Tanner (2023), Music Teacher, Shadowlawn Elementary, Baker County, Florida
    • Tyler Kapinos (2023), Music Teacher, Julington Creek Elementary, Fruit Cove, Florida
    • Kaitlynn Tobias (2023), Music Teacher, Spring Park Elementary, Green Cove Springs, Florida
    • Robert Tobias (2023), Band Director, Mandarin Middle School, Jacksonville, Florida
    • Stuart Urroz (2023), Music Teacher, Mapleton Public Schools, Adams County, Colorado
    • Johnathan Parr (2023), Music Teacher, Overpark Elementary, Olive Branch, Mississippi

    Higher Education

    • Michael Genslinger (2019), Assistant Director of Bands and Instructor of Trumpet, Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska
    • Mara Eichin Mattheus (2021), Adjunct Professor of Music Education, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
    • Rickey Oglesby (2022), Assistant Director of Bands, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama
    • Fernando Cruz (2022), Adjunct Professor of Saxophone, Florida State College Manatee/Sarasota, Bradenton, Florida

    Fine Arts Administration

    • Melissa Salek (2021), Fine Arts Operations Manager, Episcopal School of Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Research Presentations

    International Conferences

    • Melissa Salek (2021), Music for All? A Comparison of Florida Middle School Music Enrollment in Traditional, For-Profit, and Nonprofit Charter Schools. Spoken Presentation, Australian and New Zealand Association for Research in Music Education Conference. Oct 30, 2021

    National Conferences

    • Johnathan Parr (2024), Differences in Music Teacher Self-Efficacy in Implementing a Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. National Association for Music Education Research Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, September 2024
    • Aliana Morales (2024). The Effect of Internship Requirements and Their Possible Effects on Teacher Retention. National Association for Music Education Research Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, September 2024
    • Johnathan Parr (2023), Examining the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Wellbeing in Preservice Music Educators. Society for Music Teacher Education, October 2023.
    • Tyler Kapinos (2023), Students with Dyslexia in the Public Schools: The Cognitive Advantages and Disadvantages of Participating in Music. Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium, February 2023.
    • Aliana Morales (2023). The Effect of Internship Requirements and Their Possible Effects on Teacher Retention. Society for Music Teacher Education, October 2023.

    • Johnathan Parr (2023), Experiencing Grief: A Review of Literature on Using Music to Process Emotion. Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium. February 2023.
    • Michael Genslinger (2019), The History of Jazz Music Performance Assessment in the State of Florida. Oxford Symposium on the History of Music Education, June 2021.
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Analysis of Factors Influencing Band Enrollment Trends. NAfME National Music Research and Teacher Education Conference, February, 2021.

     State Conferences

    • Jenna Horan (2024), Access to String Education in American Public Schools, Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 12, 2024
    • Tyler Kapinos (2024), Norma Solomon Shite: Contributions and Experiences in Music Education in Duval County, Florida, Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 12, 2024
    • Aliana Morales (2024), The Effect of Internship Requirements and Their Possible Effects on Teacher Retention, Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 12, 2024
    • Johnathan Parr (2024), Examining the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Wellbeing in Preservice Music Educators, Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 12, 2024
    • Stuart Urroz (2024), The Effect of Private Lessons Instructors on Student Satisfaction, Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 12, 2024
    • Jenna Horan (2024), Access to String Education in American Public Schools, University of North Florida Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research.
    • Stuart Urroz (2023), The Current Shortcomings of the Music Classroom as an LGBTQ Safe Space. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Robert Tobias (2023), The Use of Rehearsal Recordings in the Junior High Band Room to Increase MPA Scores. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Kaitlynn Tobias (2023), The Cultural Appropriation of Instrumental Music Education. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Alexx St. John Tanner (2023), Effects of Minority and Low Socioeconomic Status on Band Enrollment and MPA Results. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Misha Smeen (2022), The Influence of Private Music Lessons on Student Emotional Self-Perception. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Johnathan Parr (2023), Experiencing Grief: A Review of Literature on Using Music to Process Emotion. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Shaun Bennett (2023), History of Steel Band in the United States. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Rogina Carden (2022), The Effect of Instructor and Performer Attire on Student and Audience Perception. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Fernando Cruz (2022), Band Directors’ Attitudes Towards Creative Approaches and Its Effect on Student Band Achievement. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Aliana Morales (2023), Do Silent Rehearsal Techniques Affect Individual Musical Performance? Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 13, 2023
    • Rogina Carden-Wilkinson (2022), Historical Influences of Ruth Crawford Seeger. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 15, 2022
    • Mara Eichin Mattheus (2021), The History of Youth Orchestras in Florida. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 15, 2022
    • Fernando Cruz (2022), The Beginnings of Jazz Education and Music Performance Assessments in American Secondary Schools. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 15, 2022
    • Melissa Salek (2021), From Practice to Publication: Guiding Working Teachers and Graduate Students From Practice to Publication: Guiding Working Teachers and Graduate Students. Sunshine State TESOL Annual Conference, Oct 22, 2022
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Harnessing the Power of Music to Support English Language Learners. Sunshine State TESOL Hybrid Annual Conference. Oct 30, 2021
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Music for All? A Comparison of Florida Middle School Music Enrollment in Traditional, For-Profit, and Nonprofit Charter Schools. University of North Florida SOARS Research Conference. Mar 31, 2021
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Charter School Instrumental Music Enrollment Trends and Perceptions. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. Jan 15, 2021
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Analysis of Factors Influencing Band Enrollment Trends in Jacksonville Metropolitan Area Public High Schools. Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference 2020
  • Published Research in Peer-Reviewed Journals
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Music for All? A Comparison of Florida Middle School 35 Music Enrollment in Traditional, For-Profit, and Nonprofit Charter SchoolsMusic for All? A Comparison of Florida Middle School 35 Music Enrollment in Traditional, For-Profit, and Nonprofit Charter Schools. Research Perspectives in Music Education, 2022, Vol. 22, pp. 46-62. DOI: 10.55814/e81c3f3c
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Harnessing the Power of Music to Support English Language LearnersHarnessing the Power of Music to Support English Language Learners Florida Sunshine State TESOL Journal (2021). 14(2):35-40
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Experiences Converting Graduate Student Assignments to Publishable Manuscripts: Starting the Research and Finding a Focused Topic CATESOL Newsletter, pp 33-35 · Dec 15, 2022
  • Awards and Prizes
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Doreen Bridges Prize for Post Graduate Research. Australian and New Zealand Association for Research in Music Education, 2021
    • Melissa Salek (2021), Graduate Project of Merit Award. University of North Florida SOARS Research Conference. Mar 31, 2021
    • Shaun Bennett, Model Project Award, Florida Music Education Association, 2023