Delivery
On-Campus
Music, Instrumental/General Music Education Concentration, B.M.
Program Overview
At UNC Charlotte, studies go beyond the Department of Music and into Charlotte’s creative community. With bold ideas and broad connections, our talented faculty, students, and alumni are shaping the civic imagination of this fast-growing city. The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) offers students seven concentrated areas of study.
The concentration in Instrumental/General Music Education is designed for instrumentalists who wish to become public school band directors, orchestra directors, or general music educators.
Our program prepares…
- Professionals to be knowledgeable, effective, reflective, collaborative, and responsive practitioners who are leaders in their fields.
- Highly effective and ethical professionals who have a positive impact on children, youth, families, communities, and schools.
- Professionals for success in a wide range of teaching situations, including urban, suburban, and rural settings.
- Students to develop an educational environment where all feel safe, valued, represented, and supported.
Program Contact
Still trying to decide?
Want to learn more about UNC Charlotte? Fill out the form for information on the university, application process, events, and more. For specific program questions, contact the program representative listed above.
Ready to apply?
Start your application today and discover the opportunities that await you at UNC Charlotte.
The Department of Music also offers a B.M. in Music with concentrations in the following areas:
Choral/General Music Education
Elective Study in an Outside Field
Instrumental Performance
Jazz Studies
Music Composition
Vocal Performance
Explore Music at UNC Charlotte
The Department of Music is one of five creative units in the College of Arts + Architecture, an artistic community that is unique in the Carolinas.
Visit us on Campus!
The best way to discover what makes the college music experience at UNC Charlotte so special is to experience it for yourself! Each semester, join us for our Music Major For A Day event to attend classes, play or sing in ensembles, meet faculty, and have lunch with current students.
“When we teach music, we are teaching much more than how to sing or play an instrument; we are teaching someone to express themselves artistically in such a way that they move others emotionally. This is a very powerful thing, to connect with one another through collaborative, creative output…to share one’s feelings and tell stories through beautiful sounds…to learn about and embrace art, culture, and humanity… When we teach music, we inspire love for life itself. If there is anything that can bring us together, I believe it is this.
Adam Kallestad
B.M. in Music with a concentration in Music Education and a Certificate in Jazz Studies
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Emily Golden Bumgarner '22
Director of Bands at East Burke High School in Connelly Springs, NC
Within her role, she leads and directs the Marching Cavaliers, the East Burke High School Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensembles. Each year of her tenure, the Wind Ensemble has received “Superior” ratings at their NCBA Music Performance Adjudication (MPA). In 2022, Emily was awarded the “Beginning Educator Excelling” award by Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. She is also a quarterfinalist for the 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator Award.
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Dareion Malone '13
Assistant Principal at Sun Valley High School in Monroe and Director of Music at Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church
When Malone’s corporate job was eliminated in the 2008 economic downturn, he decided to return to school to pursue his first love, music. A baritone, he enrolled at UNC Charlotte and received a B.M. in Music Education in 2013. In 2019, he received the College of Arts + Architecture Distinguished Alumni Award in Music. Malone was the Union County Public Schools 2020-21 Teacher of the Year. Selected from among 10 finalists, he was praised by Union County Public Schools officials for his “ability to connect with all students, regardless of their background or musical abilities,” he said in an article on the UCPS website.
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Regan Sawyer Eudy '20
Elementary general music teacher at Central Elementary School, Albemarle, NC
During her first year of teaching, Eudy received the 2021 Rookie Teacher of the Year for the Mallard Creek STEM Academy Elementary School. She was also a quarterfinalist for the 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Laudatory remarks included, Eudy “has brought so much joy to our school through music, including our very first choir, Treble Makers. She is passionate about music and does an exceptional job making music education fun and engaging for all learners.”
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Tucker Smith '19
Director of Bands at Asheboro High School, Asheboro, NC
During his first year of teaching, Smith was named the 2019-2020 “Apple of Excellence” award winner for Outstanding First Year Teacher in the Asheboro City School District. He is involved in teaching all of the AHS band ensembles including the Comet Blues Jazz Ensemble. “I am certain I would not feel as prepared as I am to be a new teacher without the education, guidance, and support I have received from the UNC Charlotte Department of Music and the Music Education Faculty.”
Discover other programs of music study
Applied Music B.A.
Minor in Music Performance
Musical Theatre Certificate
Jazz Certificate
Register for an In-Person Campus Visit
Experience the heart of UNC Charlotte with our in-person campus visits. Register for a First-Year Student Info Session and Tour offered daily — an unmissable opportunity to live the Niner life.
Explore Official University Catalog
Check out the official catalog for information on specific degree requirements, course progressions, curriculum and more.