CU ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ Middle School Ensembles program

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Welcome to the Middle School Ensembles (MSE) program at the ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ College of Music!
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The MSE program is an inclusive, collaborative experience for middle school music students, high school musicians considering a career in music teaching and music education majors at the College of Music. This program provides both a supplemental musical experience to school-based music programs for 6th- through 8th-grade students in the ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ Valley School District and other districts—across all socioeconomic backgrounds—and strengthens opportunities for future music educators. CU ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ music students gain experience in providing instruction and administration for nearly all facets of the program.
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The program includes full group rehearsals, sectional instruction by instrument and elements of comprehensive musicianship (e.g., music theory, improvisation and composition). All program activities are led by college students, supervised by faculty directors and graduate assistants with experience in music education. A select group of high school students are nominated by their music teachers to participate as co-teachers as they consider music teaching as a career option.
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2025 MSEÌýbrochure

Beyond providing opportunities for band and orchestral ensemble experience and individualized instruction, the MSE program is expanding partnerships with middle school music teachers to set goals to compensate for pandemic-related learning losses.

Registration for middle school students begins in November of each year. Rehearsals begin in February and run one night a week, concluding with a concert in late April. The MSE program is free and does not require a program fee.

The College of Music’s MSE program is made possible in part through support from the Hoover Fund for Music Education as well as grants from the CU ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program and the CU ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship. The program is also supported by the CU ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

Contact

David Rickels
Associate Professor of Music Education
msemusic@colorado.edu
303-492-1782
, S331