Music education was one of the first degree paths available to students when the State Normal and Industrial School (now UNCG) opened in 1892. In 1919, interest in the field began to rise which prompted more professors to be recruited to create classes and curriculum that were then added to the music department. This eventually led the creation of two separate departments of music: instrumental and vocal and education. They were combined into the School of Music in 1922, due in large part the music department head, Wade R. Brown. In 1949, the School of Music began offering a master’s degree in music education. Then, in 1968, the school paved the way for music educators in North Carolina by offering a doctorate in the philosophy in music education; being the first university in the state to offer such curriculum. Today, the university continues to offer undergraduate and graduate degree in music education.
Department Deans:
- Wade R. Brown (1912-1935)
- Hugh Altvator (1936-1965)
- Lawrence Hart (1966-1980)
- Robert Blocker (1981-1982)
- Arthur Tollefson (1984-2000)
- John Deal (2001-2012)
- Interim Dean – Dr. Sue Stinson (2012-2012)
- Peter Alexander (2013-present)
Department names:
- Department of Vocal Music (1892) Department of Vocal Music/Instrumental Music (1900)
- School of Music (Officially, 1922)
- School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (2010)
- School of Visual and Performing Arts (2016)