Music Education (BME)
"Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue" -Plato
"Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue" -Plato
As a music education student at Madonna, you will be in many classes with other music majors, giving you a rich and diverse experience. Our faculty, nationally recognized professional musicians and excellent teachers, are devoted to helping you build strong skills in theory, history, ear training, performance, and pedagogy.
Madonna’s curriculum is rigorous, and combined with the that of the College of Education, prepares you for success as a teacher in the K-12 system (public and private schools) in instrumental, vocal, and general music. Our program is designed on NASM standards (National Association of Schools of Music), so you will graduate with a degree competitive with those of larger schools.
*REQUIRED for acceptance into all music degree programs: Music, Music Performance, Music Education
Why did you choose your major?
I thought for a while that I wanted to major in music. I even experienced teaching
privately for many years before making the decision about my major. However, it was
through my leadership opportunities in the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus
that I experienced what it was really like to teach a group of students in a group
setting. I saw in that choir how much of an impact a teacher has on a student. There
were students in that choir that looked up to me as a role model as well as a teacher
and I absolutely loved that feeling. Those students and parents saw my potential as
a teacher and motivated me to pursue music education because of my passion for music
and my devotion to sharing that appreciation with young people.
Share your success story as to how your major choice has benefited your employability
options:
Majoring in music education has presented many opportunities in the work force. With
my certification, I will be able to teach in public or private schools in Michigan
for any grade level. Additionally, it qualifies me for employment in a church as a
music director. Additionally, music studios for private instruction are great places
to work a second job since the hours are all after school. Even now, these jobs can
be available to me and I can gain experience in the classroom with substitute teaching.
What advice would you give other students?
Most importantly, students that think they want to go into music education need to
make sure they are comfortable in the classroom. Many students think they want to
teach but then realize they do not like taking hold of a classroom of students. To
be a teacher, you have to know your content better than anyone else and be able to
communicate the knowledge to your class. You then have to be comfortable addressing
behavior problems, thinking on your feet, and making adjustments to your routine and
style as you go. It is a difficult balance to achieve and takes passion, motivation,
and dedication. Have purpose for what you’re doing and be committed to your students.
Offering a vibrant community of faculty who instruct from personal experiences as professional performers, composers, and entrepeneurs.
The performance degree opens the door for continued studies on the graduate level, pursuance of performing opportunities, and developing a life-long career as a professional musician and private studio instructor.
Share your talent, have fun with new friends, and show your school spirit in our Pep Band, Drum Core, Jazz Ensemble, String Ensemble, Lyric Theatre, and Chorale. Participation in some ensembles qualify you for a Performing Arts Scholarship!
Madonna University’s unique dance programs offer a variety of components for a career path as a dancer, teacher, or multi-skilled professional.
The Broadcast and Cinema Arts Program will prepare you to enter the business of television, radio, filmmaking, and media. The program combines theory with intensive hands-on learning.
Associate Professor, Program Director, Director Lyric Theatre & Summer MT, Applied Voice, Diction, Fundamentals of Music
M.Mus., Manhattan School of Music
B.Mus., Eastern Michigan University
734-432-5715, 1506E
Barbara Wiltsie, mezzo-soprano, has soloed with numerous symphonies, chorale groups and opera companies throughout the Midwest; including the DSO, Southwestern Michigan Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Bach Festival of Kalamazoo, Mendelssohn Chorale of Pittsburgh, The Singers Club of Cleveland, Opera!Lenawee, Michigan Opera Theater, Des Moines Metro Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera, and Toledo Opera. A former long-time Michigan Opera Theatre Touring Artist, she has garnered many awards—such as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as a two-time Regional finalist, winner of the Friedrich Schorr Memorial Performance Prize and a winner in the NOA Artist Awards.
A recipient of the 2004 Teaching of Excellence Adjunct Faculty award, her full-time duties since 2006 include Director (and founder) of Lyric Theatre and vocal-related classes. In addition to her university duties, Ms. Wiltsie is the Founder & Managing Director for the Madonna University Summer Music Theater Intensive for high school students, as well as a sought-after adjudicator for MSVMA, NATS and other musical organizations. She is Co-Director of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions - Michigan Committee. For more information about the Summer MT Intensive program, please visit http://madonnauniversitysummermt.weebly.com/.
D.M.A., University of South Carolina
M. Mus., Bowling Green State University
B.Mus., Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music
734-432-5707, Room 1506A
Rachel Bletstein, a native of West Bloomfield, Michigan has a passion for both playing and teaching piano. She received her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in Piano Pedagogy at the University of South Carolina under the tutelage of Phillip Bush. While at USC she collaborated as accompanist with instrumentalists and vocalists. Additionally, she taught private piano lessons at the University of South Carolina through the Center for Piano Studies. In May 2018, Dr. Bletstein completed her dissertation, A Theoretical and Stylistic Analysis of Paul Ben-Haim’s Five Pieces for Piano, Op. 34 and Piano Sonata, Op. 49. She began her research after traveling to Israel in 2016, where she became very interested in Israeli and Middle Eastern music. Dr. Bletstein received her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University Music where she studied with Dr. Laura Melton. At Bowling Green State University, she taught group piano to undergraduate music majors. Dr. Bletstein holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She also enjoys playing chamber music, as well as experimenting with improvisation, a topic with which she became particularly interested while completing her doctoral degree.
Dr. Bletstein has been active as an Officer in the collegiate chapters of the Music Teacher’s National Association. She has presented research at poster sessions at the 2015 and 2016 at SCMTA state conferences and has also presented at the MTNA National Conference in March of 2017.
M.A., Central Michigan University
B.Mus.Ed., Western Michigan University
734-432-5543, Room 1506A
Ian Boynton is an adjuct assistant professor of Music. He holds a Bachelor's in Music Education from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Arts in Educational Technology from Central Michigan University. Currently he teaches elementary music to grades pre-Kindergarten through Fifth Grade for Redford Union Schools. In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Boynton serves as the Director of Chiors for Grace Lutheran Church in Redford. He is a frequent clinician around the country speaking on integrating technology into the music classroom and integrating the arts with core subject areas.
M.Mus., University of Michigan
B.Mus., Bowling Green State University
734-432-5707, Room 1506A
M.Mus., Boston University
B.Mus., University of Cincinnati
734-432-5543, Room 1506A
Violinist Velda Kelly has been teaching and performing in metropolitan Detroit since 1983. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree from Boston University. Her violin teachers included Henry Meyer, Joseph Silverstein and Denes Zsigmondy. Ms. Kelly is a member of the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra and is co-artistic director of Chamber Music at the Scarab Club. She also performs as an extra musician with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and has a large class of private violin students.
Kassia Martin holds positions in the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, the Midland Symphony Orchestra, the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, and the Livonia Symphony Orchestra. She also performs regularly as a soloist and with her husband, Sam Martin, as the Martin Wind Duo. She is also a dedicated teacher, with private students throughout southeast Michigan, and is the flute instructor at Madonna University in Livonia and the Steiner School of Ann Arbor. She is also the music director and conductor of the Flute Specialists Flute Choirs in Clawson, MI.
M.A., Eastern Michigan University
B.Mus., Marygrove College
734-432-5709, 1506D
Professor Popoff-Parks is a performing member of the Tuesday Musicale of Detroit, performed with local and national artists, and has premiered works by local composers such as Elaine Lebenbaum. Ms. Popoff-Parks has entertained audiences at Chamber Music at the Scarab Club with works of female composers like Clara Schumann, Amy Beach, Mel Bonis, and Elfrida Andree. As a member of the College Music Society, Livonia Area Piano Teachers Guild, the Michigan Music Teachers Association and Music Teacher National Association, she serves as an adjudicator for numerous piano competitions, scholarship auditions, and has been guest speaker at State Conventions as well as local chapters meetings. She was a member of the MMTA State Board of Certification for 6 years, encouraging the certification of piano teachers. She also researches advanced literature for pianists with small hands, avoiding injuries to finger, hand, and arm.
Professor Popoff-Parks teaches applied piano, theory, and humanities, and is devoted to bringing “classical” music into non-traditional venues through the Classical Revolution Detroit Series. Professor Popoff-Parks has received three Madonna President’s Citations, and two awards for Effective and Creative Teaching. Most recently, she was nominated for a Grammy Music Educator Award for 2015.
For further information, visit Linette's website at linettepopoff-parks.com
D.M.A., University of Michigan
M.Mus., University Michigan
B.A., Pepperdine University
734-432-5706, Room 1506F
Clarinetist Lisa Raschiatore is a freelance musician and teacher in the Southeastern Michigan area. She currently serves as Principal Clarinetist with the Michigan Philharmonic and Bass Clarinetist with the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared as a substitute musician with the Windsor, Grand Rapids, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Detroit Symphony Orchestras on clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, and basset horn. She has also toured the country with the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players as principal clarinetist, and has appeared with many other regional orchestras including the Dearborn, Traverse City, Ann Arbor, Flint, Saginaw, Adrian, Oakland, Macomb, Birmingham-Bloomfield, and Warren Symphony Orchestras.As an active proponent of contemporary music, she regularly performs and commissions composers in chamber music settings, most recently with her wind trio, Protea, at Trinosophes, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and Kerrytown Concert House, and with Amphion Percussion at the DIA and Constellation in Chicago.
She has appeared with vocalist/composer Shara Worden and her band My Brightest Diamond at Art X in Detroit, the Laneway Festival at Meadowbrook, the MusicNOW Festival in Cincinnati, and with the ensemble Music at the Lincoln Center "Out of Doors" Festival in New York City. She co-founded a new-music ensemble called Warped Consort and commissioned works from composers David T. Little, Evan Chambers, Andre Myers, and Kirsten Volness. She recently worked with composer Evan Chambers in the development of his clarinet sonata, Atonement, and was a member of the commissioning consortium that sponsored the work. She has also worked with composer Michael Daugherty in the creation of his clarinet concerto, Brooklyn Bridge, and his chamber work Ladder to the Moon, recently premiering the trio version. She has premiered numerous works by young composers as a three-year member of the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble in residence at the Aspen Music Festival, and has participated in the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, and the Festival de Música de Santa Catarina in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil.
While a member of ACE, she was a featured performer on "Performance Today," the nationally syndicated radio show from American Public Media.She completed her undergraduate degree at Pepperdine University under the tutelage of Mary Gale, and earned both her Masters and Doctoral degrees at the University of Michigan with Fred Ormand, Dan Gilbert, and Monica Kaenzig. Dr. Raschiatore has served as the Interim Professor of Clarinet at Central Michigan University, as Instructor of Clarinet at Alma College, and as Adjunct Professor of Music Theory at Adrian College. Currently, she teaches clarinet, chamber music, and appreciation courses at Madonna University in Livonia, and maintains a private studio. This summer, she leads the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts Clarinet Workshop for middle and high school students, and is on faculty at the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.lisaraschiatore.com
M.A., Musicology, Univ of Michigan
B.A., Music History/Art History, Univ of Michigan
734-432-5706, Room 1506F
Helene Rottenberg is a Professor of Music at Madonna University in Livonia, MI, and also teaches guitar at Herb David Guitar Studio in Ann Arbor, MI. She has a Master of Musicology degree from the University of Michigan and was a student of the late Argentinean guitarist, Manuel Lopez-Ramos.
Helene has performed extensively in the Midwest, particularly in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area, since 1975. She has often played as a featured performer in chamber music concerts at the “Festival of the Lakes” in Alexandria, Minnesota, and has appeared on Minnesota Public Radio. She plays professionally in a flute/guitar duo, Divertimente, with flutist Susan Lazar, and they recently have released their first CD, featuring music by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Bela Bartok. She performs as a soloist and also enjoys playing in various ensembles. She has often played with Chamber Music at the Scarab Club, and is a regular performer with Woodward Corridor Musicians and the Detroit Concert Choir.
For the last few years she has been on the faculty of the Adult Classical Guitar Workshop at the Interlochen Music Camp, judged the International Youth Competition, and with the Guitar Foundation of America she serves on the board and conducts workshops at their conferences.
M.Mus., University of Michigan
B.Mus., Eastman School of Music
734-432-5543, Room 1506A
Sarah Simko is a first year Doctoral student in Organ Performance at the University of Michigan. Ms. Simko studies with Professor James Kibbie.
Ms. Simko is the recipient of a Graduate Award from the Presser Foundation, to be used to create a comprehensive set of recordings of organ music by living American female composers. The goal of this project is to expand the accessibility of a rich, and overlooked body of repertoire. A series of three CD’s will be released in Fall 2019 and Winter 2020
