Student Spotlight: Emily McGinnis

Emily McGinnisEmily McGinnis is a current UMKC student, earning her Ph.D. in Music Education and Curriculum & Instruction. She already has a Bachelor of Arts in music and education from Luther College in Iowa and a Master of Music Education from UMKC.

“I fell in love with UMKC during my masters degree and I knew that I wanted to continue my education here,” she said. “I liked the structure of UMKC’s PhD program, particularly the flexibility it provided in customizing the degree to my needs. I knew that in addition to my coursework and research I would also have opportunities to teach undergraduate courses, perform in ensembles, take lessons, and conduct.”

The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in music education is typically a three-year program.

“During my first year, I took a lot of the required coursework and was introduced to teaching at the collegiate level by co-teaching with one of the colleagues in my degree program,” she said. “During my second year, I continued with my coursework, but also became more involved in teaching and research. I defended my comps projects, successfully applied for several grants, and presented my research at regional, national, and international conferences. During my third and final year in the program, I will primarily focus on teaching and writing my dissertation.”

Emily has enjoyed her time thus far at UMKC.

“This degree has helped me become a better ‘thinker,’ a better teacher, a better musician, and even a better person,” she said. “One of the most rewarding aspects is getting to help the undergraduate music education majors progress through the program, successfully student teach, and begin their careers with such strong preparation and excitement. Some of my favorite memories come from the time spent in my office with my two colleagues in the program. Sometimes we would engage in deep philosophical arguments or discuss research or teaching strategies, and other times we would help each other lighten up, watching YouTube videos together until we erupted in laughter.”

Along with her studies, Emily has participated in the Conservatory Wind Symphony as a trumpet player, the National Association for Music Education as a member and guest speaker, the Student Activity Fee Committee as a representative, and the Graduate Student Council as treasurer. She has also been active outside of UMKC in the Fountain City Brass Band, Fountain City Youth Brass Academy, and New Horizons Band. Emily’s intended graduation date is May 2017.

“After graduation I want to continue teaching music,” she said. “Ideally, I would love to be a professor of music education, but en route to that goal I look forward to teaching music in any form.”

For prospective students, Emily says to make every moment count.

“Try to let every ‘mini-project’ for a class have the potential to develop into a research poster, presentation, or publication, and start applying for grants your first year to learn how the process works,” she said. “Get involved beyond the ‘requirements’ of the degree by being in an ensemble, observing great teachers even if the course isn’t in your area, or serving on a school-wide council to better understand how universities function. Take advantage of this time to build professional relationships that will last throughout your career. Ask questions of your classmates and your professors—you may only have three years of formal training to learn everything you can from them!”

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