On Wednesday, Sept. 30, the John M. Long School of Music hosted more than 40 high school students for an event that shows them what it’s like to be a music education major.

Since 2023, Music Education Day has welcomed students to experience workshops and rehearsals, meet current students and faculty and tour the Troy University campus. Justin and Sophia Compton, alumni and music educators from Enterprise City Schools, joined the event as clinicians and even brought their junior high students to do a demonstration lesson.

Justin, a 2011 and 2023 graduate of TROY, said the event is a great opportunity for music educators in the area to interact with and bring prospective students into the program.

“Oftentimes, school district-led professional development is not designed with music or the arts in mind, so by providing this event, it gives local music teachers a chance to earn more specific professional development that may be more in line with their needs.”

“It was an honor to be asked by Dr. Sexton to serve as a presenter and to be afforded the chance to bring our current students to the event to show how we implement our techniques into the classroom,” Justin continued. “We hope to see this event grow larger in scope and involve more presenters and local school districts!”

Sophia, a 2013 graduate who has been visiting the campus as a music educator for many years, shared the value the event holds for both educators and students.

“Music Education Day helps connect Troy’s program with school districts and working educators by providing professional development for current educators and helping upper-level high school students who are interested in pursuing music education understand a little more about what the career field will be like,” Sophia said. 

Dr. Scott Sexton, event organizer and Assistant Professor of Music Education, said the Comptons are master music educators.

“It was great for both our current Music Education students and our visiting high school students to see great teaching in action,” Sexton said.

Originally created to recruit students who are interested in studying Music Education at TROY, Sexton hopes the event continues to grow. He is thankful for the community that helps to make it happen.

“In addition to recruiting, I would love for it to become a day to celebrate Music Education with our Music Education student community at TROY,” Sexton said. “I would love to continue to invite leaders in Music Education as guest clinicians and continue to create ways for our visiting high school students to experience what it is like to be a Music Education major.”

“I want to thank all the participants and their high school music teachers for being a part of our event,” Sexton continued. “It was so refreshing to see such excitement about studying music and how to teach music to people. I also want to thank the faculty, staff and students of the John M. Long School of Music. Many of them helped make the day a success by helping guide our visitors and offering demo classes and lessons for them.”

Dr. Michael Mills, Assistant Professor of Music and Choral Music Education, had visiting students participate in a Concert Chorale ensemble rehearsal and enjoyed interacting with them.

“I love to see their energy and excitement for music education and seeing them recognize what TROY can do to prepare them to reach their goals,” Mills said. 

Mills also said events like Music Education Day help the program stay current with the changing landscape of music education. 

“High school students have so many options for higher education, and this event is an important catalyst for reflection in how we train prospective music educators.”

Layken Waldrop, a student from Northside High School in Tuscaloosa, enjoyed the hands-on event and singing with the Concert Chorale members.

“What I enjoyed most was being thrown into the fire, being handed music and getting to sing with everyone,” Layken said. “I do plan on possibly going to TROY for music education, so it was really fun to be here and see what it would be like.”

Brooke Matthews, a student from Carroll High School in Ozark, also appreciated interacting with faculty members and current music education students.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing how different directors run a rehearsal and sitting in with the choir and singing.” 

To learn more about the Music Education program, call (334) 670-3322 or email music@troy.edu.