* Music Education

Join our Cadre of Music Education Cooperating Teachers

The UO places between 20 – 25 undergraduate and graduate level music teacher candidates in clinical experiences across four tracks: band, choral, elementary general, and strings.

District cooperating professionals provide opportunities for music education candidates to be exposed to a wealth of classroom experience working with different types of ensembles and pedagogical expertise.

Benefits of Serving as a Mentor:

  • Having an active and engaged University student helper in your classroom. During their fulltime student teaching term the candidate provides takes on instructional co/teaching support for planning, organization, delivery, and assessment responsibilities.
  • Support of a subject area university coach for help guiding the teacher candidate through the experience and licensure tasks.
  • Connections to UO faculty & resources, PDU’s, a stipend, and access to reduced UO tuition vouchers.
  • District support / recognition for training and recruiting new locally connected teachers to the district’s teacher pipeline.

Multi-Term Hosting Sequence: Depending on the concentration, mentor may host multiple terms.

Placement Term Onsite hours / weeksPurposeSupporting University Supervisor (US)Licensure task support stipend
Active Observation I (typically Fall)
6+ hrs / 10 weeks
(observations: US 1, CT 2)		The mentor is to model classroom instruction; while candidate observes and provides dynamic assistance with individuals or small groups, activities may including one-on-one lessons, sectionals, warm-ups, sight-reading with an ensemble, and or introducing a new song or activity.Assigned US support --
Active Observation I (typically Winter)
6+ hrs / 10 weeks (observations: US 1, CT 2)The mentor role is to provide a co-planning, co-teaching setting in which the candidate is responsible for completing an activity, piece, or portion of larger work. Assigned University Supervisor and mentor are required to complete program licensure observation and evaluations.Assigned US support --
Full-time Student Teaching (typically Spring) 40 hrs / 11 weeks (observations: US 4, CT 2)Mentor provides a co-planning, co-teaching setting in which the candidate is responsible for completing an activity, piece, or portion of larger work. Gradual transition to full-time teaching for a min. of 6 weeks through a co-teaching model.Assigned US assist in managing candidate's student teacher experience and ensuring University and licensure observation and evaluation requirements are completed. Yes

*The UO provides cooperating teachers a stipend, through their district, in terms where licensure evaluation and assessment tasks are required (pretax stipend 2024/25: *$172, **$325). Check with your HR Office to determine how these benefits are dispersed.

Join our Team of Mentors: JOIN OUR INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM:

To become a New or Returning cooperating professional, sign up through your district process.
Local district sign up form links: Bethel | Eugene | Springfield

Cooperating Teacher Training

Music teachers across the state serve as mentors, as such Music utilizes online resources, conferences, and our University Supervisors to provide you the training and support you need to help in preparing new teachers for the field.
Prior to your placement, you will receive the contact information of your candidate and will be invited to a synchronous online training to connect you with our team and introduce you to evaluation and assessment tools, tips, and tasks.
Other Oregon Training Resources

TSPC Cooperating Teacher Minimum Approval Criteria / Qualifications (OAR 584-400-0145)

  1. Hold a qualified TSPC license.
  2. Meet state experience requirements (≥3 years).
  3. Meet related endorsement requirements.
  4. Be part of the UO instructional team, including the Clinical Placement Coordinator and Music University Supervisor to support successful development of a student teacher. This includes online trainings

Pre-Service Practicum Overview

The UO works with field placement affiliated partners for approved cooperating professional placement opportunities. The clinical faculty assigns students to placements based on several factors including faculty recommendation, the student’s interest and prior experiences, availability of sites, and transportation limitations.

A: Clearance: As a prerequisite to entering the field, the UO requires that in addition to satisfactorily meeting all program requirements, Music Ed candidates must complete the following:

  • Oregon TSPC E-Licensure clearance
  • Oregon DHS mandatory reporting of child abuse
  • Civil Rights and Professional Ethics training (includes FERPA & HIPPA)

B. Music Mentor Roles & Responsibilities:

  • Complete the UO Cooperating Professional online Canvas training module and/or attend any corresponding online orientation meeting.
  • Orient your assigned candidate to school and learning community policies and procedures.
  • Provide a positive model of music education foundations, motivation, and engagement for students with diverse learning needs and challenging student behaviors.
  • Help candidate develop strength-based approach to music skills development.
  • Encourage and enrich candidate’s preparation for working with diverse populations and provide a range of intervention model experiences.
  • Demonstrate how to support an environment for learning, community building, and performance culture.
  • Mentor your candidate’s interests, experience, and knowledge as a professional music educator. Provide proactive guidance and coaching to normalize teacher anxieties and learning opportunities. Include university supervisor in candidate communications for wraparound supports.
  • Encourage and include the candidate in local and state wide professional development opportunities (up to 5 hours each term).

C. Observation Practicum Candidate Activities:

  • Shadow, help with instructional activities, and engage with your class.
  • Observe, practice, develop, and demonstrate the competencies required for initial licensure.
  • Help enhance the overall operation of the program for students and their families.
  • Maintain professional disposition in alignment with state, university, and site codes of conduct, sensitive to their role in providing care, custody, and control of minors and other vulnerable populations.
  • Proactively take on instructional responsibilities under the supervision of the assigned cooperating professional.

D. Full-time Student Teaching Term Activities:

  • Demonstrate initiative and independence in co-teacher planning, organizing, delivering, and assessing instruction.
  • Engage in self-reflection exercises by completing reflections of their practicum activities and evaluating their overall progress on competency areas at the middle and end of the term with their supervisor and Cooperating Professional.
  • Licensure observation and evaluation responsibilities
    • Have weekly meetings with teacher candidate to review progress, give informal feedback, and answer questions.
    • Work with the assigned university supervisor to provide regular consultation, guidance, and support.
    • Observe and complete all required licensure observations (1) and evaluations (2), providing feedback on meeting candidate requirements.

Not Approved Field Activities:

Licensure candidate’s are not employees, as such, they do not discipline students. Disciplinary or corrective issues are to be handled by cooperating professionals, staff, and building administration.

Music Education Instructional Team

Updated: 12/11/24