The University of Montana Western enjoys a long standing and well-earned reputation as a fine teaching institution. Music classes at Western are focused on the process of making and teaching music. Unlike many larger schools that place a stronger emphasis on public relations performances, classes here are small and friendly - a laboratory of hands-on, relevant-to-teaching activities. At Western, everyone participates, and every student is important.

Our students make music on the intimate and personal scale that is meaningful for teaching preparation, participating in concert band, choir, brass, woodwind, and percussion ensembles, barbershop quartets, student recitals, and in a wide variety of hands-on methods courses. Music at Western is also actively involved in a grant program sponsored by the Montana Small Schools Alliance developing uses of technology in Music Education.

There are more than 75 scholarships available for new and returning students at Western, with details available in the Admissions Office packet. Western also encourages and assists students applying for grants and work-study participation of financial aid. In Music, this often translates to students not being expected to run from one ensemble to the next fullfilling "scholarship" obligations, a common scenario at large institutions. Here, your work is related to your studies - a first class pre-professional educational environment.





WHY OUR STUDENTS
CHOOSE WESTERN

  • The small class size, and the freedom that it gives you. It gives you the chance to explore the parts of music that interest you.
    - Isaac Calender, music major



  • I chose Western Montana College because of it's reputation as a wonderful teaching college: I wanted a smaller college: I needed a place that accommodated the non-traditional student.
    - Shaina Lee, music major.



  • I chose Western because it was a small school with a well-credited teaching program.
    - Emily Allred, music major



  • The teacher-to-student ratio, and lots of individual instruction. I transfered from another school, where I felt lost in the crowd - here I feel I am truly learning.
    - Courtney Davis, elementary ed. major.



  • I chose Western because I wanted to get an Elementary Education degree and Western is among the top education schools. It's also close to home and a small school where the students actually count.
    - Trinda, education major.



  • I came to Western Montana College because it is located in a small town, which I enjoy.
    - Rhoda Toynbee, education major.



  • I came to Western because I wanted a small school with direct influence from the teachers rather than being 1 in 300 in an auditorium. I like to be known by my name, not a number.
    - elementary ed. major.

    Full Time Faculty

    2000-2001 Adjunct Faculty

    Lucy Anne Lienesch -Piano.

    Ms. Lucy Anne Lienesch is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She also attended the Julliard School in New York, and has performed "off broadway." Lucy Anne teaches Western students and community members in piano performance and pedagogy, and tutors Western students in Theory, Ear Training, and Piano. Send mail to Lucy Anne Lienesch.

    Samples of positions held by graduates:

    • elementary general music teacher
    • secondary instrumental teacher
    • secondary choral teacher
    • church musician
    • graduate school in music education
    • Pages bearing the UM-Western logo conform to the campus web policy and are © The University of Montana Western. Questions or comments may be directed to the Webmaster, Information and Telecommunication Services (webmaster@umwestern.edu).

    This page was last updated November 8, 2001.