Mission and Strategic Plan

Our Mission

The School of Music at ECU provides a nurturing atmosphere where gifted and talented students may grow and develop to their full potential and be prepared for state and national leadership roles in the musical arts. Dedicated to the highest levels of excellence in teaching, performance and research, we aspire to be recognized nationally as a premier music community excited for and proud of the accomplishments of our students and faculty.

The mission of the School of Music is fourfold:

To educate qualified students for careers in music teaching, music therapy, performance, composition, analytical or historical research, and related technical and support fields
To serve state, national and international communities through support and dissemination of creative work in composition and performance
To serve state, national and international communities through support and dissemination of research in musicology, music theory, music technology, music education and music pedagogy
To serve as a cultural resource for the university community and eastern North Carolina

Strategic Planning 2023-2028

For context, view The East Carolina University Strategic Plan 2023-28

ECU School of Music Strategic Plan 2023-28

M1.1: Strengthen graduation and retention strategies while closing equity gaps to advance opportunity for all.

Noting both a diversity of musical styles programmed by professional symphonic & operatic entities, and a diversity of musical interests among the student body, the SOM will integrate a broad range of musical styles into our curriculum.
Recognizing that motivation of students aids retention, the SOM will strive to align course materials with repertoire of Four Seasons and our student ensembles (including Opera Theater, ECU Symphony Orchestra, Choral ensembles, and Wind ensembles).
Encourage greater use of ECU Connect:
- With particular attention to graduate students
- With particular attention to broader use by applied faculty members
Increase funding for student internships.
Further support the efforts of student summer musical activities:
- Composer participation in summer festivals and writing retreats
- Instrumental participation in festivals, camps, and training programs
- Vocal participation in young artist training programs

M1.2: Expand access to and participation in transformative experiences and experiential learning.

In the realm of international study, the SOM will:
- Enroll students in newly-developed ECU study abroad programs (e.g., Spain/Morocco and Italy).
- Continue and expand the success of the Taiwan Chamber Music Summer Study Abroad program, which will alternate with the Spain/Morocco program starting 2026.
- Continue and expand the school-year international programs such as our exchange program with the University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Explore opportunities to expand international outreach with study abroad programs in Poland and other locations.
- Work to expand scholarship opportunities for all study abroad programs in music.
Explore opportunities for virtual “global classrooms” with colleagues outside of the US.

M1.3: Align university programs to meet the demands of a dynamic, innovative economy and an evolving workforce.

Develop an elective course addressing musician health to include Alexander Technique and Mindfulness training.
To better meet the needs of the evolving clinical profession of Music Therapy, the SOM will:
- Implement curricular revisions in Music Therapy.
- Increase opportunities for clinical training and internships for Music Therapy students through the operation of an on-campus music therapy clinic.
Examine and, where needed, update the core curriculum to better reflect the evolving music profession in general.
In the realm of Keyboard Studies, the SOM will:
- Enroll students in the multidisciplinary Keyboard Specialist degree.
- Explore and increase opportunities for avocational piano training for adults.
In the realm of “nontraditional” study opportunities, the SOM will:
- Pursue opportunities for micro-credentialing students in Mindfulness training.
- Explore opportunities for fully-virtual, certificate-level, postgraduate training in Vocal Pedagogy.
To better meet the evolving landscape of classical vocal performance, the SOM will consider implementing cross-disciplinary study at the MMus level in opera stage direction.

M2.1: Increase public engagement with and access to educational and cultural offerings.

Expand summer camp offerings:
- Explore incorporation of orchestra/strings into existing band camp structures.
- Explore broader inclusion of students of avocational ability levels into Piano Festival programming.
- Explore and implement inclusive music-based Music Therapy camps through the Music Therapy Clinic (MTC@ECU).
In the realm of Keyboard Studies, the SOM will:
- Further integrate Keyboard Studies into the local and regional piano teacher organizations (e.g. MTNA).
- Expand the ECU Piano Competition to include recitals and master classes.
In the realm of Vocal Studies, the SOM will:
- Demonstrate and continue enrollment growth in vocal and choral opportunities for middle-school/high school students.
- Explore opportunities for a summer opera & musical theatre festival.
Continue and expand the state-wide connections and outreach performances of the string area built through the Next Gen Project, an educational program with community collaboration by the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival.
Explore formation of SOM precollege offerings to include instrumental training, voice training, and Music Theory.
Seek to engage and extend musical opportunities to ECU students not majoring in a SOM program.
The Music Therapy area will demonstrate continued growth through the Music Therapy Clinic at ECU (MTC@ECU) which seeks to implement Music Therapy services within the community across the lifespan.

M3.2: Expand and enrich external partnerships.

Expand and increase engagement with SOM alumni through organizations such as:
- NCMEA
- MTNA
- NATS
- The New Carolina Sinfonia
Highlight performance and teaching contributions of ECU alumni artists in various Four Seasons initiatives (Next Gen Project, Community Tour, etc.).
Promote and highlight ECU alumni via invitation of the ECU SOM faculty to serve as guest artists, lecturers, clinical specialists, and master class clinicians at ECU.
Maintain, expand, and enrich partnerships with regional public schools.
Increase public awareness and engagement with our programming:
- Implement concert surveys via QR code to gauge public perception.
- Refine targeted marketing efforts.
Obtain and implement the input of community stakeholders and alumni in areas relevant to Music Therapy clinical service.
Expand partnerships across campus:
- Honors College
- School of Theatre and Dance
- College of Education
- College of Health and Human Performance, in particular Human Development & Family Science
- Mental Health Consortium
- Explore and expand the role of musical performance in ECU Research and Creative Activities Week.
Continue and expand performance partnerships with professional symphonic organizations which regularly employ alumni, faculty, and students:
- The New Carolina Sinfonia
- Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle
- Long Bay Symphony (Keyboard Studies)
Cultivate partnerships with regional arts councils and their performance spaces, e.g.:
- Farmville Community Arts Council (Paramount Theater)
- Arts Council of the Pamlico (Turnage Theater)

V2.1: Increase support and utilization of faculty and staff well-being resources.

Commit to increasing opportunities and funds for faculty and staff professional development.
Further consider implementation of faculty leave/sabbatical programs, in particular for faculty special projects.

SOM Long Range Planning Committee AY 24-25: Shirley (chair), Driscoll, Yi, Carr-Richardson, Kim