Music Notes: September 28, 2025

by Chad Pittman, Music Ministry Leader

Last week I wrote a little bit about my early collegiate music education, so I figured that I would continue this week…

Michigan State University (MSU) is a highly regarded school of music in the United States, and it is a dream school of mine. Many of my favorite musicians and role models — conductors and performers — graduated from the MSU School of Music. There were jokes in my family that if I were to attend this particular school, I would break the three-generation cycle of family attending a grand competitor, the University of Michigan. Say nothing of growing up in Ohio and “dealing” with The Ohio State University fans who were flabbergasted that I was considering ANY Michigan school AT ALL.

MSU’s choral conducting program is extremely competitive; I didn’t get accepted the first time I applied. Although disappointed, I was committed to trying again to fulfill my dream. While I waited out the mandatory stall period to reapply, I pursued and received a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University. As a ten-year public school music teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed this degree and learned a lot about school law and policy in Ohio. It also allowed me to be a school principal if I wanted to pursue that path. Believe me, I did not. When I finally got into MSU, I cherished every moment of the program. I worked with nationally-renowned professors and a high-quality cohort of peers and friends. I took a lot with me for my work in church music, school music, and professional music-making as I graduated with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting.

While I have found life experience has been the best teacher, I have greatly appreciated the formal education opportunities that have crossed my path.