The field of music education has been extremely undervalued in many schools. Music education is a crucial part of getting an education because education is not just about academics! If you feel this way, then maybe you would be interested in making an impact by making it a career. The music education degree, MAT, is a certification program that allows the individuals who take undergo it to establish a foundation of skills and knowledge to teach music. In the music education degree program, students will learn to see music in a different way. Students will begin to approach music in an educational way, to appreciate not just one genre, but all kinds of music from all over the world. Because of everyone's demanding schedule, many students are now resorting to online programs because it offers convenience and time management.  Online music education degrees offer students to work from anywhere and achieve the same degree many others obtain from an on-campus university. The students in the music education degree program will learn how to play basic instruments from all different families such as strings, woodwinds, and brass.  Several schools will offer more than just a basic program in music education and will offer the master's degree program. This music education master's degree program is a 1-3 year program, but can lead to doctoral programs such as the online PhD in musical education or the  online PhD in musical arts. The program will be extremely competitive and will require preparation (i.e. recommendation letters, personal statements, auditions, etc.). Coursework for the music education degree program will include topics such as applied lessons, aural skills theory, composition, curriculum development, educational psychology, keyboarding skills, etc.