Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover

Degree to be attained Master of Music
Standard Period of Study 4 Semesters

The Master's degree in Musical Performance and Education enables particularly suitable and motivated students to deepen and expand their knowledge and skills from the Bachelor's degree, to form an individual artistic, educational and scientific profile on a high level.

The course is divided into two alternative fields of study:

• Instrumental Pedagogy and
• Choir and Ensemble Direction.

In the Instrumental Pedagogy major, a choice is made between the Practice and the Research Profile.

Optionally, an additional qualification in Improvisation Pedagogy can be acquired.

At the centre of the degree programme Instrumental Pedagogy is the expansion and deepening of instrumental-technical, stylistic, interpretative, improvisational, didactic, pedagogical and pedagogical-scientific skills and abilities.

Students usually receive 90 minutes of individual lessons per week on their main instrument. If a supplementary subject is chosen (such as harpsichord to main instrument piano), the teaching time is adjusted (e.g. 60 minutes piano and 30 minutes harpsichord lessons).  An overview of the instrumental main and supplementary subjects as well as the possible combinations can be found in the information on the entrance examination ("Information for the Audition").

In addition to the main and, if applicable, supplementary instrument, the study content includes

• Chamber music/ensemble playing
• Music pedagogy and didactics (including a choice from various areas)
• Music physiology and self-management (professionalisation module)
• Supplementary subjects for individual focus, e.g. performance practice, choral and ensemble conducting, body work, percussion, improvisation, interpretation analysis.

In addition, there is a free elective area in the Practice Profile. In the Research Profile, this is replaced by a compulsory elective module for further academic qualification. An individual music pedagogical supplementary area in the curriculum serves to integrate different starting levels (change of university, etc.).

The degree programme is completed with a final examination in the instrumental main subject and a final project (Master's thesis). This artistic-pedagogical project must be planned independently, carried out outside the university and reflected according to scientific criteria. A project seminar is offered to accompany the final project. In the Research Profile, a scientific Master's thesis is written in addition to the - significantly smaller - project.

The programme Choir and Ensemble Conducting includes:

• Choral and ensemble conducting
• Orchestral conducting
• Singing (individual lessons)
• Vocal methodology
• Ensemble-accompanying piano playing
• Ear training/aural analysis.

Students also take ensemble playing or vocal chamber music, choral and ensemble singing and can choose from a range of supplementary subjects (performance practice, improvisation, percussion). The curriculum is rounded off by the module "Extended Professional Practice" with the subjects assistance/hospitation, didactics/methodology, self-management and a free elective area.

The degree programme is completed with a final artistic-pedagogical project (Master's thesis). This comprises, among other things, the independent planning and realisation of a concert programme of approx. 60 minutes, including all associated tasks such as rehearsal planning, rehearsal, creation of a programme booklet. A project seminar is offered to accompany the final project.

The Master's degree programme qualifies students in particular for performing and teaching music and to take on music leadership tasks in cultural and educational institutions. The programme equips students with the necessary competences to work independently and in a well-founded manner in a broad music education field. The major in Research enables a further academic career in university teaching and research, e.g. in the form of a doctorate in music education.

Graduates pursue activities as professional musicians, music teachers, music mediators and music education researchers at a high level. The degree course enables students to work musically with choirs and orchestras as well as to work in freelance or employed positions in cultural, educational and further education institutions (e. g. as department or music school directors or as music mediators in concert halls).

Applicants must pass an entrance exam. The prerequisite for admission to the entrance examination is a completed undergraduate bachelor's degree in Musical Performance and Education or a comparable completed music degree with at least 20 credit points in music pedagogical or instrumental didactic subjects (please make a list and attach it to the application). Applicants for the Research Profile must submit an independently written music education term paper of at least 20 pages.

Additional information, also for applicants in the field of study Choir and Ensemble Conducting, is provided in the paper "Information for the Audition".