Voice, concentration for free lance singers (Master of Music)

Regular duration of study 4 semesters
Graduate degree Master of Music

Introducing the programme:

In recent years, many singers have established themselves with a personal profile combining activities as performers with teaching and/or work in various areas of voice science. In order to be successful in this kind of professional career, it is essential to prepare by developing an individual profile. This Masters programme offers an opportunity unique within the German university scene.

With a high-profile team of teachers, the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover is in a position to offer first-class training oriented to students’ individuality, founded on good teaching tradition and the knowledge offered by recent scientific and pedagogical research.  Candidates who have completed a Bachelor degree or comparable programme have the opportunity to continue their training as a performing artist, as well as to gain in-depth knowledge of voice science and pedagogy.  The artistic programme includes stylistic specialisation in historic periods, genres or various singing styles.  The pedagogy and voice science programme offers the opportunity for independent research and publication, preparation for teaching at the university level as well as training for positions in cultural institutions. 

Contents and Goals of the Programme

The basic characteristic of this programme is the possibility to choose between a profile combining major concentration in artistic training and pedagogy or a profile including a voice science concentration. Both concentrations include voice pedagogy with lectures, seminars and work placements, which will expand on the basic knowledge of voice physiology, didactics and methods, including psychological aspects and information on current voice research offered in the Bachelor programme.

Students may choose various profiles to suit their particular combinations of abilities, such as specialization in various styles and/or periods (early or contemporary music, oratorio, Lied, and musical/popular music).  Alternately, students may choose to gain proficiency in as many stylistic areas as possible.  Artistic training also includes language training in standard singing languages, as well as ear training and sight-singing oriented especially to the demands made by early and contemporary music and solo ensemble singing. 

Further professional traing includes performance training and business and contract practise. Master classes with renowned artists complete the artistic spectrum.

Students choosing the performance-pedagogy concentration may choose more intensive training in their stylistic specialities, movement and acting classes, as well as role study. In addition, students with suitable qualifications may be cast in the opera productions. Choral and ensemble conducting is an additional option in view of the envisioned professional profile.

In this concentration, the artistic grade is weighted with a higher percentage of the final grade than pedagogy/voice science in this programme.

In addition to their own artistic training, students in the pedagogy/voice science concentration will be guided into independent research in voice pedagogy, performance practise and voice science. To this end, the programme includes lectures and seminars on research methods, communication and scientific presentations as well as methods of empirical social research. The voice department offers these seminars in cooperation with both the Leibnitz University and the musicology department of the HMTMH.  Regular guest lectures by leading phoniatricians and researchers round out the programme.

The Masters thesis constitutes a higher percentage of the final grade than in the performance-pedagogy concentration and this programme is designed to precede doctoral studies.

The Masters programme is intended to prepare performing artists for a versatile solo career in opera as well as or alternately on the concert stage (Lied, oratorio, old and new music), in choral and ensemble singing, for teaching at music schools and conservatories, universities and in the private studio.


Special learning opportunities

A specific characteristic of this programme is the wide range of subject matter offered in a combination of various teaching forms.  The programme is includes a high percentage of individual training, along with group instruction, seminars and lectures, as well as artistic and scientific projects.  Regular assignments are designed to train students in independent research. Students will receive intensive training from a competent team of specialists offering a network of international connections in the field of opera, concert, oratorio, Lied, voice pedagogy, stage directing, speech, contemporary and ancient/Baroque music, musicology, musicians’ medicine, etc.  The HMTMH has high-profile professorships for nearly all basic subjects offered in this programme.

The heart of the voice department is the main building on Emmichplatz, a central location also housing many related programmes of study. The 500-seat Richard Jakoby Saal is equipped with staging and lighting equipment as well as an orchestra pit comparable to a medium-sized opera house, making 1 – 3 opera productions per year possible. The HMTMH also offers several chamber music halls, lecture rooms and a recording studio with up-to-date technical equipment including access to computer-supported voice analysis programmes. 

Who is a potential candidate for this programme?

Successful applicants for the Masters programme will be highly motivated and talented singers interested in voice pedagogy and various aspects of voice science, who have previously completed a Bachelor degree or comparable diploma with a Major concentration in Applied Voice or a closely related discipline.
 

What career paths will be open to graduates?

Our graduates are highly qualified, versatile and flexible singers, who have mastered either a broad but representative stylistic palette, or a concentration in specific repertoire in fields such as contemporary music, ancient/Baroque music, Lied, or oratorio, enabling a career on the concert or opera stage as a soloist or in professional and semi-professional solo ensembles and choirs.  In addition, having received comprehensive pedagogical training with qualifications in voice science, they will be prepared for various kinds of voice training and pedagogy at music schools and universities or in a private studio working with individuals or groups. In addition, they will be qualified to assume positions of responsibility in cultural institutions. 

The possibility of choosing the pedagogy-voice science concentration opens the door to research activity in voice pedagogy, voice science and performance practise, including continuing studies toward a doctorate.

Programme learning outcomes

 

The central objective of the Master's degree programme in Freelance Singing is to develop highly flexible musical personalities who are qualified to perform as soloists as well as sing and lead ensembles and teach singing.

Graduates have acquired differentiated and comprehensive repertoire knowledge in a wide range of genres and styles and have at their disposal epoch- and genre-specific vocal means of expression with the appropriate technical and artistic skills and abilities. In addition, individual specialisations are clearly present.

Excellent solo singing that meets the musical, technical and interpretative requirements of a successful freelance career on the concert stage are trained.

Graduates have mastered a comprehensive and broad repertoire for a solo career, while at the same time being excellently prepared to specialise in a specific repertoire. This also includes the mastery of special repertoire-related technical skills and stylistic-musical interpretation skills, appropriate vocal language treatment and a high degree of stylistic and vocal flexibility.

They have acquired comprehensive competence in analysing and diagnosing fundamental vocal problems in the field of singing lessons for beginners and advanced singers and improving them sustainably using a diverse methodological repertoire and taking learning and developmental psychology into account. As basic skills, they know practice strategies and can communicate these. They can observe and analyse interpersonal processes in singing lessons and shape them in a positive, appreciative and learning-promoting way.

 

Downloads (partly just available in german language)

Contact

Examination Office

  • Judith Degro

    Department for Studies and Teaching | Examination Board Pianoforte B. Mus., Keyboard Instruments M. Mus., Musical Performance and Education B. Mus./M. Mus., Church Music B. Mus./M. Mus.

    Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media
    Neues Haus 1, 30175 Hannover
    E001 | Loebensteinstraße 2

    Phone: +49 (0)511 3100-7254
    judith.degro@hmtm-hannover.de

    Office hours: Mo 09:30-12 Uhr | Di 09:30-12 Uhr und 14-15:30 Uhr | Do 14-15:30 Uhr | und nach Vereinbarung

Registration Office

  • Beate Heitmüller

    Department for Studies and Teaching | Matriculation Office, Examination Office Junior Students, Solo Class

    Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media
    Neues Haus 1, 30175 Hannover
    E007 | Loebensteinstraße 2

    Phone: +49 (0)511 3100-7223
    I-Amt@hmtm-hannover.de

    Office hours: Mo 09:30-12 Uhr | Di 09:30-12 Uhr und 14-15:30 Uhr | Do 14-15:30 Uhr | und nach Vereinbarung

Last modified: 2024-01-09

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