Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover

Degree: The first vocational qualification for church musicians is achieved with the degree of Bachelor of Music in Protestant or Catholic Church Music. Normally, graduates holding the Bachelor’s degree will be classified by the relevant church offices as being equivalent to the previous “Diplom B” graduates, those with the degree of Master of Music in Protestant or Catholic Church Music as equivalent to the previous “Diplom A” graduates.
Follow-up second degree: Master of Music in Church Music (Protestant or Catholic)
Regular course length: 8 semesters

The Church Music course, like the Joint Bachelor’s degree for teachers with music as major subject, is one of the HMTMH’s comprehensive music courses. Students can qualify as instrumental soloists (organ, possibly harpsichord, pianoforte), conductors (choir and orchestra), improvisers (accompanying congregational singing and free improvisation), in each case both in educational and theoretical/academic disciplines. The degree in Church Music offers the necessary qualification not only for a career as a church musician, but also for artistic or academic specialisation.

1. Course content and objective
   The Bachelor’s degree in Church Music is a qualification for a career as a full-time church musician. In addition to the tripartite principal performance subject (organ literature performance, organ improvisation and choral/orchestral conducting) it also focuses on ecclesiastical subjects (liturgics, hymnology, theological information) and on subjects for choir directors such as singing and Gregorian chant. In addition, there are the same compulsory academic musical subjects as for all music students.
   In this way, students following the Church Music course will be intensively prepared for their later profession, which in addition to their own practical artistic and performance activity in their churches will also face them with numerous tasks in the field of professional consultancy and the knowledgeable representation of church music in dialogue with the clergy, cultural agencies and sponsors at a wider level.
2. Tuition
   A major factor affecting the way an organist can be trained is the non-portability of the instrument. Thus tuition takes place at the organs in the University, but also often at organs in churches close by and further afield. This means that suitable instruments are available for the various styles of music. One outstanding example is the Collon Spanish organ in the Neustädter Joahnniskirche (New Town Church of St. John) in Hanover.
   Tuition in choral and orchestral conducting takes place to a large extent jointly with students following the Joint Bachelor’s course for the teaching profession.
   Once a year (usually in January) a block seminar (Monday to Thursday) takes place in St. Michael’s Abbey in Hildesheim. During this, subjects such as practical parish activities are considered in more depth: conducting children’s choirs, conducting wind ensembles, liturgical exercises, the new spiritual song, popular music in divine service etc.
3. Who is the course aimed at?
   The course in Church Music is directed towards young people who have already been able to discover their enjoyment of singing and playing the organ while still at school and now wish to make it their profession. In addition to the higher school leaving certificate, initial experience in both areas is required, as is also good basic piano playing. The D or C examination for church musicians may be advantageous, but is not a requirement. An aptitude for the study of Church Music must be demonstrated in the admission procedure and examination.
4. Career outlook
   There are a very limited number of full-time employment opportunities in church music. The importance of those that there are, however, is indisputable. In addition, there are numerous part-time positions which can be sensibly complemented by activities in the artistic or educational field.
   The prerequisite for taking the Master’s degree course in Church Music is a good Bachelor’s degree in Church Music; it allows a large variety of individual focuses. However, the Bachelor’s degree in Church Music also allows graduates to pursue other postgraduate courses.
   Anyone who wishes to become a church musician has a good chance of becoming one – with a certain amount of patience and imagination!