Bachelor of Music

Fields of Study

  • Early Music Chordal Instruments
    • Harpsichord
    • Fortepiano
    • Organ (Early Music)
    • Historical Harp
    • Lute
  • Early Music Melody Instruments
    • Baroque Bassoon
    • Baroque Oboe
    • Sackbut
    • Baroque Viola
    • Baroque Violin
    • Baroque Cello
    • Recorder (Early Music)
    • Natural Horn
    • Natural Trumpet
    • Traverso
    • Viola da Gamba
    • Cornetto
  • Historical Voice

Information

Beginning in the fall semester 2023/24, bachelor’s degree programs in Elementary Music Pedagogy and Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy in Early Music will be offered. For more information, please contact Prof. Dr. Barbara Stiller.

Admission Requirements

Entry by Audition

Duration of Studies and Degree

Duration of Studies
8 Semesters

Degree
Bachelor of Music

Master of Music – Artistic Education in Early Music

Fields of Study

  • Continuing studies, Early Music Chordal Instruments
    • Harpsichord
    • Fortepiano
    • Organ (Early Music)
    • Basso Continuo
    • Historical Harp
    • Lute
  • Continuing studies, Early Music Melody Instruments
    • Baroque Bassoon
    • Baroque Oboe
    • Sackbutt
    • Baroque Viola
    • Baroque Violin
    • Baroque Cello
    • Recorder (Early Music)
    • Natural Horn
    • Natur Trumpet
    • Traverso
    • Viola da Gamba
    • Cornetto
    • Basso Continuo
  • Continuing studies, Historical Voice
  • First Study, Early Music Chordal Instruments
    • Harpsichord
    • Fortepiano
    • Organ (Early Music)
    • Basso Continuo
    • Historical Harp
    • Lute
  • First Study, Early Music Melody Instruments
    • Baroque Bassoon
    • Baroque Oboe
    • Sackbutt
    • Baroque Viola
    • Baroque Violin
    • Baroque Cello
    • Recorder (Early Music)
    • Natural Horn
    • Natural Trumpet
    • Traverso
    • Viola da Gamba
    • Cornetto
  • First Study, Historical Voice

Admission requirements

  • Applicants who hold a first professional university degree (Bachelor of Music or comparable degrees) in the same or related instrument in an early music degree program have the admission requirement for the Master of Music Artistic Training in Early Music in the field of study in depth. Applicants who hold another first professional university degree in an artistic, artistic-pedagogical or church music course of study (Bachelor of Music or comparable degrees) in a related artistic major subject have the admission requirement for the Master of Music Artistic Training in Early Music in the field of study broadening. At the time of application, proof of admission to the degree program is sufficient
  • Admission by Audition

Duration of Studies and Degree

Duration of Studies
4 Semesters

Degree
Master of Music

Information

The Master’s program “Early Music” is a postgraduate program, aimed both at applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in early music and at instrumentalists and singers who have a bachelor’s or diploma degree in classical training, or on a modern instrument. The curriculum therefore offers in a special supplementary module, a canon of subjects tailored to the individual entry requirements of each student. In which practical, theoretical and scientific basics of early music can be caught up on (erweiternd). Students with an undergraduate degree in early music may instead acquire individual additional qualifications such as ensemble conducting, improvisation, edition practice, etc. (vertiefend).

An essential focus and a lead to a professional qualification as an ensemble musician and conductor is the intensive work in the ensembles of Early Music at the University of the Arts, such as the Baroque Orchestra or the Vocal Ensemble and the student ensemble “Bremer Barock Consort”, which regularly give concerts in Bremen and beyond the borders of Bremen in addition to the teaching practice.
The goal of the master’s degree program in voice is, beyond the technical development and perfection of the voice, an intensive and specializing artistic examination of the genres and fields of work specific to voice. In addition to the intensive work on expanding a wide-ranging repertoire of songs, concerts and operas, which takes place in addition to the main subject, especially in repetition lessons, there are many opportunities to gain in-depth artistic and practical experience, especially in the area of performance. For example, staged projects and opera productions are regularly held, which are preferably aimed at the master’s students.

A special in-depth module allows for a supplementary artistic focus in the elective areas of historical performance practice, new music or song composition, opera repertoire and choir.

Project-accompanying musicological and music-theory seminars aimed at informing and reflecting artistic practices, as well as a diverse range of elective classes from the entire curriculum of the University of the Arts Bremen complete the study program.

Master of Music – „Arp-Schnitger“ for Historical Church Music

Primary studies

The “Arp-Schnitger” Master for Historical Church Music program includes three majors:

  • Organ
  • Liturgical organ playing/improvisation
  • Ensemble direction (vocal/instrumental)

In addition, there are singing, piano (or historical keyboard instruments) and score playing as essential basic subjects, as well as theoretical and musicological subjects in a special elective area. The overall goal of the program is to provide students with a comprehensive church music/artistic qualification that will enable them to work independently and cooperatively in the professional fields of church music (organists, cantors, choir directors).

Admission Requirements

  • Completed church music studies (Bachelor of Music Church Music Protestant or Catholic or B exam; at the time of application, proof of admission to the graduation process is sufficient).
  • Entrance by Audition

Duration of Studies and Degree

Duration of Studies
4 Semesters

Degree
Master of Music

Information

The fund of historical, romantic and modern organs in and around Bremen allows for a differentiated training on the organ oriented towards a variety of stylistic characteristics. Through the cooperation with the Department of Early Music, church music studies at the HfK provide valuable insights into continuo practice as well as an older organ or vocal repertoire. The broad-based choral work takes into account the most diverse aspects of later professional activity, such as children’s choir or chamber choir. The conducting training in the course of study Church Music at the HfK Bremen is characterized by a high practical relevance.

The Organs

Organ students in Bremen have at their disposal a large number of important organs of stylistic variety and quality:

  • The Ahrend and Brunzema Organ of the Martini Kirche, Bremen
    Website
  • The Schnitger Organs in Kappel, Dedesdorf, Ganderkesee, Grasberg and Weener.
    Website
  • The Sibermann Organ in the Bremer Dom
    Website
  • The Gothic and Renaissance organs in Ostfriesland (Rysum, Uttum, Osteel, Westerhusen u.a.)
  • The Reconstruction of the 1762 Gloger Organ in Worpswede
    Website
  • The Original Italian Organ in Rhede
    Website
  • The romantic organs of the Bremer Dom (Sauer)
    Website
  • A strong partnership between the HfK and the Bremen churches of St. Stephani (Beckerath) and Walle (Mean tone organ from v.d Putten)

Arp Schnitger Organ Database

Impressions

Master of Music – Elementary Music Pedagogy (EMP)

Fields of Study

  • Early Music Chordal Instruments
    • Harpsichord
    • Fortepiano
    • Organ (Early Music)
    • Basso Continuo
    • Historical Harp
    • Lute
  • Early Music Melody Instruments
    • Baroque Bassoon
    • Baroque Oboe
    • Sackbut
    • Baroque Viola
    • Baroque Violin
    • Baroque Cello
    • Recorder (Early Music)
    • Natural Horn
    • Natural Trumpet
    • Traverso
    • Viola da Gamba
    • Cornetto
  • Historical Voice

Admission Requirements

  • Completed artistic or artistic-pedagogical music studies in the same or related main artistic subject (Bachelor or Diploma; at the time of application, proof of admission to the final semester is sufficient).
  • Entrance by Audition

Duration of Studies and Degree

Duration of Studies
4 Semesters

Degree
Master of Music

Information

The need for teachers who teach the subject of elementary music education in educational contexts is greater today than ever before. Whether it is specialist schools where future educators are trained, certified further education measures in music school contexts or early childhood education courses at universities and universities of applied sciences, particularly well-versed and reflective graduates of elementary music education are in demand everywhere. Intensive opportunities for the direct linking of artistic practice and academic reflection are offered to students by the music profile kindergarten Amadeo, which is linked to the HfK, as well as the university’s own Institute for Musical Education in Childhood.

Students who have not yet acquired a professional qualification specialization in the field of Elementary Music Education in their Bachelor’s degree programme acquire central qualifications of the undergraduate degree programme in Elementary Music Education, as well as artistic skills building on these in the “Supplement” module during the first academic year of the Master’s degree programme. Students with a specialized Bachelor EMP degree instead intensify their instrumental or vocal pedagogical skills at the same time by acquiring the teaching qualification for the upper school (according to the VdM structural guidelines), for this purpose in the sub-module “Vertiefung”. Further artistic and technical development in an instrumental or vocal main subject is also an integral part of the curriculum in the Elementary Music Education programme. The second year of study for all EMP students is then equally dedicated to acquiring qualifications in high school didactics. Here they learn to plan target group-specific seminars and further education measures as well as subject-immenent workshops, to teach these appropriately for the respective target group and then to reflect professionally on the so-called meta-level.

Master of Music – Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy

Fields of Study

  • Early Music Chordal Instruments
    • Harpsichord
    • Fortepiano
    • Organ (Early Music)
    • Basso Continuo
    • Historical Harp
    • Lute
  • Early Music Melody Instruments
    • Baroque Bassoon
    • Baroque Oboe
    • Sackbut
    • Baroque Viola
    • Baroque Violin
    • Baroque Cello
    • Recorder (Early Music)
    • Natural Horn
    • Natural Trumpet
    • Traverso
    • Viola da Gamba
    • Cornetto
  • Historical Voice

Admission Requirements

  • Early Music Bachelor’s degree in the same major
  • Entrance by Audition

Duration of Studies and Degree

Duration of Studies
4 Semesters

Degree
Master of Music

Information

Bachelor’s graduates who have chosen another degree programme or focus (for example in artistic education or church music) in their Bachelor’s degree programme acquire central pedagogical qualifications in the first year of the Master’s degree programme, as well as methodological-didactical skills that build on these and correspond to the qualification level and teaching qualification of the specialized artistic-pedagogical Bachelor’s programme at the Bremen University of the Arts. The second year of study is dedicated to building up high-level didactic skills. Here they learn to plan instrumental pedagogical seminars, to teach appropriately for the respective target group and to reflect on them professionally afterwards.

Soloists Diploma

Prerequisites

Prerequisite for the 4-semester program is a Master of Music Artistic Education degree passed with “good” (at least grade 2.5) or comparable degrees, whereby the main subject must be evaluated with “very good” (at least grade 1.5) or “with distinction”. The passed examination must not have been taken more than four years ago at the application deadline. Proof of previous graduation must be submitted by the application deadline.

The applicant must submit with the application the program or programs for the entrance examination as well as for the previous master’s examination (Master of Music), which may not have been taken more than four years ago at the time of the application deadline. The programs of the public performances performed after this examination may be attached. In the entrance examination, accompanists and chamber music partners are to be provided by the applicant.

Study duration and degree

Study duration
4 Semester

Degree
Soloists diploma

Information

Anyone who aspires to a solo career in the concert hall or on stage, who has already completed a course of study in Artistic Training and earned a very good degree in it, can perfect their skills here. The four-semester course is aimed at graduates of the Master of Music Artistic Training program or comparable programs.