Background / Organisation

The Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT) provides both academic and professional teacher training for instrumental teachers and for primary, basic and secondary school music teachers at all academic levels. Tartu University and Tallinn University offer teacher training programmes for pre-school, primary and basic school music teachers.

A strong foundation is created on the Bachelor’s degree level for development as a music teacher, and the basic knowledge and skills are provided, but completing this level of study does not by itself confer the right to work as a teacher in full standing. This requires 300 ECTS. Graduates of the Bachelor programme can work as conductors of amateur choirs, leaders of music hobby groups or continue studies in the Master’s programme.

Graduates of the Master’s degree programme can become music teachers at Estonian upper secondary schools and basic schools, and the leaders of amateur choirs, school bands and musical hobby groups. There is the opportunity to continue studies in the EAMT music pedagogy Doctorate programme or in the field of educational sciences at universities.

The Continuing Education Centre, in cooperation with the Music Education Institute and other academic units, is responsible for the opportunities for students to develop in their desired direction after they graduate from the academy. Elective subjects help to ensure diversity within the programmes as do opportunities to take electives at other Estonian universities to study for a semester or two at a foreign university (using the possibility of grants from the Erasmus programme and other foundations).

According to the 2002 curriculum reform of higher education, all Estonian universities had to implement either a 3+2 or a 4+1 system instead of the common 4-year Bachelor + 2-year Master system. EAMT chose the 4+1 system for its curricula. According to the 2002 curriculum reform of higher education, all Estonian universities had to implement either a 3+2 or a 4+1 system instead of the common 4-year Bachelor + 2-year Master system. EAMT chose the 4+1 system for its curricula. This reform did not affect the Bachelor studies very much. However, the Master programmes were changed considerably.