Entrance examinations

In order to be offered a place on a music teacher training course, an audition in musical performance has to be passed. The candidate has to perform on one or two instruments; singing is also included. The piano plays an important role within the teacher training course and is offered either as a major or minor module. In teacher training for Primary Schools, the guitar still is (almost) equally important. Apart from the audition, there are also compulsory written and oral exams in ear training and classical harmony. Other forms of examination may occasionally by relevant, e.g. an interview covering music scientific or pedagogical issues, asking the student for his or her motivation to become a teacher or the student’s career development plans.

Examinations during the course of study

Changing to Bachelor and Master degrees means that examinations will be spread more equally over the total course of study. In addition to traditional forms of assessment, it may occasionally be possible to opt for other forms like portfolios, projects and tutorials followed by a feedback.

The assessment criteria are mostly set by the university lecturers. Study syllabi may give guidelines for assessment. Seminars and instrumental tuition in small groups also allow for assessment by way of mutual feedback from students. However, the exam results for certificates are managed by the lecturers. Systematic forms of self-assessment like logs and protocols are still exceptions.

Final Examinations

The overall study attainment is assessed by way of performance and exams both oral and written, in music science and music pedagogy. By the end of the teacher training course, an extensive scientific dissertation on a music theoretical or music pedagogical issue has to be submitted. This is particularly important for the “Staatsexamen” or for the Master degree. In case of the Bachelor, the exam results of the various modules, the result of the performance exam as well as (partly) the Bachelor dissertation are the basis for calculating the overall attainment.