Classroom music is taught in lower secondary school (pupils aged 11-14) and in upper secondary school only in psycho-pedagogical lyceums (for pupils aged 14-19). Instrumental music is also taught in lower secondary schools and in conservatories of music.

Music teacher training for teaching in these schools takes place in universities, in “schools of specialisation for the education of secondary teachers” (SSIS) as a two year course. Training also takes place in conservatories that offer four year music education courses for both general music and instrumental teachers.

Before 2007, music teachers needed a teaching degree in order to qualify as general music teachers for lower and upper secondary schools, while instrumental music teachers only needed a degree in performance. From September 2007 all teachers of music are required to complete a second level degree (Master) in order to obtain qualified teacher status to teach in lower and upper secondary school. Since 2007/2008 the number of students entering music teacher training programmes in universities depends on the available places in each of 20 districts; and in each conservatory the maximum number of students per year is 35. Within the two year teacher training programme in universities, students have about 1000 hours of training which includes university based courses and teaching practice in schools; and teacher training courses in conservatories have about 1200 hours. Students obtain 120 ECTS credits for the qualification.

Programmes aim to balance theoretical and practical training. The teaching skills are developed through:

• observation of experienced teachers' work during training;
• analysis and reflection upon teaching methods;
• experimentation with teaching methods, and
• consolidation of one's own practice.

Technology is used to organise lessons and as a teaching tool. Specific software programs are used for writing, composing and playing music.

The educational qualification required for entering the Music teacher training programme is a Diploma or a Bachelor’s degree achieved in a conservatory of music plus a diploma achieved in upper secondary school. A musicology degree is also accepted. Entrance exams have to be passed, according to the type of programme; for general music teacher training candidates need to pass written and oral exams, whilst for an instrumental teacher training programme, candidates need to pass musical performance and oral exams. Their acceptance is based on previous qualifications, the entrance exams and on teaching experience and their curriculum vitae.

In terms of assessment, the students have to pass an exam at the end of each course. Exams may be written or oral and for instrumental teachers they might involve musical performance. The criteria set for assessing teaching ability are set by a board made up of all the teachers involved in the programme: the supervisor for the school training (usually a teacher at a music oriented middle school), the tutor and the course coordinator. The board of examiners for each course is made up of the teacher of the course, another teacher and the director of the institution. In the final examination the board of examiners consists of two teachers, the director, the supervisor and a representative from the Ministry of Education. A teacher becomes fully qualified after passing the final exam of the programme. However, in order to be employed by the Ministry of Education and to teach in public schools, each teacher is assessed by a special board at the end of their first year of teaching in school. The university and college do not provide any further in-service training for teachers.

The final thesis in which all music teachers are assessed is based on their teaching practice; the final examination also involves the formulation of a teaching project for music teachers or performance on one’s own instrument, and conducting an ensemble for instrumental music teachers.

Although recent reform has specified that all programmes should, at first, be level (Bachelor) and second level (Master), university staff is not responsible for research and development into new teaching methods and approaches. However, within the Music teacher training course, students and teachers can apply for an Erasmus (or a Leonardo) grant and complete a teaching period for teachers or a study/training period for students.

Appendix

Table 2: Specific courses at the University and the Conservatory