Music Education in School

All learners have music as a subject in the compulsory school system every school year from 6 until 16. Kindergarten is not compulsory but it does provide music training. In primary school (years 1-7) at least 285 hours (60 minutes units) should be taught and for lower secondary school (years 8-10) 85 hours. The municipalities fund primary and lower secondary education and have a great deal of freedom when it comes to organising the education. For example they are allowed to decide not to have music all of the years but to make a free distribution of hours between the years.

The organisation and the content of music as a compulsory subject is the result of a major national curriculum reform project starting in the mid-1990s. The objectives and the areas of study within the music curriculum are organized around forms of activity: making music, dancing, composing and listening, and modes of cognition: experiencing and understanding. There is no clear dividing line between the forms of activity and the modes of cognition; they interlock and supplement and support one another.

Approximately 20% of the learners between ages 6 and 16 have instrumental and vocal training in music and culture schools, for the most part outside school hours, but also as an integrated and added elective of a normal school day. Music or culture schools are compulsory by law in every municipality. From ages 16-19 young learners can choose music as an important elective within the upper secondary school system. The number of upper secondary schools providing this option has been rising in all regions during the nineties.

At the tertiary level learners can study music as part of teacher education, as preparation for a performing career, as a scientific study programme, and a number of other ways.