Background / Organisation

The training of music teachers for ordinary school types in Poland is organised as follows:
Preschool Teachers for Kindergartens

The same training is offered at both the teacher training colleges (“akademia pedagogiczna”) and the universities. The course of study (teacher training for preschool and primary school – “edukacja wczesnoszkolna z przedszkolną”) lasts five years (three years Bachelor + two years Master) and teaches chiefly music methodology.

In Polish kindergartens the subject of “rhythmics”, based on the ideas of Dalcroze and taught by an external specialist music teacher, is offered. These music teachers teach at several kindergartens.

Music Teachers for Grades 1-3 of Primary School (Ages 6-9)

The general education system in Poland is divided into four stages: three stages of compulsory schooling, each lasting three years, and four years of upper school:

·         Years 1-3: system of integrated instruction – “nauczanie zintegrowane”;

·         Years 4-6: three years of primary school – “szkola podstawowa”;

·         Years 7-9: secondary school I (lower school) – “gimnazjum”;

·         Years 10-13: four years of secondary school II (upper school), called grades 1-4 of “liceum”.

The training of primary school teachers, i.e. for years 1 to 3, takes place at university and consists of a three-year Bachelor’s and two-year Master’s degree course as teacher training for preschools and primary schools. Because primary education in Poland is not divided into separate subjects but provides general education covering all subjects with music as an integral part of particular topics, the class teacher is responsible for all subjects. This system of “integrated instruction” places high demands on teacher training. Music and the methodology of music are compulsory in this course of study, with emphasis on the following topics:

 

Secondary Education I (Lower School)

Music teachers for these schools are trained at three types of higher education institution: at all three the course is divided into a three-year Bachelor’s and a two-year Master’s degree course. This course of study covers music only; students do not need to take another subject.

·         at the music academies (“akademia muzyczna”): (see list of higher education institutions): teacher training for music education (“edukacja artystyczna w zakresie sztuki muzycznej”) and teacher training for choir and ensemble conducting;

·         at the universities: teacher training for music education (“edukacja artystyczna w zakresie sztuki muzycznej”);

·         at the teacher training colleges (“akademia pedagogiczna”): teacher training for music education (“edukacja artystyczna w zakresie sztuki muzycznej”).
Number of Students per Year

In Poland, approximately 2,000 students begin a teacher training course at one of 19 higher education institutions each year. Of these, 665 begin a Bachelor's and around 380 a Master's. 60% of the institutions offer correspondence courses. The number of students who begin a combined Bachelor's and Master's is around 690 each year. A further 180 students per year begin a Master’s course for post-graduates.

Curriculum

Teacher Training for Music Education (Bachelor) – “edukacja artystyczna w zakresie sztuki muzycznej”

Under the new ruling on education standards introduced by the ministry for schools and in force since September 2007, teacher training in Poland, including music teacher training, is organised as follows: Bachelor’s degree course with 180 ECTS credits and 1,800 hours. Trainee teachers should acquire skills in three areas:

·         general knowledge (philosophy, sociology, languages, information technology);

·         knowledge of educational theory and psychology (educational theory and music education, psychology and psychology of music, methodology of music, organisation and practice of ensemble work);

·         Music theory and subjects covering the practice of music are divided into two groups: 1) Basic subjects: 48 ECTS credits, 360 hours and 2) Main subjects: 32 ECTS credits, 240 hours.

These areas of study are compulsory and account for 80 ECTS credits and 600 hours. The remaining 100 ECTS credits and 1,200 hours should be allocated to the general subjects and those dealing with educational theory and psychology as well as the other music subjects. Which additional music subjects are taught depends on the teaching staff available to the individual institute. Subjects covered by the teacher training course for music education, Bachelor’s degree (at least 80 ECTS credits):

Following the directive issued by the Ministry of Education and Sport on 07/09/2007, practical training for trainee teachers is organised as follows:

*70 hours in grades 1 – 6 of a primary school

**30 hours in grades 1 - 3 of a secondary school (= school years 8 - 10)

*** 80 hours in the lower level of music schools plus extracurricular ensembles at cultural institutions – in this case, training consists chiefly of musical activity.

Fig.: Practical training up to and including the 2^nd semester

Fig.: Practical training up to and including the 3^rd semester

Fig.: Practical training up to and including the 4^th semester

 
Teacher Training for Music Education (Master) – “edukacja artystyczna w zakresie sztuki muzycznej”

The Master’s degree course comprises 120 ECTS credits and 800 hours. Subjects covered by the teacher training course for music education, Master’s degree (at least 32 ECTS credits):

These areas of study are compulsory and account for 32 ECTS credits and 240 hours. The institutions organise the remaining 88 ECTS credits and 560 hours as a special course (depending on the teaching staff available to the individual music institute). Choral singing plays a significant role at almost all higher education institutions. The total number of hours that make up the Bachelor and Master courses (2,000) includes 100 for self-study. Students are obliged to attain 30 ECTS credits each semester.

Learning and Teaching Approaches

The approaches are those traditionally used at universities: lectures, seminars, exercises. A lesson lasts 45 minutes. At the music academies, instrument lessons, voice training and choir conducting are offered as private tuition, and in groups of two at the universities. Pupil-oriented music-making and teaching of school instruments (Orff instruments) are taught in groups.

Assessment / Examination

Current and Future Challenges

·         The number of hours and ECTS credits that go to make up a music teacher training course in Poland is prescribed for the whole country, as are the compulsory subjects to be studied. For a Bachelor's degree, it is 600 hours and 80 ECTS credits, for a Master's 240 hours and 32 ECTS credits. It is up to the institutes of higher education themselves to decide what subjects to devote the remaining hours to, and this will depend on the specialist fields covered by their teaching staff. For a Bachelor's these amount to 1,200 hours and 100 ECTS credits, for a Master's 560 hours and 88 ECTS credits.

·         The course of study also includes 360 hours that should be allocated to subjects relating to educational theory and psychology. The problem here is that the institutions are not obliged to offer these subjects. It is consequently up to the students to choose how and where they acquire this knowledge.

There is a huge discrepancy between the large number of graduates and the relatively small amount of music lessons in the curriculum of schools providing all-round education.