Study Guide

Description

The Music (AMK) degree program leads to a professional higher education qualification in the cultural field, with the degree title of Musician (Bachelor of Arts). The program consists of 240 ECTS credits and has a duration of 4 years.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The work of a musician can have a diverse range of roles, including musician, choir or orchestra conductor, composer, artist-entrepreneur, and other roles of expertise in the field of music. Musicians can find employment opportunities in various settings, such as orchestras, choirs, bands, military bands, theatres, solo performances, and freelance work.


CURRICULUM AND COMPETENCE

The Music degree program with a focus on performance and creative music, is divided into four specializations:

Instrumental of Voice Performance
Choir Conducting
Orchestra Conducting
Composition

Students choose their specialization at the beginning of their education.

The core of the Musician program lies in high-level musical expertise aligned with the chosen specialization. These areas of expertise include instrumental proficiency, ensemble playing, composition, choir and orchestra conducting (for symphony orchestras, wind orchestras, and theater productions), as well as music theory and history. Applied research and development skills, along with practical work skills for musicians (such as communication, interaction, well-being, entrepreneurship, and career planning), are integral to the program’s objectives.

This specialization allows students to focus on a specific musical area. In the field of music, substantial subject-specific expertise is a strong prerequisite for successful placement

Curriculum

Basic Studies and Professional Studies: 137 ECTS credits
Internship: 30 ECTS credits
Optional Professional Studies: 43 ECTS credits
Freely Selectable Courses: 15 ECTS credits
Bachelor's Thesis: 15 ECTS credits
Total: 240 ECTS credits

Optional studies

The Music degree program includes optional professional studies and courses of free option, which can be supplemented with advanced music-related studies or studies from other fields within TAMK’s other degree programs or other universities. This allows students to expand and specialize their expertise according to their orientation.

Students also have the opportunity to incorporate studies or internships completed during international student exchanges into their degree. International student exchanges are possible during the second or third year of study. Incoming exchange students have flexible options to study instrumental performance, ensemble playing, and other music-related courses.

IMPLEMENTATION

In the music degree program, there is an emphasis on practical learning based on theoretical knowledge. Learning methods follow international practices in higher education within the field. Some courses are conducted through individual instruction. A significant portion of studies takes place in group settings, or participation in musical ensembles—ranging from symphony orchestras to choirs. Many music courses primarily require in-person teaching. However, for certain theoretical courses, remote learning and online self-study are also possible. Video connections (LowLatency) enable remote teaching for playing instruments and singing, especially in special situations like international master classes or intercollegiate exchange programs.

Learning the skills needed in working as a music professional requires long-term teaching with sufficient time for practise. These studies (instrumental proficiency, ensemble playing, choral conducting, orchestral conducting, composition, and pedagogical competence) form threads that span several years. Some courses also conducted in periodic sessions. Theoretical knowledge is closely tied to practical learning through reflection during the course of studies.

An essential aspect of education is independent practice in playing instruments and singing within the college premises.

Participation in productions, projects, and internships conducted in collaboration with professional partners is a central part of the learning process. A 30-credit internship is carried out through projects throughout the studies.

ANNUAL THEMES
First Year of Study: Basic competence and orientation to professional studies.
Second Year of Study: Building the foundation of professional expertise.
Third Year of Study: Profiling and deepening of expertise.
Fourth Year of Study: Strengthening professional identity (professional identity) and understanding investigative and developmental approaches to work.
Regarding the shared competencies for higher education degrees, integrated into the music degree program, they are emphasized as follows within the program’s yearly themes:

Learning to Learn: Covered throughout the 1st to 4th years of study.
Ethics: Addressed from the 1st to 4th years of study.
Sustainable Development: Incorporated across the 1st to 4th years of study.
Internationalization and Multiculturalism: Focused on during the 1st to 3rd years of study.
Professional Engagement: Relevant during the 3rd to 4th years of study.
Anticipatory Development: Considered during the 3rd to 4th years of study.

Curriculum development and working life cooperation

The curriculum adheres to the European and national framework for higher education qualifications (NQF and EQF, level 6).

Tampere University of Applied Sciences’ music education program has extensive networking with cultural industry professionals and educators, and collaborates closely with other higher education institutions. Work-life collaboration is realized through joint music-making, production activities, projects, practical internships in professional settings, artistic and pedagogical activities of teachers, publications, and the pedagogical network of music education.

The curriculum has been developed with input from advisory councils, representatives from the professional field, and students.

Further information

The curriculum has been approved by the University Council of Tampere University of Applied Sciences on xx.xx.2024.