1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Continuing education
  3. MAS + EMBA
  4. Music Pedagogy in Specific Contexts
See table of contents See table of contents

Music Pedagogy in Specific Contexts

In this versatile part-time master’s programme, you can deepen and expand your professional music-teaching skills.

The programme:

  • is designed for graduate music teachers with extensive professional experience, musicians with two master’s degrees in performance (restriction on possible fields of study) and teachers without a corresponding degree but with extensive teaching experience,
  • serves to professionally expand pedagogical and didactic knowledge,
  • extends your artistic and expressive possibilities and subject-specific teaching methods,
  • explores current developments and trends in instrumental teaching,
  • enables you to analyse and reflect on your own teaching style and to apply what you have learned in your chosen area of further study to your own lessons,
  • shows you how to develop “tools” and methods for current forms of teaching, music-pedagogical projects and new lesson segments.
MAS Musikpädagogik

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Master of Advanced Studies (MAS)
  • Duration 4 to 5 years
  • Schedule The instruction days depend on the study objectives of the respective CAS
  • Application deadline Students can enter the MAS programme each time a CAS starts
  • ECTS credits 60 ECTS-Credits
  • Costs Tuition fee: CHF 20'050
    Application fee: CHF 250
    Fee for the master's thesis: CHF 1'500
  • Teaching language German
  • Location Bern Ostermundigenstrasse
    Biel
  • School Bern Academy of the Arts
  • Next session Autumn 2022

Contact

Studiengangsbroschüre

Studiengangsbroschüre MAS Musikpädagogik in spezifischen Kontexten

Contents + Structure

Portrait

This further education course helps you to enhance your professional profile, putting you in a position to serve new market segments and help shape the institution where you are employed through proactive teaching. You will learn how to plan innovative, versatile and variable music lessons that take into account the individual requirements of learners and initiate creative processes, as well as continually refining your teaching and adding fresh ideas.

Study goal

In this programme you will expand and deepen your pedagogical and didactic knowledge, your abilities to express yourself artistically, and the subject-specific teaching methods for music lessons at music schools with pupils of various ages, building on the skills you have acquired in your MA in Music Pedagogy or MA in Music Performance. You will learn how to plan innovative, versatile and variable music lessons that take into account the individual requirements of learners and initiate creative processes, as you continually refine your teaching methods and add fresh ideas. You will be in a position to follow current developments in instrumental teaching, to adapt them to your teaching activities and thus to promote the communicative musical competence of your pupils using a wide variety of methods. You will become more aware of your responsibility and personal teaching style and know your own strengths and limitations. You will be able to master the balancing act between proficiency and experimentation in a way that is appropriate to the given situation.

You will reflect on your working practice and will be able to apply what you have learned in your chosen CAS programme to your previous and concurrent teaching. You will enhance your professional profile, putting you in a position to serve new market segments and thus remain flexible in your professional identity. You will be able to carry out projects with or for children, adolescents and adults outside the classroom with a high degree of confidence and knowledge of the state of the art.

You will help shape the institution where you work through your proactive teaching and will develop a name for yourself as a teacher in your region or in professional publications.

Structure

The training is part-time and modular. It comprises 60 ECTS credits and takes 4-5 years. The study programme is made up of the following modules:

  • Compulsory module CAS in Music Pedagogy Profile
    The CAS in Music Pedagogy Profile teaches methodology and didactics at the cutting edge of music pedagogy, facilitates the deepening of artistic skills and helps music teachers to hone their personal teaching profile.
  • Individual Specialisation 1 and 2
    In the Individual Specialisation 1 and 2, you choose two CAS from HKB’s Music Pedagogy programme. The choice of the CAS is made in consultation with the MAS Head of Studies.
  • Individual Specialisation 3

    The Individual Specialisation 3 is made up of five INPUTS from the further education offerings at HKB and one CAS project or another CAS from the offerings of HKB including a CAS project.
  • Master’s thesis module
    Introduction to the master’s thesis, writing the paper, mentorship, public presentation

Master’s thesis

After the successful completion of the CAS in Music Pedagogy Profile and the Individual Specialisations 1–3, you will write a master’s thesis. The topic of the master’s thesis must be closely related to the learning content of the MAS in Music Pedagogy in Specific Contexts and must be approved by the MAS Head of Studies. The total time required for the master’s thesis is approximately 360 hours, including introduction to the master’s thesis, concept development, literature studies, evaluations, mentoring, writing the thesis, preparation and presentation.
Lecturers from the MAS in Music Pedagogy in Specific Contexts or from HKB are available as mentors. If necessary, experts from the occupational field can be called in.

The methodology and didactics used in the MAS Music Pedagogy in Specific Contexts are aligned with the principles of current university and further education teaching. The face-to-face lessons are designed to permit students a high degree of involvement so that you can contribute your own knowledge and experience. A balance is maintained between professional input and practical work. The development of new ideas and solutions is promoted through methodological diversity, discussions and critical observations.

In modules 1–3, proof of competence is aligned with the specifications of the respective CAS. The final proof of competence is the preparation and presentation of a master’s thesis that earns a grade of “satisfactory” or higher.

Assessment + Quality control

The Head of Studies offers extensive learning support and tries to ensure a uniform approach to teaching, course design and practical relevance. Each CAS is evaluated by the Head of Studies and the students. The students’ concerns are acknowledged as concrete suggestions for the constant optimisation of the MAS. The final assignments are graded according to transparent assessment criteria.

Title + Degree

Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in «Music Pedagogy in Specific Contexts»

The Verband Bernischer Musikschulen (Association of Bern Music Schools) and other cantonal associations recognise the MAS in Music Pedagogy in Specific Contexts as a salary-relevant postgraduate qualification for teaching at music schools.

Lecturers

Head of Studies

Andrea Ferretti: music manager, flutist, music educator, research in instrumental teaching, head of further education in music pedagogy at HKB, coordination of music teaching research at HKB

Other CAS directors

Andreas Cincera: school practice consultant and ISSVS supervisor; lecturer at music universities in Bern, Lugano, Zurich and GIG Würzburg; music teacher at all educational levels; head of the Institute for Music & Pedagogy IMP; teaching and intervention research

Christoph Brunner: percussionist, instrumental teacher at the École de musique Jura Bernois, lecturer at Kaleidos University of Applied Sciences, Commissioner for Equal Opportunity and Inclusion at HKB

Lecturers

The lecturer team comprises specialists from Bern University of the Arts, Bern University of Applied Sciences as well as proven experts from musical practice. All of them have professional and academic qualifications, strong didactic and social skills, and experience in teaching adults.

Eligibility + Admission

Graduate music teachers with extensive professional experience; musicians with two master’s degrees in performance (restriction on possible fields of study) who wish to formally acquire a solid education in music teaching; teachers without an adequate degree but with extensive teaching experience and certified competence who wish to attain a subsequent, salary-relevant qualification.

Entry requirements

Persons with an MA in Music Pedagogy from a music university or other equivalent educational background with at least two years of teaching experience are eligible for admission. Also eligible are persons with two master’s degrees in Music Performance who wish to attain a music-teaching qualification through further education.

Exceptions

Candidates who have not completed a degree in instrumental teaching may be admitted based on special aptitude and several years of teaching experience. The prerequisites for this are:

  • at least eight years of experience in the occupational field
  • employment in the field of music pedagogy
  • letter of recommendation from the music school where they are employed

Application documents

The aptitude assessment consists of an interview with the Head of Studies regarding the candidate’s motivation and objectives with reference to the MAS. The applicant must also submit a CV, a copy of the relevant degree certificate (incl. matriculation number for university degrees) as well as a letter of motivation. The Head of Studies makes the final decision on admission based on the application documents and a personal interview.

Practicalities + Application

The MAS in Music Pedagogy in Specific Contexts is organised into various modules. Training takes place on a part-time basis, comprises 60 ECTS credits and takes 4–5 years. In order to attain the MAS, four CAS courses must be successfully completed. Students can choose from the following courses:

  • CAS in Musical Talent Promotion
  • CAS in Special Needs in Music Teaching
  • CAS in Music and Movement (bilingual study programme D/F)
  • CAS in Early Instrumental Lessons
  • CAS in Collective Forms of Music-making
  • CAS in Communication and Individual Process Support
  • CAS in Musical Learning at All Ages
  • CAS in Music Pedagogy Profile
  • CAS in School Practice Consulting

French courses of study

  • CAS Enseignement instrumental pour les petits
  • CAS Enseignement musical et besoins particuliers
  • CAS Profil pédagogique musical

Further CAS courses offered by HKB and other universities can be credited to the MAS in consultation with the Head of Studies.

The instruction days depend on the study dates for the respective CAS.

Students can enter the MAS programme each time a CAS begins.

Tuition fee: CHF 20'050 (CHF 5'200 for the first CAS, CHF 4'950 for each additional CAS)
One-time Application fee: CHF 250
Fee for the master's thesis: CHF 1'500

The fees are tax deductible.

The Continuing Education Regulations of Bern University of Applied Sciences, as well as the Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations apply. The right to make changes is reserved. In case of doubt, the wording of the legal provisions and regulations shall prevail.

Information

Student advisory service

Head of Studies: Andrea Ferretti 
Telephone +41 31 848 39 57

Secretarial Office
Telephone +41 31 848 38 15

Location