Ideal opportunities for a future career

In recent years the University of the Arts has fundamentally redesigned all its degree courses, steadily enhanced and adapted them to the current demands faced by musicians in order to offer students a wealth of inspiration and ideal opportunities for their future careers - be it in permanent employment or as independent artists.

This process is currently continuing in the development of the future Bachelor and Master degree courses to be introduced from the winter semester 2010/11. With the exception of the Concert Examination, all degree courses are offered as basic or postgraduate courses and lead to a Diplom.

Artistic Training

Instrumental Main Subject

The large symphonic repertoire is developed in regular projects with the university orchestra, directed by high-class guest conductors. The chamber orchestra, baroque orchestra, the ensemble Contemporary Music Atelier and various chamber music groups additionally offer a wide range of opportunities for intensive ensemble and chamber music work. From orchestra studies through occupational studies to the compulsory subject of piano accompaniment/coaching for pianists, the University of the Arts Bremen offers an abundance of courses specifically preparing students for their later careers.

Well-known specialists in the fields of historically informed performance and contemporary music additionally supplement and extend artistic work on the classical/romantic repertoire at the University of the Arts Bremen. Classroom and studio concerts as well as numerous performance opportunities, some outside the university, provide extensive stage experience, including solo recitals, from the very start.

Vocal Studies

The broadly designed main subject training for all repertoire areas (Lieder, concert, opera, oratorio) is accompanied by stage-related subjects (physical training, basic acting training, stage technique). A speciality are regular opera projects carried out together with the Faculty of Art and Design (backdrops, costumes) and in co-operation with e.g. the Theater Bremen or the Shakespeare Company, which enrich the Bremen concert scene with exciting and extraordinary interdisciplinary productions.

Early Music, Instrumental Main Subject and Vocal Studies

A particular speciality of the University of the Arts are the degree courses in Early Music, which in this form are unique in Germany. In addition to solo training, we place particular emphasis on ensemble practice, from consorts and madrigals to Bach cantatas. In semester introductory and project weeks, but also in regular teaching, our aim is to highlight the musical and cultural historical context of the repertoire of the 16th - 18th centuries. Symposia held by the Academy of Early Music underline the scientific aspects of our training.

Composition

With our nationally and internationally networked Contemporary Music Atelier, our excellently equipped electronic studio, and renowned contemporary music performers in instrumental training, the University of the Arts offers a diverse and stimulating environment in which future composers can develop their artistic profile. In addition, the University of the Arts facilitates the discovery of interfaces to other art forms, for example in the fields of video and installation, through collaboration with the Faculty of Art and Design.

Concert Examination

Students aiming for a solo career in the concert hall or on stage who have already completed a degree course in artistic training with an excellent degree can perfect their abilities here. Of course only a very small number of places are available; the requirements are very high.

Music Teaching

Training future instrumental and vocal teachers traditionally forms an important part of the profile of the University of the Arts, be it as a basic degree course or as a postgraduate course for those who have already completed an artistic degree and wish to acquire further qualifications. The courses we offer combine highly qualified artistic training with broadly designed and very practice-oriented educational training. Particularly our co-operation with the Bremen School of Music, the development of a music kindergarten and numerous projects with Bremen schools ensure an ongoing connection to later working life in the shape of observation visits and supported teaching practicals. Differentiated project work and regular compact seminars on current topics held by renowned guest speakers help expand students' artistic, pedagogic and scientific horizons.

Instrumental/Vocal Teaching

The broad scope of the degree course, along with its extensive practical component throughout the course in the form of observation visits, teaching practicals and demonstration lessons in a wide range of teaching situations, allows the University of the Arts to offer a very comprehensive course of study. Differentiated specialist techniques for diverse working areas, a solid scientific and theoretical basis, and of course highly qualified artistic training provide our graduates with the ideal skills to meet the challenges of a professional field that has changed and expanded significantly in recent years.

Jazz

In addition to comprehensive artistic training with a wide range of ensemble and big band work, with composition/arrangement etc., the instrumental teaching qualification and jazz methodology constitute important aspects of the degree course. The range of courses is regularly extended by master classes with internationally renowned lecturers. The university's jazz club offers a lively forum and enriches the musical life of the University of the Arts, in the scene and in our city.

Elementary Music Teaching

The discipline Elementary Music Teaching can be studied in Bremen as an eight-semester degree course with two main subjects (Elementary Music Teaching in combination with Instrumental or Vocal Teaching) or as a four-semester postgraduate course following a completed degree in Music Teaching, artistic training or Church Music. In addition to the close linking of EMT and early instrumental teaching, particular emphasis is placed on artistic educational work with almost all age groups. Teaching demonstrations and teaching experiments take place weekly throughout the entire course with several practical groups, from parent-baby groups through standard early music teaching to making music with senior citizens. A music kindergarten with an artistic profile, in connection with a centre for early cultural education focused on music teaching and musicology, is currently under development.

Music Theory/Aural Training

As a supplementary degree course, this course is aimed at those who wish to participate as university lecturers in training young music professionals in fields such as music theory, aural training or analysis. In an open class system our students benefit from various teachers who complement each other in the main subjects, thus providing a highly comprehensive education that is equally well-founded artistically, historically and scientifically and allows them to gain supported teaching experience at the university from the outset.

Church Music

The diverse aspects of church music practice, from community work, children's and wind choirs to professional concert performances, are reflected in our training concept for the Church Music B and A degree courses. Bremen as place of study is distinguished by a unique range of historical organs from gothic to modern-day. Due to the principle of open organ classes, where each student can choose a specialised lecturer for his or her respective repertoire and instrument, our training offers stylistically highly differentiated access to the entire organ repertoire on the appropriate instruments. By collaborating with our Early Music department we additionally offer valuable insights into continuo practice and historically informed performance. Further emphasis is placed on a broad range of choir and ensemble work incorporating diverse aspects of later professional activity, such as children's choirs, orchestra management or jazz ensembles.

Teaching Qualifications in Music

Students interested in studying for a teaching qualification in Bremen can contact the University of Bremen, which offers all degree courses for music teacher training at all school levels. In this context, you will study your artistic main subject and all practical and theoretical music modules at the University of the Arts; the associated instruction also takes place on our premises, which are ideally equipped for professional music training.

Youth Courses

Those still in school but interested in studying music and curious to experience a university atmosphere early on may - if suitably talented - already receive training from our highly qualified lecturers and at the same time prepare for the entrance audition. Our programme comprises individual training in the main subject, special theory and aural training courses (which can be credited towards a regular music degree course if successfully completed), chamber music offerings and a dedicated concert series "Young Talent Podium".

Lecturers

Full-time Lecturers at the Faculty of Music

Students at the University of the Arts Bremen enjoy outstanding musical training thanks especially to the high quality of our teaching staff. The following full-time lecturers teach at the Faculty of Music:

• Prof. Stefan Adelmann: Double bass
• Prof. Thomas Albert: Baroque violin, baroque orchestra
• Prof. Alexander Baillie: Violoncello, chamber music
• Prof. Detlev Beier: Jazz bass
• Claudia Birkholz: Piano
• Prof. Detlef Bratschke: Historically informed performance of early music, coaching
• Prof. Martin Classen: Jazz saxophone
• Prof. Dr. Manfred Cordes: Theory and counterpoint, ensemble, early music
• Prof. Dr. Hans Davidsson: Organ
• Prof. Dr. Andreas Doerne: Music and instrumental education
• Prof. Klaus Eichhorn: Organ, basso continuo
• Prof. Hans-Ola Ericsson: Organ
• Prof. Andreas Gürsching: Music theory
• Prof. Dr. Greta Haenen: Musicology, early music
• Günther Herzfeld: Coaching / piano accompaniment
• Prof. Christian Hommel: Oboe
• Prof. Gregor Horres: Stage technique
• Prof. Harry v. d. Kamp: Vocal studies
• Prof. Thomas Klug: Violin, chamber music
• Prof. Erwin Koch-Raphael: Music theory, composition (teaching)
• Prof. Maria Kowollik: Vocal studies
• Andreas Lieberg: Guitar
• Prof. Carsten Lohff: Historical keyboard instruments
• Prof. Thomas Mohr: Vocal studies
• Prof. Angelika Moths: Theory of early music
• Prof. Dr. Hubert Moßburger: Music theory
• Prof. Patrick O' Byrne: Piano
• Prof. Younghi Pagh-Paan: Composition
• Prof. Hille Perl: Viola da gamba
• Prof. Florian Poser: Popular music, jazz
• Prof. Marten Root: Flauto traverso, ensemble
• Prof. Katrin Scholz: Violin
• Prof. Gabriele Schreckenbach: Vocal studies
• Prof. Kilian Schwoon: Electronical composition
• Prof. Kurt Seibert: Piano, chamber music
• Liga Skride: Coaching / piano accompaniment
• Ulrich Sprenger: Coaching / piano accompaniment
• Prof. Harrie Starreveld: Flute
• Prof. Dr. Barbara Stiller: Elementary music education
• Prof. Esther van Stralen: Viola
• Prof. Stephen Stubbs: Lute, ensemble
• Ellen Stützle-Jung: Piano
• Prof. Marco Thomas: Clarinet
• Prof. Oleksiy Tkachuk: Bassoon
• Prof. Han Tol: Recorder, ensemble
• Prof. Olaf Tzschoppe: Percussion
• Prof. Friederike Woebcken: Choral conducting / university choirs
• Gerd Wolter: Piano
• Prof. Dr. Michael Zywietz: Musicology