CAS Church Music PracticeCAS Church Music Practice

Instrumental musicians (organ/piano) and choral conductors from a secular background who then take up a church musician’s position often find that they lack the necessary specific knowledge of church musical traditions and the requirements for preparing church services and working with the parish congregation. Such gaps in their knowledge are also having an increasing impact in monetary terms. The “CAS Church Music Practice” is designed as a compact course that covers the requirements for working as a musician in a church parish. 

This continuing education programme focuses on: Liturgy, hymnology, liturgical singing in German and Latin, church services, leading congregational singing, Old Testament, New Testament, history of church music, organ making studies and vocational studies for church musicians.

→ This degree programme is taught exclusively in German.

The “CAS Church Music Practice” runs for two semesters and consists of classroom teaching and individual self-study. It comprises 15 ECTS credits.

Students are responsible for their own studies during the academic year.
Absences must be agreed with the lecturers in good time.

Individual modules
If individual modules are chosen, these take place according to the timetable (see ‘Content and structure’). ECTS credits are awarded according to the scope of the module.

On successfully completing the “CAS Church Music Practice” programme, students are awarded a ZHdK certificate. The certificate confirms that the holder participated in the CAS, and describes the subjects and courses attended. 
To obtain the qualification, the student must pass the examinations in the sub-specializations of liturgy, hymnology, German and Latin liturgical singling, church services, leading congregational singing, Old Testament, New Testament, history of church music, organ making studies and vocational studies to a satisfactory level across all subjects. Students do not receive a mark.

This “CAS Church Music Practice” is aimed at qualified musicians.
The requirements for admission to the programme are as follows:
—  Successful completion of a university degree in music or an equivalent qualification 
—  Previous professional experience
—  Positive outcome to the admission interview/assessment.

Special admission (“sur dossier”) is also possible in justified cases. The Head of Programme and the Head of Continuing Education Music decide on admission. 

The tuition fee is CHF 6700.- per academic year, plus CHF 200 application fee.

Further information on the degree programme and the application procedure is available on the German website.

Head of programme

Head of Continuing Education in Music