Course content and structure

Course content.

The diverse skills that make a good choir conductor are a major part of the Bachelor degree programme. This includes comprehensive knowledge of global and sacred music choir literature, tuition in conducting, voice, piano and sight reading, an ability to think about music analytically, training in creative drive, fostering a cooperative atmosphere and many opportunities to gain experience with ensembles of your own accord. Further modules place your own music-making in a historical, theoretical, scientific and social context. The course is extended in a specialized vocational Master’s programme.

Course structure.

Core
The module area combines the tuition in choral conducting. The choral conducting tuition takes place on an individual basis and in weekly group sessions in the choral studio. Tuition in the methodology and didactics of choral conducting as well as a broad education in practical vocational piano-playing and in dealing with your own singing voice supplement the conducting practice. The study progress is assessed within the scope of public performances.

Context
The theoretical music subjects further your understanding of the historical, analytical and scientific aspects of music. They are also relevant for research work, a joint language of discourse, systematic self-reflection, and help you to better understand your own music-making in the context of history and culture.

Experience
Participation in choral projects with a liturgical and concert focus and group improvization will broaden your perspectives. On top of this, you acquire a broad knowledge of the repertoire, supplemented with study days, study trips and internships. Optional subjects enable you to consolidate your specific interests.

Graduation project and examinations
You sit major subject and theoretical core subject examinations. You plan and implement your Bachelor project independently. You have plenty of scope for creativity in the form of an artistic presentation and a related written paper. This work is supported with colloquia and individual mentoring sessions.
 

Module plan:

Skills acquired in the course.

  • Play a representative choral repertoire from different style areas stemming from the Renaissance to the Modern era, expertly and with knowledge of historically-based performance practice, and also bearing in mind the specific methodological-didactic needs of different vocal formations and their rehearsal work.
  • Work sensitively with your own singing voice and employ your knowledge gained in the Voice area responsibly for choral voice training.
  • Thanks to broad training in practical vocational piano-playing (sight-reading, reading old keys, popular music), you are able to apply this knowledge confidently in your work.
  • Independent, critical reflection on music.
  • Expertly apply the fundamentals of music history as well as comprehensive knowledge of theoretical musical concepts, terminologies and methods.
  • Develop artistic concepts independently, elaborate on them precisely and implement them publicly.
  • Deal with various performance situations under different production conditions with ease.
  • Design programmes for a variety of event formats independently and implement them in an original manner.
  • Apply comprehensive knowledge of practice, memorization, rehearsal and working techniques in a targeted manner when dealing with musical material.
  • Basic knowledge of conceptual project work and music-related research methods in transfer.
  • Continually promote and critically question your own artistic development, thanks to your capacity for differentiated self-perception and reflection.
  • Take the initiative in social situations and adjust your communication and presentation skills to suit your audience.
  • Act flexibly in a heterogeneous, multicultural environment.

Admissions requirements.

Participants are expected to have advanced knowledge of choral conducting, voice and the piano, demonstrate personal commitment and want to make music their profession. Further requirements:

  • General artistic talent and creativity
  • Good basic knowledge of music theory
  • Ability to listen analytically
  • Mental resilience and physiological aptitude
  • Independence and personal responsibility

Detailed information on the entry requirements and admission procedure is available here.

Benefits of studying at ZHdK.

Studying at ZHdK offers a wealth of unique benefits:

  • You have access to the Toni Campus: a public, cultural and university campus for all artistic disciplines that is unparalleled in its dimensions anywhere in Europe.
  • You benefit from possible collaboration with students from other artistic disciplines.
  • You have the opportunity to undertake exchange semesters and many possibilities to explore other cultures thanks to ZHdK Music’s extensive international network.
  • The self-designed graduation projects motivate you to organize your work independently.
  • You gain extensive practical experience and have many opportunities to perform thanks to the diverse relationships with the regional cultural scene and its event organizations.