Content and structure

During their studies, students work with different age groups in diverse educational contexts. Students are prepared for their future educational and artistic professional life in a practical way through intensive networking in their chosen fields of activity.

Course content.

The degree programme centres around the student’s own artistic development and in-depth study of the teaching of music and movement. The course builds on students’ existing musical skills, which are developed in individual singing and piano lessons, in the artistic practice of EME in group courses, whilst placing all of this in a pedagogical/artistic context. 
The pedagogical training covers basic didactic principles, leading ensembles, working with children’s voices and conducting children’s choirs, making music together, creative movement and ad hoc workshops on current topics in music education. 
Alongside the compulsory courses, ZHdK offers a broad range of elective courses, giving them the opportunity to shape their training in music education in consultation with the course leaders.

Course structure.

In addition to one instrumental and vocal subject and the corresponding ensemble subjects, students cover all typical elementary music education content, such as percussion, stage skills (and music), creative movement and dance, rhythmic coordination, collective music-making and working with children's voices. These diverse experiences are linked by a specific teaching methodology for elementary music education that is fully invested in theory and connected to practice. (For example, throughout the degree programme, students work with a variety of age groups and in a number of educational contexts. 
Regular workshops put current trends in music teaching to the test and give students, lecturers and professional teachers the chance to reflect together.

→ Module plan Elementary Music Education (PDF) 

Skills acquired in the course.

  • You are capable of planning for, carrying out, and evaluating learning situations related to music and movement that are adapted to the needs of the target groups.
  • You have professionalized your knowledge of how to work with the voice, the body and musical instruments, and can put this to a wide range of uses in the professional artistic/educational field.
  • You have a broad artistic skill set and can use it in many different teaching contexts in work with children, adolescents and adults.
  • You are capable of initiating and leading artistic processes in groups and of enhancing their quality and significance.

Admissions requirements.

Elementary Music Education recognizes a variety of backgrounds and is designed as a postgraduate qualification. Students are expected to hold a Bachelor’s degree in Education or an instrumental or vocal diploma. Applicants with degrees in social education or similar may also be considered. 

Benefits of studying at ZHdK.

  • The Master’s in Elementary Music Education is run as a part-time course.
  • Students benefit from ZHdK’s close links with their future professional field thanks to regular work-experience placements at music and primary schools.
  • You will study at the Toni Campus – a public, cultural and university campus for all artistic disciplines that is unparalleled in its dimensions anywhere in Europe and offers ideal opportunities to use media, practise and rehearse.
  • In addition to instrumental rooms, rehearsal studios are also available to students on the Elementary Music Education programme.
  • You will benefit from the opportunity to collaborate with students from other artistic disciplines. 
  • Mehrspur, ZHdK’s on-campus music club, is a space for students to showcase their skills on the stage and is a popular hub for social gatherings.