Study Guide

Descriptions

STUDY OBJECTIVES
Our aim is to prepare students for different types of jobs in the field of music, and provide for self-motivated and cooperatively skilled individuals with an appreciation for a variety of the arts and those who might become personal vocal and instrument teachers or music theory teachers. These studies also provide the foundations for a variety music careers, such as orchestra musicians, accompanists, choir singers or soloists.

STRUCTURE
Studies in musical expression form the majority of the degree and cover the entire period of studies. These include courses in one’s main instrument, as well as in other instrumental and vocal ensembles.
Pedagogic studies (60 ECTS) include instrumental pedagogics and musical theory pedagogics, which last through the entirety of the degree program. These studies further include didactic studies and guided teaching training, in which the students apply the knowledge gained in their studies. General pedagogic training begins in the third year of studies and provides the students with broad perspectives on pedagogic issues. In these pedagogic studies, the student will complete a teaching demonstration at the end of the 2nd and 4th years, as well as complete a thesis during the final study year

Basic studies include, among other courses, general and language studies. Compulsory studies of music as a form of language are scheduled during the first 2 study years, and other courses during the final stage of studies. If a student is exempted for the compulsory language studies because not being either Finnish- or Swedish-speaking, their compulsory language studies are 9 ECTS Finnish language courses, 3 ECTS English course.

Traineeship (30 ECTS) includes guided teacher training, as well as work in various music pedagogy and musician tasks.
In elective studies (30 ECTS), the student may choose from their desired study content, which will aid in their professional development.

CONTENT
Major studies are at the core of studying music. Weekly courses in playing an instrument or singing, independent study and regular, evaluated performances, aid the student in developing their instrumental skills and deepening their interpretive perspectives. Various collaborative instrumental and vocal courses (for example, chamber music, orchestras, lied, ensemble singing, opera) continue under the direction of major studies through the entire study period. Musical expression studies go hand-in-hand with music pedagogy studies. The goal of pedagogic studies is to prepare graduates to work as instrumental or vocal teachers or as music theory teachers. The foundations of teaching are based on one’s own relationship with music, playing skills, personability and one’s understanding of broader pedagogic issues.
Major studies are focused on performing Western art music with the necessary, acquired skills and the further self-development through these acquired skills. To this end, other studies are deferred so that students will have as much time as they need to work on their skills on a daily basis. Regular, weekly, progressive study, in addition to a portion of studies undertaken in different productions are intensively focused a certain periods of time. The goal of these productions is to develop work habits that are professional and uncompromising, in addition to knowledge of different music styles, which are required to take into account in order to produce a high-end, finished product. We also present contemporary music performances in close cooperation with both domestic and international composers. Further, the Arts Academy’s multi-art environment also gives students unique opportunities to take part in various collaborative productions.
A significant addition to studies are the number of performance events in which students may take part. During the term of studies a student has opportunities for solo performances in the Turku Music Academy’s own orchestra or in the annual Young Soloists Concertorganised in collaboration with Turku philharmonic orchestra.

CHOOSING A MAIN SUBJECT OR FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION, QUALIFICATIONS
Vocational music education is often preceded by several years of basic music studies and has also often been obtained from second level studies. Choosing a main instrument skills is usually done several years before even starting higher education studies. Choosing between being a vocal or instrumental instructor or a music theory teacher is done before the final phase of the application process
A music pedagogue degree provides the student with eligibility to work as, and to fill positions as, a vocals/instrumental teacher or musical theory teacher. These studies include 60 ECTS pedagogic credits and grant graduates general teaching qualifications.

THESIS
The thesis is a demonstration of the student’s skill and professional development, as well as their professional skills at the conclusion of studies. The thesis is an individual project, for which the student is responsible, which works as a bridge between studies and working life.
The final thesis is composed of the following parts:
• main instrument, level B exam
• teaching demonstration
• artistic/pedagogic project
• pedagogic research section/ written section
After the completion of the thesis, the studentis able to:
• independently develop knowledge and skills required in their field
• understand western art music and the most important styles of presentation and teaching practices, as well as create and present their own interpretations of music pedagogics, which they have obtained through the skills picked up during their studies.
• master the techniques of their instrument/study major and the artistic and pedagogic characteristics
• be able to prepare and implement artistic/pedagogic studies package based on the requirements of their instrument/study major

INTERNATIONALIZATION
The international dimension is a fundamental part of music studies. Studies completed abroad, foreign students studying in Turku, as well as master courses’ teachers form an important part of the study process. A central and significant feature is the multi-disciplinary structure of the Arts Academy, which allows interaction between subjects and presents creative potential for the cross-fertilisation of ideas between programmes.Concentration on project-based studies allows us to have international students in most of the workshops, since a teacher can give guidance and teaching in both languages simultaneously (English and Finnish). Most of the courses can be arranged in a flexible way in English. In addition to courses provided by Arts Academy students are expected to take the following general courses:
• Finnish for Foreigners ( 3 ECTS)
• GetFinternational (3 ECTS)
There is two possibilities for an international student to study in the degree programme, either as an degree student studying the whole degree or as an exchange student for an exchange period between 3-9 months. International degree students are elected as a part of normal application process. Exchange students are using different exchange programs such as Erasmus or Nordplus.
An international exchange student will have an individual study plan based on discussions with the teacher tutor of the study field. Each student is requested to have individual project (min. 5 ECTS) during the exchange period. A student will be provided guidance for the execution of the project by the teacher tutor and student tutors. During an exchange period of 3 months, a student may complete min. 20 ECTS. During an exchange period of a whole semester, a student may complete min. 30 ECTS.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
A large portion of graduates will work at a music schools as either an instrumental or vocal teacher, or a music theory teacher. This study program also provides the fundamentals needed to work in different musical professions, such as an orchestra musician, an accompanist, a choir singer or as a soloist.

Further information

EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK
Assessment and feedback in music studies is a continuous, deliberative and inter-personal process between the teacher and student. Instrumental studies are assessed according to the instrument-specific criteria annual demonstration and the B-level exam contained in the thesis. Evaluation is conducted by experts from the assessment board. Instrumental performance, in addition to a student’s progress, is assessed in regular performance situations. The review panel will then give the student oral feedback about their performance.
Practical teaching traineeship includes two teaching demonstrations. Evaluation is conducted by the review panel, which provides oral feedback about the student’s performance.
The different sections of the thesis will be evaluated separately, whilst its entirety will be assessed by the review panel, who will provide a written feedback summary to the thesis’s author. A more detailed description of the criteria for the implementation of the thesis plan is contained in the content plan. Further, a portion of completed credits will be assessed as pass/fail