Music Teacher Training in the Republic of Slovakia

I. Background / Organisation

II. Curriculum

III. Learning and Teaching Approaches

IV. Assessment / Examination

V. Current and Future Challenges

I. Background / Organisation

Music teacher training in Slovakia is organised for three target groups:

Music teachers for kindergartens

Trainees either do a four-year course at “educational-social academies", beginning at the age of 15 and completing it with an examination that entitles them to university admission, or a university degree course in "preschool education" that lasts five years: the first three are a Bachelor, the final two an Master course.

Music teachers for the first level of general elementary education (children aged 6-10)

Trainees do a university course in preschool and elementary education that lasts five years: the first three are a Bachelor, the final two a Master course. Music is compulsory for all students. If they wish, students can also take a course that offers a more in-depth study of music. This is a good opportunity for music school graduates to extend the knowledge they have already gained.

Music teachers for the second level of general elementary education (children aged 11-15) and at specialist schools (for kindergarten teachers) and conservatories (ages 15-18).

Teachers are trained at university on a course consisting of three years to a Bachelor and two to a Master entitled ”1.1.3 Teacher Training for Educational and Artistic Subjects”. Music is usually studied in combination with another subject. Some subject combinations are set joint courses while in others students are free to choose their second subject. In Slovakia a Master’s degree is generally required to enter the teaching profession. Bachelor graduates can currently only work as teaching assistants or in areas outside school (such as leisure centres, culture management).

II. Curriculum

Subjects offered for a BA music teacher training course (60 ECTS credits):

 

Subject field

Field

Compulsory

Optional compulsory

Artistic subjects

Instrument playing, singing, choir conducting

x

 

Vocal ensembles, chamber orchestra, folklore ensemble (with singing, dance, cymbal groups), ...

 

x

Musicology

History of music arranged by epoch

x

 

Theory of music

Ear training, harmony, counterpoint, form

x

 

 

The complete Bachelor course contains 180 ECTS credits, with 60 each being awarded for music, the second subject and the educational-psychological disciplines. Practical training in the classroom is provided for in the third year of the BA course for two weeks (classroom visits only).

 


Subjects offered for an MA music teacher training course (90 ECTS credits):

 

Subject field

Fields

Compulsory

Optional comp.

Optional

Artistic subjects

Composition, arrangement, improvisation, ensemble work

x

 

 

Vocal ensembles, chamber orchestra, folklore ensemble (with singing, dance, cymbal groups)

 

x

 

Music and computers, folk music

 

 

x

Musicology

20th century music

x

 

 

Pop and rock music, religious music

 

 

x

Theory of music

Analysis of works

x

 

 

Music education

Teaching methodology, practical workshops

x

 

 

 

In addition to the 60 ECTS credits for music another 60 ECTS credits are awarded for the second subject. The ratio of compulsory, compulsory optional and optional subjects is 70:20:10 per cent. Practical training in the classroom is provided for in the first year of the Master course for two weeks in each semester and in the second year for six consecutive weeks.

III. Teaching and Learning Approaches

The approaches used are traditional university methods: lectures, seminars, practicals. Each period lasts 45 minutes. In a joint degree course (with two subjects) there are 18 periods a week: seven music periods, seven of the other subject and four in educational, psychological, philosophical and sociological topics. Instrument lessons are offered as private tuition, voice training and pupil-oriented music-making for small groups of two or three.

IV. Assessment / Examination

Entrance examinations

·      Instrument playing

·      Singing

·      Theory and history of music (paper)

·      Ear training

Examinations during the course of study

As a rule five examinations should be taken each semester during the "Training for Teachers of Educational and Artistic Subjects": two in music, two in the second subject and one in educational theory/psychology). Of the two exams in music, one should be theory and the other a practical.

Final Examinations

·      Bachelor finals in instrument playing, singing and choral conducting

·      Defence of a thesis: 50 pages for Bachelor, 80 pages for Master

·      Oral exam in educational theory, psychology, history of music, harmony and polyphony, form, folk music for Bachelor

·      Oral exam in music education, analysis of works for Bachelor, completion of a project in educational theory and methodology for Master

V. Current and Future Challenges

Music teacher training for academic lower schools (secondary level I) is currently seeing a continual reduction of the number of so-called contact hours (from nine to seven periods in the joint degree course). In the academic year 2007/08 the first Bachelor exams were held and revealed differences between individual universities with regard to the topics included in the examinations. Increasing emphasis on self-study and the reduction in the number of lessons are leading to a decrease in quality, especially in practical disciplines, of teacher training courses in arts subjects at universities. The areas worst hit by these cutbacks are usually ensemble activities such as choirs, orchestras and folk art forms.

Current challenges:

·         The new schools reform that came into effect in September 2008 has not yet been incorporated into music teacher training;

·         A continuous fall in the number of applicants for places on music teacher training courses due to the low number of births from 1990 onwards and the emergence of new universities;

·         A continuous rise in the number of students studying for a term at universities abroad;

·         Accreditation of new PhD courses;

·         The lack of a degree course in “Educational Theory of Instrument Teaching” for teaching instruments at music schools is incompatible with the requirements of a higher education course for teachers at this type of school.