Church Music (B. Mus)

240 credit Points

140 semester hours in the compulsory modules

University entrance qualification as per Art. 33 and 65 (1-2) of the University Act (HochSchG): General higher education entrance qualification or a discipline-specific admission qualification

Successful completion of an aptitude test

A General Certificate of Secondary Education (f.i. Realschulabschluss) does qualify to enroll if a candidate has passed the aptitude test in the major subject organ with a score of at least “13” and has passed all the other parts of the aptitude test as well.

Candidates applying for the aptitude test, who have neither a German general qualification for university entrance nor a degree / graduation in a German speaking course of studies have to submit a certificate of German language skills for at least the level B2 (CER). The authorization expires if the certificate is not submitted in time.

The Bachelor's degree program is a basic course of artistic study that leads to an academic qualification for a future career.

The goal is to provide individuals with sufficient artistic talent with the necessary artistic, educational, and other professionally significant core skills and competencies to enable them to work successfully as a professional church musician.

The degree program encompasses 20 compulsory modules:

Major liturgics in theory and artistic practice 1.1a/1.2a and 1.1b/1.2b (Prot. resp. Cath.)
Liturgical organ playing / improvisation / seminar about stylistics, liturgics / theological basics (Prot. resp. Cath.), liturgical singing and community singing (Prot.) resp. Gregorian choral (Cath.)

Major liturgics in theory and artistic practice 2.1a/2.2a and 2.1b/2.2b (Prot. resp. Cath.)
Liturgical organ playing / improvisation / seminar about stylistics, liturgics / theological basics (Prot. resp. Cath.)

Major liturgics in theory and artistic practice 3.1a/3.2a and 3.1b/3.2b (Prot. resp. Cath.)
Liturgical singing and community singing, hymnology, Gregorian choral (Prot.) resp. German liturgical singing and Gregorian choral (Cath.)

Major liturgics in theory and artistic practice 4.1a/4.2a uad 4.1b/4.2b (Prot. resp. Cath.)
Jazz and popular music, liturgical organ playing / improvisation / seminar about stylistics, jazz and popular music, liturgics / theological basics (Prot. resp. Cath.)

Major liturgics in theory and artistic practice 5.1a/5.2a and 5.1b/5.2b (Prot. resp. Cath.)
Liturgical organ playing / improvisation / seminar about stylistics, liturgics / theological basics (Prot. resp. Cath.)

Major artistic training I
Organ score-reading and sight-playing, stylistics (organ literature)

Major artistic training II
Organ score-reading and sight-playing, study of organ building, participation in three public concerts and three church services

Major artistic training III
Organ score-reading and sight-playing, study of organ building, participation in three public concerts and three church services

Major artistic training IV
Organ score-reading and sight-playing, didactics/methodology of organ lessons (literature/improvisation), six-week internship in a church congregation

Major ensemble conduction I
Choral conduction, singing and speech training, practicing choir, choir

Major ensemble conduction II
Choral conduction, singing and speech training, children’s and youth’s choral conduction, practicing choir, choir, orchestral conduction

Major ensemble conduction III
Choral conduction, singing and speech training, practicing choir, choir, orchestral conduction

Major ensemble conduction IV
Choral conduction, practicing choir, orchestral conduction

Artistic training minors I
Piano playing, figured bass playing

Artistic training minors II
Piano playing, figures bass playing, score-playing

Artistic training minors III
Piano playing, score-playing

Music theory / ear training I
Composition, ear training

Music theory / ear Training II
Composition, ear training, instrumentation / arrangement

Music comprehension I
Music history, incl. academic working methods, history of church music

Music comprehension II
History of church music, repertoire analysis

For more information see the annex of the Examination regulations relating to the respective course of studies and the module handbook respectively.

The participation in writing workshops by the university’s “Schreibwerkstatt” (Introduction in academic working methods) and in events by “Studium generale” is strongly recommended. A stay abroad is recommended after the 4th or 6th semester.