Are you passionate about music and dream of teaching music in all of its forms to students? If so, then the most important requirement has already been fulfilled!

To study Music as a teaching subject as part of your teacher education, you must provide proof of having obtained a general university entrance qualification. For the Bachelor of Education in Music, you will also need to pass an aptitude test. This consists of testing your abilities in a musical major, a minor, practical school piano instruction, the pedagogical group examination as well as music theory. The School of Music also provides additional information regarding the requirements for the individual subjects as well as the corresponding preparatory courses.

This program is studied as a part of the Bachelor of Education degree program (teacher education for Gymnasium). The degree program always includes two teaching subjects as well as the subject of Education Studies.

Program structure

In the Bachelor of Education, you will complete eight modules, which comprise the following:

• Musical training (2 instruments, voice, and practical school piano instruction)
• Ensembles (choir, orchestra, band, etc.)
• Choir and ensemble direction, including the direction of wind and string instrument classes
• Musicology and music theory (including pop music and arrangement)
• Music education and music didactics

Every module ends with a module examination.

The School of Music posts a current program structure.

Special characteristics of the Mainz degree program

• You can choose to either major or minor in Classical Music and Jazz/Pop Music.
• Throughout your studies, you will receive a comprehensive and modern education in the subject of practical school piano instruction. This also includes the supervised implementation of song lessons with school classes.
• For some years now, training for working with specialized music classes (windand string classes) is an integral part of our curriculum.

You will have the chance to carry out interdisciplinary artistic projects through collaboration with other departments.

By choosing an instrument or voice as a specialization (classical or jazz/rock/pop), you are already setting an initial focal point for your musical training.

Starting from the 4th semester, you can also choose to specialize in ensemble or choir direction. The availability of different types of ensembles (university choir, band, pop choir) also allows for individualized specializations.

Stay abroad

Would you like to live abroad for half a year or a whole year? Do you want to get to know another language and culture? Would you like to get a different perspective on your particular degree program? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various partnerships with foreign universities.

For information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. An overview of cooperating universities that would suit your degree program can be found on our Student Exchange Platform.

A stay abroad is not mandatory for this degree program, but is always a valuable experience. As part of our ERASMUS partnerships, you can spend a semester abroad. This fits in well after completing the 6th module (after the 4th semester) or after completing the B.Ed. during your transition to the M.Ed. For students with the subject combination French/Music, the integrated program of study (Cursus intégré) in Mainz and Dijon is available to you as an option. As a part of this program, you will spend 3 semesters of the B.Ed. program in France.

Internships

In the Bachelor of Education, you will complete three 3-week internships and experience different types of schools firsthand. This practical experience will complement your theoretical training, help you practice your pedagogical skills in the classroom, and give you direction for your future career.

For more information, please visit the website for school internships provided by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Students interested in completing additional voluntary internships – including those in other professional fields – can find more information on the Career Service website.

The teacher education degree program prepares you – and is also a prerequisite – for teaching in secondary schools (Gymnasium) throughout Germany. Not only will you acquire comprehensive knowledge about the subject, you will also learn how to convey this knowledge to your future students in a fun and creative way, while inspiring interest for your subject.

To work as a teacher later on, you must also obtain the Master of Education after completing your bachelor’s degree and then complete a teacher traineeship (Referendariat).

However, you are not restricted solely to classroom teaching after completing the teacher education program. You can also work in a variety of professional fields beyond teaching in public schools.

Since the music courses during the program of study in school music are so comprehensive, you will acquire and further develop your artistic skills, with which you can establish yourself as a professional musician and become self-employed.

Other typical professions include:

• Working as a choir or ensemble director
• Teaching at a university
• Combining both options, by teaching in schools and taking on additional freelance work

There is also a variety of postgraduate degree programs in the subjects of music theory and elementary music pedagogy. Additionally, you have the option of pursuing a doctorate in the fields of music pedagogy, music theory, and musicology, with which you can begin to build an academic career.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.