Organ/Church Music
Our Church Music programmes offer a wide selection of subjects that focus on both theoretical and practical skills, preparing you for a varied working life as an organist. The Church Music department enjoys an active and entrepreneurial study environment, and day to day tuition is supplemented by e.g. master classes, cross-disciplinary events, and study trips.
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Study environment
You will become part of a rich and active environment characterised by a great sense of unity among the students, and with regular concerts and social events. At the weekly joint classes, all students perform works for each other, receiving criticism from teachers and fellow students alike.
The teacher sharing arrangement means that everybody has at least two different main subject teachers, and you will also meet other teachers focusing on their respective specialties. This ensures variety and high-quality tuition.
Freedom of choice
At the Academy, we focus on artistic citizenship and wish to bring artistic processes into play in our surroundings. Electives are offered for this purpose as part of all Bachelor and Master programmes. Other electives support the interdisciplinary collaboration, pedagogical work or allow for specialization within contemporary music and chamber music, to name a few.
Concerts and soloist assignments
Church musicians perform many concerts. At the annual BrassOrganic event, brass players and organ students give a joint concert in the Symphony Hall, focusing on art music and the large Klais organ in the hall.
We also arrange internal and external concerts, giving our students the opportunity to try out many different instruments, including outside the Aarhus area. In addition, we arrange one annual trip to see instruments abroad.
Church musicians are frequently used as accompanists at the Academy.
Following an audition, you may be selected for soloist assignments with professional symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Bachelor degree (3 years)
The Church Music BMus degree (Bachelor) focuses on the Repertoire playing, Liturgical playing and Choir Conducting subjects. Supplementary subjects such as Music Theory and Ear Training contribute to the development of your musical craft and imagination. The BMus programme is concluded with a bachelor project.
The subjects are:
- Main study area: Subjects where you perform, as well as subjects that support this
- Pedagogics: Subjects where you communicate and teach, as well as subjects that support this
- General studies: Elementary music theory subjects
- Entrepreneurial Studies: Subjects and projects that give you experience as an entrepreneur and similar
- Electives: Specialization within your preferred field
Master’s degree (2 years)
All master’s (MMus) programmes gives you the knowledge, skills, and qualifications necessary to become a musician or music teacher on the highest level. They are concluded with a master’s project.
The subjects are:
- Main instrument
- Chamber music
- Entrepreneurial Studies
- Electives
With a BMus degree, you may also apply for the Ear Training or Choir Conducting MMus programme. However, these MMus programmes do not include an instrument main subject.
Soloist degree (2 years)
With a MMus degree, you may apply for the 2-year soloist programme (advanced postgraduate diploma). The programme requires an admission test, and is concluded with a public concert. The aim is to educate musicians and composers at the very highest artistic level, and students will be qualified for independent artistic development processes and prepared for a career in the international music business.
Curricula
The BMus, MMus, and soloist programmes are described in detail in their respective curricula. You can find the relevant curriculum in the general overview of classical music curricula here.