Master in Creative Music Practice (Aarhus)

Master’s degree with two major subjects

The Master’s programme in Creative Music Practice combines two major subjects with a range of elective courses. The programme will be offered from the 2027/28 academic year.

Creative Music Practice is aimed at students who want a broad musical profile combined with the opportunity to immerse themselves in their own artistic, pedagogical and/or entrepreneurial projects.

The programme places particular emphasis on jazz/pop music genres, electronic music, songwriting, and composition. The course of study is centred on the student’s own project, which is developed throughout the programme and provides the framework for both academic and artistic development.

Two-subject programme

The programme is structured around two major subjects, meaning that students pursue two specialisations throughout their studies. This allows for a highly individualised course of study through a combination of nine different major subjects and a wide range of electives.

The structure of the programme offers a high degree of flexibility, enabling students to shape their education according to their own visions, interests, and artistic and/or pedagogical practices. By combining multiple major subjects, the programme also becomes more relevant to the contemporary labour market.

As graduates, students develop an independent and proactive approach to their professional practice and acquire the ability to work reflectively and purposefully at a high artistic level. The programme qualifies graduates for a versatile professional career, enabling them to move between roles as musicians, artists, educators, facilitators, and entrepreneurs.

The Master’s programme in Creative Music Practice brings together several of the existing Master’s programmes at the Academy in Aarhus: RM, RMB, Composition (classical, jazz/pop, and electronic), and Songwriting. At the same time, these programmes will cease to exist as independent degree programmes from the 2027/28 academic year onwards.

A final programme curriculum and regulations for the Master’s degree in Creative Music Practice will not be available until spring 2027. However, all key information is presented on this page and its associated subpages. An overview of the distribution of ECTS credits across the various subjects can be found at the bottom of this page.

Major Subjects

When applying for admission, applicants must choose two major subjects, which they will follow throughout the programme.

To be admitted, applicants are expected to have achieved a level equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in their chosen major subjects before commencing the programme. Admission is based on an entrance examination in each major subject (see the section on entrance examinations below).

The following major subjects are available:

Songwriting
Instrumental or Vocal Performance
Song, Dance and Play
Composition (choose between Jazz/Pop, Electronic, or Classical composition)
Music Pedagogy
Music Production
Co-Creation

A brief presentation of each major subject is available via the relevant links or through the menu.

Please note: Not all combinations of major subjects are possible. If Music Pedagogy is chosen as one major subject, Co-Creation cannot be chosen as the other, and vice versa. Similarly, students may choose only one composition specialisation (Electronic, Jazz/Pop, or Classical composition).

Other Components of the Programme

In addition to the two major subjects, the Master’s programme includes elective courses, entrepreneurship, a Master’s project, study group and an externally oriented project extending throughout the entire third semester. These elements support students’ academic specialisation and professional development.

The externally oriented project also provides an opportunity to build a professional network and gain practical experience in applying one’s competencies in real-world settings.

Examples of externally oriented projects include:

• A pedagogical placement, for example at a folk high school or music school
• An artistic or interdisciplinary collaboration project, such as an album production, concert production, or the realisation of a creative work
• An artistic internship with a composer, producer, or ensemble
• A communication and outreach project within, for example, health, educational, or cultural institutions
• An entrepreneurial internship with a record label, concert venue, management agency, or music festival
• The development of the student’s own projects or initiatives within a professional context
• Students also have the opportunity to spend their third semester on exchange at a conservatoire or another relevant educational institution abroad.

Entrance Examinations

Applicants apply for admission in two major subjects. However, it is recommended that applicants apply for three major subjects, ranked in order of priority.

The admission procedure consists of an entrance examination in each selected major subject (i.e. two or three entrance examinations), and an interview.

As part of the application, applicants must submit a description of their project and/or their objectives for undertaking the Master’s programme.

In addition, applicants must upload and describe relevant material related to the entrance examination requirements for each chosen major subject.

More detailed information about the entrance examinations can be found under the description of each major subject.

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