In English
Church Music Programme
A church musician is a musician who is employed in a church to lead and
develop the musical activities within the church.
Church
musicians are both musicians and musical directors. They work with both
creating and performing music themselves and leading musical activities
which can range from children’s choirs to working with professional
musicians.
Church musicians are both organists and choir
leaders, and sometimes even vocalists and composers.
As
music directors church musicians need well developed teaching, social
and organisational skills, as well as an in-depth understanding of the
role of music in religious contexts.
A church musician plays the organ – and sometimes the piano – during
church services and ceremonies such as christenings, weddings and
funerals.
A church musician leads one or more
choirs – sometimes also instrumental ensembles – and teaches
confirmation students, music students and other members of the church
who need musical training.
Church musicians take an active part
in the development of church services and the inner workings of the
church and are often responsible for organising concerts etc. which
bridge the activities of the church with secular society.
Church
musicians are almost always part of a working team which includes
priests, parish social workers, church teachers, preschool teachers,
churchyard workers, caretakers and chancery clerks.
Music plays an important role within many religious associations. The
majority of church musicians in Sweden are employed by the Church of
Sweden. There should be a church musician, either an organist or a
cantor, in each of the Church of Sweden’s 1800 parishes, according to
the regulations of the church. Large parishes employ more than one
church musician, and sometimes even employ musicians without
qualifications in church music but with other relevant musical
experience and knowledge.
Chances of being employed
are good within the foreseeable future. There are many positions and
unemployment is low for church musicians. The declining membership of
the Church of Sweden could change this situation over time. Church
musicians are, however, an important part of the Church of Sweden
historically, and a degree in church music provides students with good
general musical qualifications which give good opportunities for
employment even in the long term.
The Bachelor’s programme in Church Music prepares students to work
professionally as an organist within the Church of Sweden and is also
seen as a good general musical education.
The
Master’s programme in Church Music prepares students to work
professionally as an organist where musical and leadership demands are
higher. The Master’s programme also prepares students for further
studies at research level in Church Music.
The Cantor
programme prepares students to work as cantors in the Church of Sweden.
A student who has completed the Cantor specialisation of
the Music Teacher Programme will be qualified to work as both a music
teacher and a cantor.
Our teachers are experienced tutors and excellent musicians and their
cooperation with each other allows students to be well taken care of and
guided. Our premises are functional, well maintained and pleasant and
there is never any shortage of practice instruments.
The
Malmö Academy of Music is a complete music academy with programmes in
performance, teaching, church music as well as an exciting research
environment. As a student of church music you are given the opportunity
to mix with not only other students of church music but also students of
orchestra, jazz and rock, music teaching, composition and much more.
The
Malmö Academy of Music is also part of a rich international network. As
a student here, you are given the opportunity to meet musicians from
many other countries and are yourself given the opportunity to spend
some of your study time at a music academy abroad due to the many
exchange programmes the Malmö Academy of Music participates in.
The
religious environment of the Malmö region is very diverse. There are
traditional parishes of the Church of Sweden found in both rural and
urban areas. In many parishes, in particular in Lund, Malmö and
Helsingborg, new and exciting working methods and forms of expression
are being consciously developed. Just across Öresund in Denmark, you can
come in contact with different and inspiring traditions in another
Lutheran national church, the Church of Denmark.
Malmö and the
entire Öresund region are home to a very rich choir life and the organs
found in the area include priceless treasures, national monuments and
daring new designs. Countless museums and theatres, two opera houses and
a total of seven symphony orchestras complete the picture of a
culturally vibrant region.
Malmö itself is a little big city –
or is it a big little city? Public transport has become comprehensive,
fast and efficient since the Öresund bridge opened linking Malmö with
the Danish capital Copenhagen. Denmark and Germany are now within easy
reach as are Blekinge, Småland and Sweden’s west coast.
Uppdaterad: 2013-01-11
Performance, Composition and Church music department
Ystadvägen 25
200 41 Malmö
Fax
040-325470
