“You Get What You Want, But not What You Need.” A Curriculum Analysis of Performance Programs in Germany

Abstract

Despite progressive accreditation regulations and changing vocational concepts of young musicians, it is hypothesised here that music performance programs in German higher music education have not yet appropriately included non-musical career-relevant issues. Curricula for all music performance programs in German higher education (orchestral instruments) were analysed for the proportions of credit points offered for different subjects and for their respective study goals in terms of vocational application. Results suggest that career-relevant non-musical subjects amount to less than 2 % of the overall credits. Furthermore, the various career goals stated in module handbooks are not necessarily reflected in the curricula. The international tendency towards portfolio careers is not yet supported by the education programs offered in Germany. It is concluded that students are still not sufficiently educated to face artistic careers beyond traditional job profiles.