In an increasingly diverse society, the topics of participation, inclusion and cultural diversity are becoming increasingly important. In 2014, the Association of German Singing and Music Schools (VDM) responded to the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with its Potsdam Declaration ("Music schools of the future and the future of music schools is inclusive"). The changes initiated there as well as the growing professional field of community music are shaping the requirements of music school graduates. The University of Music Würzburg is responding to the challenges of the aforementioned social developments with four new artistic and pedagogical Master's degree programs.

The degree programmes provide graduates of instrumental/vocal pedagogy and other music education (and possibly artistic in the case of variants 1 and 4) with additional or advanced theoretical and practical skills in the four areas of inclusive music education, community music, elementary music pedagogy (EMP) and vocal music-making practice. The focus is on the further development of students' practical music-making skills in the relevant musical genres and the ability to teach these music-making practices in heterogeneous groups. The methods of EMP become the central tool for teaching.

All degree programmes are a tailor-made selection of four combined consecutive Master's degree programmes for graduates of predominantly artistic and educational degree programmes and run for two years. They regular start in the winter semester.

1. Master's degree program EMP / Inclusive Music Education & Community Music

2. Master's degree course in Vocal Music Practice / Inclusive Music Education & Community Music

3. Master's degree program in Inclusive Music Education & Community Music

4. Master's degree program EMP / Vocal Music Practice

The degree programs will start in the winter semester 2024/25 and the aptitude assessment will take place at the beginning of June (application deadline is March 31, 2024).

The programs are supervised by Prof. Michael Forster (EMP) and Prof. Dr. Katharina Deserno, who has held the Chair of Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy since the winter semester 2023/2024. In addition to her publications on topics such as recognition and difference in instrumental and vocal pedagogy and her activities as a cellist and editor of cello literature, she has dedicated herself to strengthening the instrumental and vocal pedagogy department at the University of Music Würzburg.

Applications for the coming winter semester are already being accepted.