Stefan Degner studied pedagogy at the University of Regensburg from 1996 to 2002, then jazz guitar at the University of Music Würzburg, graduating with a diploma (2006) and concert maturity (2008).

He is the guitarist of the band Inswingtief. Most recently, the band released in cooperation with the Bavarian Radio the production "Inswingtief in Studio 2" with original compositions of the band members. In 2022 the CD "Homecookin'" was released.

From 2007 to 2010 Stefan Degner was a research staff member of Prof. Dr. Hans Gruber at the Chair of Pedagogy at the University of Regensburg. He teaches guitar at the municipal music school in Würzburg.

Stefan Degner has been teaching at the University of Music Würzburg since 2005. His teaching events bridge his knowledge of empirical pedagogy with that of jazz improvisation and its didactics.

Courses

• Didactics and methodology of improvisation (improvisation didactics)
• Teaching practice/teaching samples jazz
• Didactics of jazz guitar
• Interpretation workshop - improvisation for school musicians.

Publications

• Degner, S. & Lehmann, A.C. (2003). Expert Learning in the Domain of Jazz Guitar Music. In: Kopiez, R., Lehmann, A.C., Wolther, I. & Wolf, C. (Eds.), 5th Triennial ESCOM Conference Proceedings Book, University of Music and Drama Hannover.
• Gruber, H. & Degner, S. (2016). Expertise. In: Fürstenau, B. (Ed.), Study texts basic curriculum vocational and business education. Teaching-learning theories. Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Understanding and promoting learning and expertise. (S. 97-111). Schneider Verlag GmbH, Hohengehren
• Gruber, H. & Degner, S. (2016). Expertise and competence. In Dick, M., Korfmacher, S., Marotzki, W. & Mieg, H. (Eds.), Handbook of professional development. (S. 173-181). Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, Bad Heilbrunn.
• Gruber, H., Degner, S. & Lehmann, A.C. (2004). Why do some commit themselves in deliberate practice for many years - and so many don't? Understanding the development of professionalism in music. In Radovan, M. & Dordevic, N. (Eds.), Current issues in adult learning and motivation (pp. 222-235). Ljubljana: Slovenian Institute for Adult Education.
• Gruber, H., Lehtinen, E., Palonen, T. & Degner, S. (2008). Persons in the shadow: Assessing the social context of high abilities. In Psychology Science. Quarterly, Volume 50 (2), (pp. 237-258).
• Degner, S. & Gruber, H. (2011). Persons in the Shadow: How Guidance works in the Acquisition of Expertise. In Weber B., Marsal E., Dobashi T. (Eds.), "The Politics of Empathy" New Interdisciplinary Perspectives on an Ancient Phenomenon, (pp. 103-116). Lit Verlag, Münster
• Hirschmann, M., Gruber, H. & Degner, S. (2012). Contributions of expertise research to competence measurement. In G. Niedermair (Ed.), Developing, measuring, and assessing competencies (pp. 491-504). Linz: Trauner