Teaching

If no propaedeutics (preparatory courses) are required, BA students must attend every lecture in "General Music History" in the first four semesters; you are free to choose the order.

Students in the MA Song Interpretation should take the seminar "Repertoire Studies Lied" in the first semester. All other MA students should freely select and take a musicology seminar in the first semester. 

After that, please follow your study plan:

• Singing (BA/MA): Enter your completed courses and achievements on the service sheet (or take a look at the info sheet ). 
• Song Interpretation MA
• Instrumental (BA/MA): Enter your completed courses and achievements on the service sheet.
• Teaching (BA/MA)

Propaedeutics are courses that prepare students for further studies at the HfMT. For students without a B2 language certificate, they are also a way of bridging the gap until they can attend regular classes. The Hamburg University of Music and Drama offers preparatory courses in the following subjects:

• Music theory (theory of composition and ear training)
• Musical terminology
• Music history
• musicology

Current courses of the musicology department SoSe 2023 (PDF)

Annotated course catalog - Musicology/Composition/Theory/Multimedia SoSe 2023 (PDF) 

In the summer semester 2023, students are requested to enrol in the corresponding Moodle courses in any case. If you have any questions, please contact the respective lecturer.

Please fill out this form and send it with the required documents to:
silke.wenzel@hfmt-hamburg.de

In addition to the presentations or essays that you write in your seminars , you may also have to write a term paper at the end of your studies . The format and length of the paper depend on the degree program:

• Singing (BA): Academic paper (6th semester) and program text (graduation) Information sheet & Registration form
• Vocal (MA): Program text or essay
• Instrumental(BA): Academic paper (6th semester) Information sheet & Registration form
• Instrumental (MA): CD booklet, program text or essay
• Song Interpretation (MA): Academic term paper or essay 
• Teaching (BA): Academic paper in the last semester. Registration and administration by the ZPLA of the University of Hamburg.

Detailed information can be found in the Moodle room"Wissenschaftliche Hausarbeiten". 

As a rule, you will need to find two supervisors, at least one of whom must be academically qualified. They will review the thesis (and grade it if necessary). Try   to find someone who is familiar with your topic. You can, for example, write to lecturers you already know or ask at your specialist office for suggestions.

BA students: Please register at the beginning of the 6th semester in your respective subject office with the completed registration form(BA instrumental or BA voice) . You may also need to look for supervisors/assessors . 

MA students: Please ask your departmental office at whether registration is required. However, you will generally have to find supervisors/assessors by the start of the 4th semester . 

Teaching degrees (BA): Registration and administration by the ZPLA of the University of Hamburg. 

Detailed information can be found in the Moodle room"Wissenschaftliche Hausarbeiten". 

A lot, but not everything. Read the basic rules of good academic practice for students at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama (resolution of the University Senate dated 13.11.2019).

Sources on the internet can simplify many things, but be careful! Websites such as Wikipedia and AI programs such as ChatGPT can provide simplified, one-sided and incorrect information. Always think critically about your sources.

Detailed information can be found in the Moodle room"Scientific term papers".

Before you start writing your academic term paper, you should set up your digital desk.

With your HfMT ID, you have access to many (online) research tools.

The friendly library staff will be happy to help you. 

Fact sheet on gender-appropriate language

On the subject of "term papers", first take a look at the Moodle room"Academic term papers".

For questions about studying, please contact your academic office. If you need further advice in the field of musicology, the research assistant Meredith Nicoll will be happy to help.

If you do not have to take any preparatory courses (Propädeutika), BA students must complete each of the four "general music history" lectures in the first four semesters; you are free to choose the order.

Students in the Song Interpretation program should start with the "Repertoirekunde Lied" seminar. All other MA students should take one musicology seminar of their choice in the first semester.

After that, all students should follow their respective curriculum plans:

• Vocal (BA/MA): Enter which courses and requirements you have completed on this  Service Sheet (or compare it to this Timetable). 
• Instrumental (BA/MA): Enter which courses and requirements you have completed on this  Service Sheet.
• Song Interpretation (MA)

Propädeutika are preparatory courses for regular studies at the HfMT. For students without a B2 language certificate, they are also a way to bridge the time until they can attend regular classes in German. The HfMT offers preparatory courses in the following subjects:

• Music theory (Form and Ear Training)
• Music Terminology
• Music History
• Musicology

Current offerings for the Summer Semester 2023 (pdf)

Course descriptions for all current (summer 2023) musicology, composition, theory and multimedia courses (pdf) 

For the summer semester 2023 all students must register themselves in the corresponding  Moodle-Room. If you have problems or questions about registration, please contact the teacher of that class. 

Please fill out this form and send it along with other necessary documents (i.e. transcripts) to:
silke.wenzel@hfmt-hamburg.de

Most music majors have to write at least one written assignment as a part of their final exam. The format and length depends on the requirement of your program of study:

• Singing (BA): An academic paper (6th semester) and a concert program (final exam). See the Info Sheet (English) & Registration Form (German)
• Singing (MA): Academic paper or Concert Program (final exam)
• Instrumental (BA): Academic paper (6th semester). See the Info Sheet (English) & Registration Form (German)
• Instrumental(MA): CD-Booklet, Concert Program or Essay
• Song Interpretation (MA): Academic paper or journalistic essay

You can find more information in the Moodle-Room"Academic papers." 

Not necessarily. Talk to your examiners (Gutachter:innen) and ask if they are qualified to grade your work in another language. No matter what language you choose, you should always get your work proofread by a native speaker before turning it into a final draft.  

Remember, you are welcome to use translation software as long as you are translating your own words. If you copy or translate other people's writing, this is plagerism and it will get you into trouble!

Usually, you need to seek out two instructors who can support you in developing your thesis and who will grade your final draft if needed. Try to choose instructors who know about the topic you want to write about. One of the two can be, for example, a professor from your program of study. The other has to be "academically qualified," for example, one of the instructors from the Musicology Department or Music Theory Department.

Contact the instructors whom you already know or ask your academic advisor for suggestions.

BA Students: Please register your thesis at the beginning of your 6th semester by bringing the registration form(BA instrumental or BA vocal) to your academic advisor (Fachbüro). You will probably also have to seek out two examiners to grade your paper. 

MA students: Please ask your academic advisor (Fachbüro) if you need to register your essay or or concert program. You will probably also have to seek out two examiners to grade your paper.

 You can find more information in the Moodle-Room"Wissenschaftliche Hausarbeiten." 

You are allowed to quote and reference a lot, but not everything. You are welcome to use translation software as long as you are translating your own words. If you copy or translate other people's writing, you have to cite your source and give credit to the writer. If not, this is plagerism and it will get you into trouble!

Online sources can make things easier, but beware! Websites like Wikipedia and AI programs like ChatGPT can provide simplified, biased and false information. Always think critically about where your information comes from. 

Please see the Guidelines for Good Scholarship (English translation of the resolution of the University Senate of 13.11.2019).

 You can find more information in the Moodle Room"Academic Term Papers." 

Before your start researching, set up your digital desk (German).

With your HfMT login, you have access to many (digital) research tools like the Grove Dictionary of Music (English) and JSTOR, a database of lots of scholarly papers in many languages.

The friendly and knowledgeble staff at the  HfMTlibrary are glad to answer any questions and can give you detailed tips on which literature is best for your topic.

Read this Guide to Gender-Inclusive German (English) to learn how to speak and write German in a gender-inclusive way. 

Please check out the Moodle-Room"Wissenschaftliche Hausarbeiten" for more information about essays and papers.

For questions about the requirements for your program of study, please contact your academic advisor(Fachbüro).

For questions about the musicology department, contact Meredith Nicoll in German or English.