Description

Music Education in Formal and Informal Environments

Department of Music Studies, School of Philosophy,

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

The Master’s Programme “Music Education in Formal and Informal Environments” is the first in Greece to address the field of music pedagogy in its entirety, encompassing both school-based and informal learning contexts. Its establishment followed a long process of research into international and Greek literature, together with dialogue with students, teachers, and academics, which revealed a clear gap in the field.

Spanning three semesters, the programme follows a hybrid teaching model, combining in-person and distance-learning courses (three per semester). Its aim is to cultivate specialised knowledge and research skills in Music Education, with an emphasis on connecting theory with practice, and research with teaching practice.

From its very first year of operation, the programme has brought students into contact with distinguished scholars and researchers from Greece and abroad through lectures and workshops. It maintains active Erasmus+ mobility agreements with Spain, Germany, Austria, and Norway, and for the past five years has co-organised the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Mapping Music Education Research: Psychology, Sociology and Research Methods”.

Teaching is strongly experiential and student-centred: laboratory-based learning formats and Project-Based and Problem-Based Learning approaches predominate, with limited use of traditional lecturing. Students also have the opportunity to volunteer and conduct research with partner organisations in formal and informal education, including Regional Directorates of Education, the “Lilian Voudouri” Music Library, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and the Greek National Opera, ELEPAP, the Angels of Joy (Angeloi tis Charas), El Sistema Greece, and other scientific and community organisations.

The programme is accredited by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) as of 2023 and leads to the award of a Master’s Diploma in “Music Education in Formal and Informal  Environments”. Ongoing collaboration with institutional partners and educators in the field guides its improvements each year, while its faculty are academics and specialist scholars of recognised standing in their respective areas.