Purpose
Split Academy educates students primarily for the teaching jobs in high schools in the field of music. This is a core purpose of this programme whilst developing a wide range of musical competencies.
Music education in Dalmatia is widely accessible. Despite this, there is a growing demand for both teachers and student places, especially in high schools. New branches of music schools are frequently being launched in the provinces and on the islands. Furthermore, Makarska and Imotski have opened fully-independent music institutions.
General information
Academic Studies (Music Theory) Department of Arts Academy in Split was launched in 2001/2002. It is the second one of its kind in Croatia, following the lead from the Music Academy in Zagreb. Ours was modelled on the Academic Studies (Music Theory) and Composition programme of the Zagreb Music Academy, and although there are some specific differences these don’t prevent student mobility from one programme to the other. Collaborations are in process between the Split Music Academy and international organisations such as ECUME and Tempus to enable, for example, a student exchange scheme.
Undergraduate Teaching-Plan and Programme
The core element is academic music, within which all subjects are linked within in a linear historically chronological framework. Harmony, theory, analysis and solfeggio are thus aligned: renaissance in year 1, baroque in year 2, classical in year 3, atonal in year 4. This linear scheme is condensed into two years for the topics of history and form.
The subjects which qualify students for teaching work are: Psychology of Education, Teaching Principles, Music Pedagogy, Teaching Methods and Lesson-Planning.
Apart from such theoretical classes, the programme embraces the whole group of subjects which develop practical skills, such as within the context of Choir and Church Music, Conducting, Foundations of Vocal Techniques, Score-Reading, Foundations of Composing, Instrument Knowledge, Orchestration, Ensemble Arrangement, and ‘second study’ instrumental lessons in Piano, Guitar and Mandolin.
Students who show high academic aptitude have an option to choose electives from the following group of subjects: introduction to Musicology, Analytical Methods of Music, Aesthetics of Music, History of Croatian Music, Ethnomusicology, Traditional Music of Dalmatia, Introduction to Sociology, Sociology of Culture, Media and Society. In response to the interest of students, preparations are underway to create two new modules: Copyrights, in collaboration with Faculty of Law, and Management in Culture, in collaboration with The Faculty of Economics of Split University.
Study Programmes
Academic Studies (Music Theory):
Undergraduate Study Programme
- Duration: 8 semesters, 240 ECTS
- Entry Requirements: pass level in both high school diploma (State exam - Level B) and entrance test
- Qualification Awarded: University Bachelor Degree in Academic Studies (Music Theory)
Graduate Study Programme
- Duration: 2 semesters, 60 ECTS
- Entry requirements: completed undergraduate study programme
- Qualification Awarded: Master’s Degree in Academic Studies (Music Theory)
Competencies Acquired at the End the Study Programme
Undergraduate level:
- Analytical and interpretative skills for discrete elements of music, such as form, compositional technique, harmony, polyphony, or orchestration
- Leadership skills for vocal and instrumental ensembles, such as amateur choirs and orchestras
- Basic vocal technique skills for leading choirs and vocal groups
- Arrangement skills, both vocal and instrumental
- Collaboration skills for music within arts institutions, media, libraries and music publishing
- Solfeggio teaching skills for specialist primary music schools
Graduate level:
- Develop analytical and intellectual skills towards practical and theoretical research goals
- Develop academic teaching skills for specialist music schools at Elementary and High School levels
Further Studies
For Graduates we offer programmes in Academic Studies, Music Pedagogy or Musicology. Our graduates are also qualified to apply to study similar and further graduate programmes in other Croatian or European universities.
Beyond this, we offer Doctoral studies.