National Coordinator: Lejla Beqiri-Vula
Music in Schools
Music in Schools in Republic of North Macedonia is implemented from the beginning of primary school all the way to the finish of high school. The primary school starts from age 6 up to 14 and pupils have to finish 9 classes. In the first 5 grades, music is taught by the teacher that is pedagogue and does not have special qualification in music and from 5th to 9th grade the music subject is taught by a music specialist pedagogue. From this age also every subject is taught by a professional.
The first years of primary school music is being learned of basic skills like listening, singing, recognizing tempo in music, dynamics, different music instruments, genres and music styles. While late on is learned the music notation, different composers from classical music history such as playing rather piano, flute or singing in the choir. In schools the system and plan program of learning music is not of a great progress in general is participating and recognizing while parallel with primary schools in Republic of North Macedonia there are primary music schools that pupils attend by wish few times a week having two lessons a week solfeggio and twice a week instrument. Students are consulted to play the instruments that teachers would recommend by their physical and musical abilities.
In primary music schools the progress is vividly and after few years student can play their instruments in quite good level having in specialty classical music.
The high schools are 4 years (age 14 to 18 years old) and this is the moment that students decide more precise about their direction. Having different professional schools like gymnasium, high medicine school and others we also have high music school being divided in two categories: music theory and music instrumental. In theory students are more focused in theory subjects and are prepared for attending the Music Faculty in Pedagogy while instrumentalists in high music school train to be virtuoso instrumentalists having it as main priority and are prepared for Music Faculty of Music Academies later on. Music high school in Macedonia are of high level and students get quality music lessons in all subjects by professionals, musicians with careers and even exchanges.
In all other high schools , music as subject is learned twice a week, taught by a professional and is more focused on music theory, music history and listening to music.
In Republic of North Macedonia there are three State Music Faculties, each having also the Master Degree in every Department as in Bachelor Studies.
Music Teacher Training
Regarding the teachers’ Music Training in Academic Lever in R.N. Macedonia there are two main Faculty Departments: Musical Theory and Pedagogy and Vocal – Instrumental.
In Music Faculty, Musical Theory and Pedagogy Department students get trained for becoming Music Pedagogy and are specialized for teaching in schools while in Music Faculties, Vocal – Instrumental Department students become virtuoso instrumentalist or solo singers ready to perform.
In Macedonia there are three State Universities in which there are Music Faculties: Saints “Cyril and Methodius” University of Skopje, State University of Tetovo and “Goce Delcev” University of Shtip.
In Saints “Cyril and Methodius” University of Skopje, Music Faculty has Six Main Departments: Musical Theory and Pedagogy (Music Theory and Pedagogy, Sonology, Musicology and Ethnomusicology), Vocal – Instrumental (String Instruments, Wind Instruments, Solo Singing, Harp, Piano, Harmonic), Popular Genre, Composition, Conducting and Baley Pedagogy (Classic Ballet and Modern Ballet).
In State University of Tetovo there are Four Main Departments: Musical Theory and Pedagogy (Music Theory and Pedagogy, Sonology, Musicology and Ethnomusicology), Vocal – Instrumental (String Instruments, Wind Instruments, Solo Singing, Harp, Piano, Harmonic), Composition and Conducting.
In “Goce Delcev” University of Shtip, Music Faculty there Three Main Departments: Musical Theory and Pedagogy (Music Theory and Pedagogy, Musicology and Ethnomusicology), Vocal – Instrumental (String Instruments, Wind Instruments, Solo Singing, , Piano) and Jazz.
In all Music Faculties today we have the Bologna System of Bachelor Studies of four years 240 ETCand Master Degree of one year 60 ETC.