Stockholms Musikpedagogiska Institut
University College of Music Education in Stockholm
The Stockholm University College of Music Education (in Swedish: Stockholms Musikpedagogiska Institut, SMI) is an independent “hochschule” (högskola) offering undergraduate higher-education tuition in music and related arts education. Formed in 1960 as a private foundation by a group of music pedagogues who felt constrained by the traditional and somewhat slow-evolving government conservatories, SMI is dedicated to the task of providing teacher training in the music education profession that is relevant, up-to-date and with a high standard of practical application focus.
SMI educates instrumental and song teachers as well as voice and speech pedagogues, spanning over a half a century as a unique and important contributor to higher education in the music teaching profession. Some of our main ideologies that make SMI unique in the field:
- We have a high degree of staff teaching both at SMI and in relevant school-forms in their subject areas outside of SMI, as well as performing professionally. The staff bring with them the continual cross-application of their skills and knowledge both in the teaching of music in schools, gymnasia and culture schools, as well as the didactic reflection into SMI for their subject teaching here.
- Our students are predominantly somewhat older (median age is around 30 years old) and bring with them at least two years previous teaching experience. Studying at SMI also includes 4 hours own teaching practice, which can include employed work, integrated with your studies. In this way we are able to focus on teaching being done now, incorporate that into our didactical and methodological work and share experiences in the classroom that are relevant and current.
Our commitment to being up-to-date has made SMI a groundbreaker in the teaching of music education in Sweden. Among the ”firsts” we are renowned for are:
- Incorporating song as a teaching and learning tool in all music education
- Offering popular music genres as a major
- Recognising the potential of music teaching through aural traditions, improvisation and ensemble as well as via notation
- Recognising the potential of instrumental teaching in groups as well as individually
- Integrating digital technology in the field of music teaching
- Providing professional development in aesthetic learning processes and the interaction of relevant artforms in arts education
We are also the only tertiary institution to offer a degree in Logonomy (aesthetic voice and speech pedagogy), a program that is unique in Scandinavia. SMI is a small university college where you get to know everyone and share classes with students from various programmes in pedagogical and artistic projects.
Undergraduate Programme
SMI offers a three-year undergraduate program to qualify you as an instrumental or song teacher in schools of music and arts or other types of schools. The program leads to a Bachelor of Music Education (180 ECTS credits). Auditions take place annually in April and the deadline for applications is normally March 1. At least two years post-secondary or work experience in a relevant field is a requirement. Previous and current work experience as a music teacher will be considered a merit.
Programmes of Advanced Study
To be accepted to the Advanced Study program you are required to have a Bachelor of Education or a Bachelor of Arts, or an equivalent education or work experience. Programs of Advanced Study include: Logonomy: Voice and speech pedagogy with a focus on aesthetics (120 ECTS credits) and Music Education in instrumental or song teaching (120 ECTS credits).
SMI also offers a large number of single-subject courses for further education of teachers in music and other fields.
SMI is located in the centre of Stockholm in a historic school building from 1912. The language of instruction is Swedish. SMI does not provide any scholarships.
For further information, please contact:
Stockholms Musikpedagogika Institut, att. Cattis Eriksson
Box 26164
S-100 41 STOCKHOLM
Phone: +46 8 6110502
Fax: +46 8 6115261
E-mail: info@smpi.se