Program Overview

Introduction to the Music Education Program

The Music Education Program at Hiroshima University's Graduate School of Human Social Sciences is a comprehensive course of study that encompasses various aspects of music education. The program is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of music and its role in education.

Course Offerings

The program offers a wide range of courses, including:

• Voice: The voice course is available from the first to the fourth year and can be taken freely. The course focuses on group lessons, where students learn not only by receiving lessons but also by observing others.
• Piano: The piano course is available from the first to the fourth year and can be taken freely. The course is primarily taught through one-on-one lessons.
• String Instruments: The string instrument course is a distinctive feature of Hiroshima University and is mandatory for first-year students. All students in the program take lessons in either violin, viola, cello, or contrabass.
• Composition: The composition course is available from the first to the fourth year and can be taken freely. The course covers a wide range of topics, from basic knowledge to arrangement methods and full-scale composition.
• Wind and Percussion Instruments: The wind and percussion instrument course allows students to learn about instruments used in band and orchestral music.
• Japanese Music: The Japanese music course provides an overview of traditional Japanese music and includes practical training in playing the koto.
• Music Education: The music education course covers various topics related to music education, including school education, specialized music education, and lifelong learning.
• Ensemble: The ensemble course includes classes in chorus, orchestra, band, and opera. These classes aim to provide students with the opportunity to perform in a variety of musical settings.

Ensemble Performances

The program offers various ensemble performances, including:

• Chorus
• Orchestra
• Band
• Opera These performances are an integral part of the program, with the goal of presenting a yearly concert. The chorus and band classes are also open to students from other departments as part of the university's general education curriculum. Opera performances are held twice a year, in April and November.