Bologna & Music
The Bologna Declaration has important effects on professional music training in higher education in Europe. The European Association of Conservatoires (AEC) has been studying these effects since 2001 through the following European cooperation projects: read more

Conference 'The education of instrumental and vocal teachers in Europe - Changing Professional Roles and Contexts', 28 and 29 March 2008 in Helsinki

Information on the national systems for pre-college training in Europe
Because of the importance of a thorough preparation for admission to higher music education, music education at the pre-college level is very important. Descriptions of pre-college music education systems have therefore also been compiled in the ERASMUS Thematic Network for Music ‘Polifonia’. The characteristics of pre-college education in each country are described, as well as the background of students entering higher music education, the way pre-college institutions are organised and the links they have with institutions providing professional music training at higher education level. The pre-college working group
The pre-college working group was established in the framework of the Polifonia project. The objective of this working group was to collect information about levels of music education before the higher education level and about the preparation and admission of music students to higher education.
The outcomes are incorporated in the final report of the pre-college working group.

Systems for pre-college training in Europe
Music education at levels before higher music education is organised in different ways throughout Europe. This is mainly due to historically different educational systems and the connection of music education to general education and the national musical infrastructure. 

A study ‘Music schools in Europe’ was produced in close cooperation with the European Music School Union (EMU).
This study is divided in three parts:
o Section A describes the results of the study in both summary and detailed form.
o Section B presents a set of descriptions of each national music school system. Please note that the country overviews in part B will be incorporated into the overall national descriptions of pre-college music education systems mentioned above.
o Section C provides appendices, such as the questionnaire used and some additional information.
Please click here to download the complete study including appendices.

Information on national systems for music teacher training
As in many countries special systems for the professional training of music teachers (both instrumental teachers and music teachers in schools) exist, descriptions of national systems for music teacher training are provided here. The structure of music teacher training in each country is described, as well as the professional field and the external connections between music teacher training institutions and schools and music schools. These national descriptions have been developed in the framework of the Culture 2000 ‘European Forum for Music Education and Training – EFMET’.
The final EFMET report, which summarizes all activities that took place in the framework of the EFMET so far, can also be downloaded here.