The history of the university’s music education and training of instructors dates back to the founding of the Ongaku Torishirabegakari (Music Investigation Committee) in 1879. The Tokyo Music School, which succeeded Ongaku Torishirabegakari, featured a teaching department in addition to departments focused on musical training and development. Since the school became Tokyo University of the Arts, no music education department has been offered at the undergraduate level. The current master’s degree program was established in 1969; the doctoral program was established in 1977.

The Music Education course trains scholars and practitioners capable of examining the various interactions between human beings and music from a teaching perspective. The subjects of such study are diverse, going beyond conventional school education to professional music education, children’s music education, music education for children with disabilities, and music education as social education and lifelong learning.

Policy

Curriculum Policy

Master: Since the establishment of the music education chair in 1969 as a Master’s Program, the aim has been to nurture researchers and practitioners who can consistently foster compatibility between both the specialized field (music) and the field of music education. To achieve this, the following curriculum has been organized to develop the required knowledge and techniques.
The goal of research in the field of music education is to foster the pursuit of diverse connections between humans and music from an educational perspective that is not limited to music education as a part of school education. It goes beyond and covers a broad range of aspects such as specialized education in music, music education for children, music education for disabled children, social education, and lifelong learning. The curriculum is designed to respond to the needs of the students as much as possible, and within the limited framework of the seminar, the curriculum enables students to approach music education from a broad range of perspectives. In addition to writing the research thesis, the unique features of the curriculum include the study of specialized practical techniques and the promotion of research activities closely related to the practical experience through research, study classes, and lessons.

Doctor: Since the establishment of the doctoral program in 1977, the aim has been to nurture researchers in music education. To achieve this, the educational curriculum has been organized to develop the required competence. While further expanding and developing the research initiated during the Master’s Program, the curriculum enables students to pursue research that is based on their individual themes and acquire the knowledge and techniques to become high-level professionals.
Practical learning is emphasized with the objective of creating a dissertation, but the content of the specialized doctoral research and practical learning is based on the needs of the students and contemporary issues. The curriculum is designed to support students in their presentation in the university and beyond.

Diploma Policy

Master: The Ma