The Portuguese system of music education. Teacher training challenges

Abstract

The fact that the study of music in the public educational system in Portugal takes place within three official branches (vocational - at conservatories and music academies -, general - in the public school system -, and professional - at professional schools) is a consequence of an historical process of fragmentation of the conservatory system. This system had a small social impact in terms of numbers of students involved and its expansion occurred within the broader process of educational democratization during the 1970's. This article describes the origins of this fragmentation process, and questions the status quo, through a case study that focused on the reasons and functioning of the present day music education system in Portugal. Aspects such as teacher training, student training, student attendance regimes in music classes, arts integration versus music specialization and aptitude detection and vocational counseling were analysed in the study and related to the ramification of the music education system in general and specialized schools.