Department of Pedagogy
Head of the Department:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Giedrė Gabnytė Bizevičienė
E-mail: giedre.gabnyte@lmta.lt
Address:
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Building 1
Gedimino Ave. 42, 01110 Vilnius, Lithuania
Phone: +370 5 261 0553
Rooms: 126, 138
The Department of Pedagogy was established in 1974. The first head of the department, Prof. Dr. Eugenijus Ignatonis, who led from 1974 to 1986, made a significant influence on development of this academic unit. Subsequent heads of the department included Veronika Vitaitė (1986–1987), Algis Gricius (1987–1991), Liucija Drąsutienė (1991–2006), and Ramunė Kryžauskienė (2006–2021). Since 2021, the department has been led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Giedrė Gabnytė Bizevičienė.
The Department of Pedagogy oversees studies related to arts pedagogy (music, dance, theatre):
- Supplementary Studies in Arts Pedagogy (4 years)
- Professional Arts Pedagogy Studies (1 year)
Upon completing these studies, students are awarded teacher‘s qualification. The primary goal of the programme is to creatively and innovatively integrate professional knowledge relevant to an career of teaching arts‘ subjects. The department aims to boost an understanding that an arts teacher is not only an educator but also an inspirational figure, capable of sparking creativity, discovery, and joy in students, fostering a sincere love for music, dance, and theatre.
The primary focus of the arts pedagogy programme is on preparing teachers for national art schools, general education institutions, and specialized arts high schools that train future professionals. The curriculum is designed to present the nuances of pedagogical work engagingly. Future arts educators study subjects related to pedagogy theory and practice, participate in discussions on contemporary arts teaching methodologies, and explore the specifics of pedagogical repertoire.
A special emphasis is placed on developing students’ psychological knowledge and research competencies. Students learn to identify, analyze, and reflect on issues in arts education, study educational practices, and design recommendations for teaching improvements.
Faculty
The department consists of five lecturers specializing in education, musicology, psychology, and music (including three PhD holders). Faculty members are active participants in the Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LETA), regularly present at international scientific conferences, and have contributed over 60 academic publications in national and international journals, as well as scientific monographs. Additionally, they actively engage in country’s cultural life, organizing concerts and collaborating on various artistic projects.
When teaching programme courses, faculty members strive to address each student’s specialisation by closely collaborating with other faculties (such as Theatre and Dance, and Klaipėda Faculty) and different departments of the Faculty of Music. Lecturers aim to inspire students in the teaching profession by offering necessary knowledge and presenting the specifics of the job in an engaging way. They emphasize that arts pedagogy is not a repetitive sequence of events but rather a continuous process of discovery, shaped by the teacher’s initiative and creativity.
Activities
Since its establishment, the Department of Pedagogy has annually organized student teaching practice presentations, which include artistic performances by students (concerts, theatre productions, etc.).
For more than thirty years, the department has collaborated with major music and arts schools across the country, providing methodological support through educational seminars, masterclasses, and music competitions. It also oversees student teaching internships in various music and arts schools.
Since 2021, the department has been organizing annual student-researcher scientific conferences. Additionally, since the same year, it has initiated national conferences for arts education specialists at LMTA.
International Collaboration
The faculty members of the department participate in international teaching exchange programmes, with teaching visits to Spain, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Serbia, and other countries.
Since 2016, the department has been a partner in the Nordic Network for Music Education (NNME), a project connecting higher education institutions in the Nordic and Baltic countries that train music educators. The project’s activities include:
- Practical student engagement in educational research,
- Faculty participation in intensive courses,
- Collaboration in developing scientific publications,
- Teaching students at partner universities.