Research Profile

Under the label "Research at the University of the Arts", the HfMDK Frankfurt represents a pluralistic understanding of research that, in addition to established research methods, focuses on the development of new approaches and the generation of knowledge about and through music and the performing arts. In addition to scientific research in the doctoral subjects, it encompasses various working methods, approaches, theories, methods, topics, issues and results.

The academic professorships at the HfMDK conduct research in the subjects of musicology, music education, and, most recently, dance studies. The doctoral subjects are located in Faculty 2 (Teacher Training, Academic Studies and Composition). In Faculty 3 (Performing Arts), members are developing new approaches and methods of research in dance studies. Currently, the doctoral committee is working to expand the doctoral subjects to include dance studies and to establish instrumental pedagogy as an independent doctoral subject.

In addition to scientific research, the university's profile includes other research approaches that have been funded at the university since 2018 as part of the "Artistic Research" project by the Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts (HMWK). This is intended to build up the artistic area of research and link it with existing scientific research and establish the specific potential of the art academy. In the broad canon of subjects at the HfMDK, artistic research can in this way be promoted more strongly in the coming years, in addition to empirical, theoretical and historical research.