Maestro en Música or Licenciatura en Música? How they differ
Both are undergraduate degrees: one trains artists, the other music teachers. We explain the differences, the mix-up with a master's degree and which one suits your goal.
The Maestro en Música is a professional undergraduate degree focused on artistic practice: performing, composing, conducting or producing. The Licenciatura en Música is also an undergraduate degree, but it trains musicians as educators to teach in schools and other settings. Neither is a graduate degree: a master's in music awards the title Magíster.
If your goal is performance or creative work, aim for the Maestro degree; if teaching is what motivates you, the music education degree gives you pedagogical training from the first semester. Below, we explain the differences in detail, including what the regulations say about teaching in schools.
In short
- Maestro en Música and Licenciado en Música are both undergraduate qualifications; neither is a master's degree.
- The Maestro degree trains performers, composers, conductors and producers; the music education degree trains music teachers.
- For music education degrees, the interview and your interest in teaching often carry more weight in admissions.
- Under current regulations, a professional without a teaching degree can teach in public schools but must provide evidence of pedagogical training; check this with the Ministerio de Educación.
- Choose according to your main goal: a music education graduate can perform and a Maestro graduate can teach, but their core training differs.
The main differences in a table
| Aspect | Maestro en Música | Licenciado en Música |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Professional undergraduate degree | Professional undergraduate degree |
| Focus | Artistic practice: performance, composition, conducting, production | Training musicians as educators |
| Degree names you'll encounter | Maestro en Artes Musicales (ASAB), Músico (Los Andes), Maestro en Música with a specialization (Javeriana) | Licenciado en Música |
| What carries weight in admissions | Primarily the instrumental or vocal audition, theory and ear training | Musical skills, plus an interview or a teaching exercise |
| Examples | ASAB, Javeriana, El Bosque, Los Andes, Univalle, Conservatorio del Tolima | Pedagógica Nacional, Antioquia, Univalle, Atlántico, UIS, Caldas, UTP |
| Typical career paths | Orchestras and ensembles, composition and arranging, conducting, production, teaching in music schools | Schools, music schools, cultural programs, directing school bands and choirs |
Some universities offer both degrees, including Univalle and Conservatorio del Tolima. This lets you compare curricula within the same institution before applying.
Maestro en Música is not a master's degree
This is the most common source of confusion. In Colombia, several undergraduate arts programs award the title Maestro: Maestro en Música, Maestro en Artes Plásticas and Maestro en Artes Escénicas. This is a naming tradition for arts degrees, rather than an academic level.
A master's is a graduate degree taken after an undergraduate degree and awards the title Magíster en Música. The path looks like this:
- Undergraduate degree: Maestro en Música, Músico or Licenciado en Música.
- Graduate study: a specialization or master's degree (Magíster).
- Doctorate, for those who want to pursue in-depth research.
So if a résumé says “Maestro en Música,” the person has completed a university degree, though not necessarily a graduate degree. In everyday Spanish, any music teacher may also be called “maestro,” which adds to the confusion.
What you study in each degree
Both share a musical foundation: theory, harmony, ear training, music history, a principal instrument and ensemble playing. The difference lies in what each adds to that foundation. Generally speaking:
In the Maestro en Música degree
- More time on your instrument or chosen specialization throughout the degree.
- More demanding repertoire, recitals and ensembles.
- Specialization-specific courses: composition and orchestration, conducting technique, arranging, production or musicology.
- A final project that is usually artistic, such as a recital or an original work.
In the Licenciatura en Música degree
- Pedagogy, music teaching methods and learning processes.
- Teaching placements in schools or other educational settings.
- Directing school ensembles: choirs, bands and instrumental groups.
- Educational research and a final project related to teaching.
Music education graduates also perform, and Maestro graduates can also teach; the difference is how deeply each program develops those areas.
How the admissions test differs
The test reflects the type of student each degree seeks. The clearest example is Conservatorio del Tolima, which assesses applicants differently for each qualification:
| Program | What it assessed |
|---|---|
| Maestro en Música, Conservatorio del Tolima | Theory and aural skills, a performance test (classical singing or instrument) and an interview |
| Licenciatura en Música, Conservatorio del Tolima | Music reading and writing, musical aptitude with basic music fundamentals, and an interview |
| Licenciatura en Música, Pedagógica Nacional (2026-2) | Musical aptitude and knowledge 40 %, interview 40 %, principal instrument 20 % |
| Musical Arts, Distrital ASAB | Qualifying test in the chosen focus area (minimum 60 out of 100); then dictation, music reading, harmony and counterpoint, literacy skills, and Saber 11 |
For a Maestro degree, your instrumental skills, theory and ear training need to be very solid. The same is true for a music education degree, but you also need to prepare for the interview and think seriously about why you want to teach. We explore this in the music admissions interview and our guide to admission to Pedagógica's music education degree.
Who can teach music in a school?
This is the practical question behind the decision. According to the current regulations we reviewed, these are the key points:
- Article 116 of Law 115 of 1994 (amended by Law 1297 of 2009) allows graduates with the normalista superior teaching qualification, teaching-degree holders and other professionals to teach.
- Decree-Law 1278 of 2002 (Article 12) states that professionals without a teaching degree must provide proof, by the end of their probationary period, that they are enrolled in or have completed a graduate program in education or a pedagogy program at a higher education institution.
- In both cases, entry into the public-school teaching career requires going through the competitive teacher recruitment process.
In practical terms, a Maestro en Música graduate can teach in a public school but will need additional pedagogical training; a music education graduate already has it. Regulations change and include nuances, so before deciding, check with the Ministerio de Educación Nacional and the current teacher recruitment notice.
Private schools, academies and music schools set their own requirements. Musical ability, experience and teaching skills carry considerable weight there, with either degree.
Which degree fits your goal?
| If your goal is… | The better fit is… |
|---|---|
| Playing in professional orchestras, bands or ensembles | Maestro en Música with a performance specialization |
| Composing, arranging or producing | Maestro with a specialization in composition, arranging or production |
| Teaching music in public schools | A music education degree, or a Maestro degree plus pedagogical training |
| Directing school and community bands or choirs | A music education degree or a conducting-focused program (Cauca's includes Band Conducting) |
| Teaching an instrument in music schools or private lessons | Either degree; your musical and teaching skills matter |
| Researching music | An undergraduate degree focused on musicology or theory, followed by a master's |
Don't choose based on which test seems easier: neither is easier; each asks for different skills. If you change direction later, graduate study can help fill the gaps in your training.
Either degree requires solid theory, ear training and instrumental skills. At Gissi, we support you with music theory lessons, solfège, dictation and instrumental lessons, online or in your home in Bogotá; see how in admissions-test preparation. If you're still comparing universities, start with our overview of music degrees in Colombia.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Maestro en Música graduate be a teacher?
Yes. They can teach in music schools, academies and private lessons. Under current regulations, teaching in public schools requires evidence of pedagogical training during the probationary period; check the details with the Ministerio de Educación.
Can a music education graduate be a professional musician?
Of course. The degree includes instrumental study and ensemble playing, and graduates commonly perform in ensembles, direct choirs and bands, or compose. What it offers less of is the depth of an artistic specialization such as performance or composition.
How long does each degree take?
Both are lengthy undergraduate degrees. In the information we reviewed, the Music Education degree at the Universidad de Antioquia lasts ten semesters, the Music program at the same university (awarding the Maestro degree) eight, and Musical Training at El Bosque (awarding the Maestro en Música degree) nine. Check the details for each program.
Which degree is harder?
Neither is easier. The Maestro degree requires more hours on your instrument and repertoire; the music education degree adds pedagogy and teaching placements. The harder one is usually the one that doesn't fit your goal, because that's where motivation fades.
Sources
We checked the facts in this article against these sources on October 22, 2026.
- Congreso de la República, Law 1297 of 2009: revised Article 116 of Law 115 on qualifications required to teach
- Ministerio de Educación Nacional: professionals without teaching degrees and Decree-Law 1278 of 2002 (Article 12)
- Universidad de Antioquia: music programs, degrees, and duration
- Conservatorio del Tolima: admission guidelines for the undergraduate Maestro en Música program (Agreement 17 of 2022)
- Universidad Distrital (ASAB): admissions instructions for Musical Arts 2027-1
- Universidad El Bosque: undergraduate Musical Training program (degree and duration)