The Pyongyang University of Music and Dance is a North Korea

North Korea

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...

n performing arts university founded in July 1972 in the Taedonggang District

Taedonggang-guyok

Taedonggang-guyŏk, or Taedong River District, is one of the 19 guyŏk, and one of the six that constitute East Pyongyang, North Korea. Taedonggang-guyŏk is on the eastern bank of the Taedong River, north of Tongdaewŏn-guyŏk and west of Sadong-guyŏk...

 of Pyongyang

Pyongyang

Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...

 from a merge with the Pyongyang Art College. The university has been awarded several North Korean awards for Juche

Juche

Juche or Chuch'e is a Korean word usually translated as "self-reliance." In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , "Juche" refers specifically to a political thesis of Kim Il-sung, the Juche Idea, that identifies the Korean masses as the masters of the country's development...

-orientated artworks and performances. Its facilities include a full orchestra

Orchestra

An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...

 and a music hall covering 5,500 square meters. 30 percent of the university teachers have academic degrees and titles.

The university's educational system consists of 4 to 5 year regular courses and 2 to 3 year special courses. There is also an additional 2 year kindergarten course, 4 year primary course and a 3 year preparatory course for young musicians and performers.

History

Originally the Pyongyang Dance College, founded on March 1, 1949, the university combined with the Pyongyang Art College in 1972 to become the Pyongyang University of Music and Dance. Its newly developed buildings saw the "on-the-spot" guidance Kim Il-Sung

Kim Il-sung

Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...

 and Kim Jong-Il

Kim Jong-il

Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...

whilst being built.

Departments

• National instrumental music
• Modern instrumental music
• Vocal music
• Dance and composition (practical and theory)