Elemental Music & Movement Education

The aim of the study programme is to go beyond the bachelor's degree and to deepen the subject-specific, artistic, theoretical and didactic knowledge in the field of elemental music and dance education. Subject-specific and interdisciplinary topics are dealt with in a variety of artistic and academic formats, with all participants appreciating how interdisciplinary cooperation can be enriching for all involved. As part of this process, students experience diverse encounters with a contemporary, innovative and future-oriented artistic and pedagogical practice.

The research-based approaches introduced to students ensure that their future work is based upon reflected pedagogical practice in their area of artistic expertise as well as being underscored by sound theoretical knowledge. Students will choose either a performance artistic or a pedagogical and scholarly specialism, which informs their development of independent artistic projects and research questions respectively. During the course of their studies, students will build an individual academic profile by developing and diversifying their Individual competences. Particular emphasis is placed on further expansion and professionalisation in the following fields:

• The ability to teach general musical competences as well as instrumental/vocal and dance skills.
• The ability to diversify artistic competences, especially in improvisation and composition, independently and when working with diverse target groups.
• The ability to plan, implement and document artistic and pedagogical projects.
  The ability to act in a pedagogically responsible way with regard to diversity, on the basis of current scientific knowledge.
• The ability to shape creative processes in a cooperative and collaborative way.
• The ability to develop research-based approaches.
• The ability to look discursively, self-critically and reflexively at one's own artistic, pedagogical and scholarly work.
• The ability to present artistic projects to the public in a way reflective of contemporary aesthetics.
• The ability to apply strategies in order to proactively organise and implement further learning and development processes after completion of the degree programme (lifelong learning).

This four-semester course of study is modular in structure. Each module comprises teaching and learning content that has been combined to form thematically and didactically meaningful units of study. The names and content descriptions (study objectives) of the individual modules, the number of ECTS credits to be achieved for each module, and the type of performance assessment are specified in the curriculum. The module descriptions refer to the corresponding learning outcomes and competencies.

These contain the respective learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, competencies). The study programme covers the areas of creativity and design, artistry and technical skill, arts and educational sciences, and pedagogical practice. It is characterised by a consistent emphasis on the relationship between theory and practice. Artistic competencies are acquired and diversified. The course presents contemporary methods of teaching elemental music and dance, including performative  formats. From this, skills for teaching music and dance are derived which are then transferred into diverse, constantly changing, pedagogical contexts, with special consideration given to social diversity.

Link to the curriculum

Students of the Master's programme are encouraged to complete a semester abroad. Semesters 2 and 3 of the degree programme are particularly suitable for this. In addition to subject-specific competences, a study period abroad can also lead to the acquisition and deepening of:

• Subject-specific foreign language skills
• General foreign-language skills (language comprehension, conversation, etc.)
• Organisational skills, through independent planning of everyday student life in international administrative and university structures
• Knowledge about international study systems, as well as broadening one's own subject perspective
• Intercultural competences

Examinations and assessments taken during studies abroad can be approved by the Director of Studies as equivalents to compulsory subjects, elective subjects or free elective subjects required by the Mozarteum University for your degree course. The documents required for the approval procedure are to be submitted by the applicant immediately after their exchange semester.

Details at International Affairs

The entrance examination consists of the following sections, all of which must be passed:

A - Pedagogical aptitude (leading a group)

The focus of this part of the examination is to determine candidates’ aptitude for artistically oriented teaching practice with groups. Candidates will work with a group (usually fellow candidates) on a piece of their own choice (possibly a piece they have composed themselves) that they have prepared in advance, e.g. song or canon with or without accompaniment (body percussion, instruments, movements, gestures, dance), traditional dance or excerpt of a choreography, spoken word piece, simple ensemble piece (instrumental, vocal). The candidate must bring to the examination three copies of the material used, including the corresponding source information (e.g. sheet music, spoken piece, choreographic sketch, music selection) as well as three copies of their lesson plan (broken down into steps). The teaching demonstration will be evaluated afterwards.

B - Instrumental or Vocal Audition

Requirements for vocal auditions:

• Three pieces of different periods and characters are to be performed from memory. The pieces to be performed must be solo pieces with accompaniment (no choir parts).
• Solving an improvisation task (e.g. playful vocal realisation of a spontaneously given theme).
• Sight Singing.

Requirements for instrumental auditions:

• Three pieces of different periods and characters are to be performed; it is not necessary to perform from memory.
• Solving an improvisation task (material will be provided in the exam) on the instrument.
• Sight reading.

C - Practical music skills (general musical aptitude; vocal aptitude)

Requirements: General musical aptitude

All applicants must demonstrate their skills in percussion, which is determined by participation in an ensemble class under the direction of a teacher. Content will include question and answer games, imitation and coordination exercises.

 Requirements: Vocal aptitude

All applicants will take a voice test, to include:

• Two short pieces of different character and style, to be sung unaccompanied and from memory. (For pieces with several verses, a maximum of two verses.) One of these should be sung in German and one should be a folk song.
• Recital of a short text of the candidate's choice (poetry, prose, etc.). This is to be recited from memory and should be considered a creative performance. It should last approx. one to two minutes.

D - Practical dance skills (general aptitude in the group; solo study)

Requirements - general aptitude in a group:

Participation in a dance technique class (contemporary), examination in the group under the guidance of a teacher, including but not limited to the following elements: Guided warm up, realisation of movement material provided in the exam both on the spot and moving through the room, rhythmic exercises, contact and spatial orientation exercises, variation and interpretation of movement material and improvisation. (Duration approx. 45-60 minutes.)

Requirements - Solo study:

Performance of a prepared, individually designed movement/dance study on a freely chosen topic, e.g. presentation of a movement-exploration or dance movement scene, with movement material to be chosen by the candidate. The study can be designed with or without music and/or include other elements supporting or sustaining the performance (text, image, object, etc.). (Duration: minimum three to maximum five minutes.) This is followed by a short discussion on intention and process. Students should be prepared for the possibility of being asked to perform a spontaneous task relating to what they have presented, or to answer questions on their previous dance experience.

E - Music theory and aural skills

Examination of basic knowledge of general music theory (written and oral) including an aural test.

Requirements in the written part of the examination (approx. 60 minutes):

• Notation of melodies from memory
• Continuation of given melodies
• Composing a short melody for a given text
• Noting down one-part and easy two-part melodic dictations as well as rhythmic dictations
• Forming all triads and seventh chords including inversions (especially dominant-seventh chords in root position and 3rd inversion)
• Recognising and writing down simple figured basses as well as harmony functions and harmony steps in a musical context.

Requirements in the oral part of the examination (5-10 minutes):

• Sight-reading
• Recognising and naming intervals and simple chord progressions
• Singing triads (in inversions) and dominant seventh chords (in root position only)
• Identification of harmonic steps and dissonant neighbour notes
• Extended cadence in major and minor in two different keys (on piano or guitar)

Sample exam questions and further help for preparation can be found HERE.

F - German language skills

• Required language level: at least B2 (Common European Framework of Reference CEFR 2001)
• Information on the German examination as well as the recognised certificates can be found HERE

After passing Partial Examination A, you will be admitted to Partial Examinations B-D (possibly in a different order). The repetition of the sub-examinations A-C in case of failure is not permitted. The admission examination can only be repeated in its entirety and only in the next academic year. The admission examination can be repeated an unlimited number of times.