Music theory

The aim of the study programme is to bring students to the best possible development of their creative or reflective abilities and to impart a confident handling of musical material in all genres (instrumental, vocal and electronic music). The composition programme at the Mozarteum University is characterised by the fact that, in addition to the legally prescribed free electives, students take electives that form an individual focus during their studies.

Obvious specialisations for the study of composition are, for example, Electronic Music and Audiovisual Media, Musicology, Early Music, New Music, Conducting, Jazz and Popular Music and Applied Composition. Students can choose from the courses offered by various institutes of the Mozarteum University and the Paris Lodron University Salzburg.

The curriculum is competence-oriented. The following key qualifications are required:

• Above-average creativity, general and musical intelligence and communicative, social and linguistic competence.
• Ability and willingness to reflect as well as to engage in dialogue about one's own artistic works and views.

Upon completion of the programme, students should be able to:

• be proficient in the creation of a wide variety of works of contemporary composition, both aesthetically and technically
• be free and independent in their artistic work
• critically engage with artistic and scientific issues
• have acquired comprehensive knowledge of music theory and musicology and are able to apply it practically
• have mastered the basics of academic work and are able to analyse, interpret and write up artistic content in a well-founded manner
• be able to use new media effectively
• develop their individual interests in the sense of lifelong learning beyond their own subject area through targeted in-depth study within the framework of (free) elective

The four-semester master's program in music theory is modular in structure. A module is the combination of teaching and learning content into thematically and didactically meaningful units of study. The names and content descriptions (study objectives) of the individual modules as well as 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. The Master's Program Music Theory is a face-to-face program and cannot be offered - not even in parts - as a distance learning program.

The courses from the Central Artistic Subject (ZKF) as well as the other Individual Artistic Lessons (KE) are designed to build on each other. The prerequisite for enrollment in courses from the ZKF or KE in each semester - with the exception of the first - is a positive evaluation of the previous semester. In addition to the compulsory courses in music theory, musicology and electroacoustic composition, the program includes a large number of free electives in which students have the opportunity to freely choose the content of their studies and to study these both at the Mozarteum and at the University of Salzburg as well as the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences.

Link to the semester plan

Admission to the Master's programme Music Theory requires the completion of a relevant Bachelor's programme (BA) or another equivalent programme at a recognised Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational institution (e.g. university, college) (§ 64 Abs. 3 UG 2002). Admission with a pedagogical degree such as teaching degree or instrumental & vocal pedagogy is NOT possible.

A prerequisite for admission to the degree programme is also the successful completion of the admission examination. For this, an online application is first required, during which the necessary documents are checked. An invitation to the entrance examination will only be sent after the complete documents have been checked.

ATTENTION:

• The examination of the pre-study documents can take up to 4 weeks! Early application is therefore recommended.
• You can only apply for studies for which you have not yet obtained a degree!

Documents required for online application

• BA certificate or degree certificate from a relevant degree programme, if the degree programme has already been completed 
• Current confirmation of enrolment if the degree programme has not yet been completed (the certificate must be submitted by the time of enrolment!)
• overview of subjects and grades (Transcript of Records) of the BA degree programme
• Official confirmation of the main subject/instrument, if this is not evident from the other documents (e.g. "Bachelor of Music" is not sufficient!)
• If further previous studies are available, a complete overview of subjects and grades (Transcript of Records) of all artistic and pedagogical Master's and diploma studies must also be uploaded.

Form of the documents

• The documents can be uploaded as PDF files in the application form.
• If the documents mentioned are not available in German or English, an official translation must be submitted.
• An application portfolio (see Partial Examination B) must be submitted as a PDF file via the upload link after the invitation has been issued.

The entrance examination

If you have received an invitation to the entrance examination on the basis of the documents you have submitted, you will have to take the following partial examinations:

A - Music theory in writing

• Composition (120 minutes):
  - Stylistic work: "Lied ohne Worte" or romantic prelude (Chopin, Schumann, Mendelssohn) or freitonal or dodecaphonic stylistic exercise
  - Analysis of a work after 1900
• Ear training (60 minutes):
  1-part atonal
  2-part freitonal
  3-part polyphonic
  4-part homophonic

B - Music theory oral

Portfolio:

• Proof of creative abilities by presenting a portfolio as well as questions about the portfolio.
• The duration of the examination is approx. 10 minutes.
• The portfolio must be submitted to the ACOnet Filesender at least three weeks before the examination. You will receive an upload link for this from the relevant department secretariat as part of the invitation to the entrance examination.
• It must contain a selection of 8 representative works (stylistic works, analyses, original compositions, teaching concepts for composition / aural training / analysis) as well as an independent essay (such as a seminar paper on music theory with 10-15 pages in length) including a bibliography in German or English, also in electronic form. A coherent PDF document is to be created and uploaded as soon as you have received the invitation or the upload link.

Analysis:

• Spontaneous analysis of a submitted work without preparation/prima-vista.
• The duration of the examination is approximately 10 minutes.
• A short example of two pages from piano or chamber music literature is to be analysed spontaneously with specific questions regarding form, structure, theme formation, harmony (cadence formation), etc.

Interview:

• Interview with the examination board on motivation, background, previous studies, expectations.
• The duration of the examination is 5-10 minutes.

After passing sub-exams A and B, admission to sub-exam C takes place.

C - German language skills

• Required language level: at least A2 (Common European Framework of Reference CEFR 2001)
• Information on the German examination and the recognised certificates can be found HERE

Dates & timetable

The dates of the entrance examination as well as important deadlines can be found in the current schedule. 
Time schedule:

• Examination registration during the application period online via the registration portal for university applicants
  (ATTENTION: Registration only possible if documents are complete, including video!)
• If the application video is positive: Invitation to the on-site entrance examination
• Participation in the on-site admission test in May/June
• if you pass the admission test: invitation to enrol for the degree programme
• Enrolment during the general admission period

Different examination method

Please note that the University Mozarteum Salzburg offers various support options for the admission examination and during your studies if you have a disability or a chronic illness.

If this applies to you and you would like to take advantage of counselling, please contact Claudia Haitzmann: claudia.haitzmann@moz.ac.at or +43 676 88122 337.

Students of the Master's programme are recommended to complete a semester abroad. Semesters 2 and 3 of the degree programme are particularly suitable for this. In addition to the subject-specific competences, the following qualifications can be acquired through a study period abroad:

• Acquisition and deepening of subject-specific foreign language skills
• Acquisition and deepening of general language skills (language comprehension, conversation, etc.)
• Acquisition and deepening of organisational skills through independent planning of everyday study life in international administrative and university structures
• Getting to know and studying in international study systems as well as broadening one's own subject perspective
• Acquisition and deepening of intercultural competences

The recognition of examinations taken during studies abroad as compulsory subjects, elective subjects or free elective subjects is carried out by the Director of Studies. The documents required for the assessment are to be submitted by the applicant immediately after the stay abroad.

Details at International Affairs.