Organ

Bachelor
BA

The goals of the bachelor's degree programme in organ are artistic maturity and independence, ability for critical reflection and self-evaluation, artistic and scientific ability to develop musical works of art of all epochs, ability to practice professionally, ability to fulfill artistic, pedagogical and organizational tasks within cultural life.

Department of Keyboard Studies
+43 676 88122 378
birgit.draxl@moz.ac.at

Study & Examination Management
+43 676 88122 492
studienabteilung@moz.ac.at

Length
8 semesters / 240 ECTS-AP

Language 
German

Registration deadline
from February each year
to the dates

Admission examinations
Summer semester of each year
to the dates

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Study & Occupational Fields

The study program is oriented both to the current state of development and development of the arts and to the state of research in the sciences involved. The goal of the instrumental studies is the practice-oriented and scientifically founded professional preparation for the following fields that are offered to the students:

  • Soloist
  • Chamber musician
  • Freelance artist
  • Orchestra musician (for example in chamber, opera and symphony orchestras, orchestras and ensembles for contemporary music, orchestras and ensembles for historical instruments)

General study information

The curriculum is competency-based. Upon completion of the bachelor's program, students should:

  • be able to master their instrument and present themselves professionally
  • be free and independent in their artistic work
  • be able to deal critically with artistic and scientific issues
  • be able to play professionally in an orchestra/ensemble
  • be able to contribute to the work in a chamber music formation or ensemble in an artistically constructive way with team spirit
  • have acquired comprehensive knowledge of various playing techniques
  • have acquired comprehensive knowledge of the orchestral literature and mastery of the relevant orchestral parts and the solo and chamber music literature of various epochs
  • have basic knowledge of stylistics and repertoire
  • have gained insight into the literature and performance practice of early and contemporary music
  • have acquired comprehensive knowledge of music theory and musicology and are able to apply this in practice
  • 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 audiovisual media for self-presentations (such as competition submissions, demo recordings, internet presentations etc.)
  • have gained insights into the areas of physical and mental health maintenance, self-management and optimisation of performance
  • have further developed their individual interests in the sense of lifelong learning beyond their own subject area through targeted consolidation in the context of (free) electives

The eight-semester bachelor's degree program in organ is modular in structure. A module is the combination of teaching and learning content into thematically and didactically meaningful units of study. The designations 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 Bachelor's program 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 Instruction (KE) are designed to build upon each other. 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.

Link to the semester schedule

The prerequisite for admission to a bachelor's degree program (BA) is passing the admission examination. For this, an online application is first required.

ATTENTION: You can only apply for studies for which you have not yet obtained a degree!

Structure of the Admission Examination

The admission examination consists of the following partial examinations:

A- Instrumental audition to determine artistic aptitude

The program presented must in principle include representative pieces from several styles or epochs for the respective instrument, taking into account the technical and stylistic diversity. The following works must be prepared for the audition on the organ: 

  • three complete works from different stylistic epochs, one of which must be by J.S. Bach
  • From sight-reading

B - Music Theory & Aural Training

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
  • Finding a melody to 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 subdominant-quintessential and dominant-seventh chord)
  • 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
  • Listening to and naming intervals and simple chord progressions
  • Singing triads (in inversions) and dominant seventh chords (in root position only)
  • Listening to harmonic steps and dissonant secondary notes
  • Extended cadence in major and minor in two different keys (on piano or guitar)

You can find an example of the exam as well as further help for preparation HERE.

C - Elementary Piano Examination

Audition lasting approx. 10 minutes. The programme has to consist of two pieces of different styles in the degree of difficulty from:

  • an etude by Cramer or Czerny: Art of dexterity
  • a three-part invention or a work of comparable difficulty by J.S. Bach
  • a moderately difficult classical sonata movement (e.g. Haydn or Mozart)
  • a moderately difficult, shorter work of the Romantic or Modern period

D - German language skills

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

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

Dates & time schedule

The dates of the admission 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 information is complete!)
  • 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

Deviating 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 oder +43 676 88122 337.

Students of the Bachelor's programme are recommended to complete a semester abroad. Semesters 5 and 6 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 under International Affairs.

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Hannfried Lucke | © Elsa Okazaki
Hannfried Lucke

Vice Rector for Art / Univ. Prof. for Organ / Artistic Director International Summer Academy & International Mozart Competition

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