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-scientific and pedagogical-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 and
formats and are discussed/understood as mutually enriching. In the process, diverse encounters with a contemporary, innovative and future-oriented artistic and pedagogical practice are realised.

Research-based approaches qualify students for a reflected artistic-pedagogical and theoretical-scientific practice.
practice. The development of independent art productions and questions is promoted by the respective specialisation in performative-artistic or pedagogical-scientific aspects.
Individual competences are developed and differentiated in the course of study towards an academic profile. In particular, the following are expanded and professionalised:

• The ability to teach general musical as well as instrumental/vocal and dance competences.
• The ability to differentiate artistic competences, especially in improvisation and composition, independently and in practice with diverse target groups.
• The ability to plan, implement and document artistic and artistic-pedagogical projects
• The ability to act pedagogically responsibly in diversity contexts 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, artistic-pedagogical and scientific work.
• The ability to present artistic projects to the public in an aesthetically contemporary way.
• The ability to apply strategies after graduation in order to proactively organise and implement further learning and development processes.

The four-semester course of study has a modular structure. A module is the combination of teaching and learning content into thematically and didactically meaningful units of study. The names and content-related 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 module descriptions in the curriculum.

These contain the respective learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, competencies). The study program includes creative-design, artistic-technical, art- and educational-scientific and pedagogical-practical areas and is characterized by a consistent theory-practice relationship. Artistic competencies are acquired and differentiated. It opens up working methods of a contemporary elemental music and dance pedagogy including performative  formats. From this, skills for teaching music and dance are derived and these are transferred into diverse, constantly reforming, artistic-pedagogical contexts, with special consideration of social diversity.

Link to the semester plan

Admission to the Master's program Elemental Music and Movement Pedagogy 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 para. 3 UG 2002). 
In addition, a prerequisite for admission to the degree programme is the successful completion of the admission examination. For this, an online registration is required first, during which the necessary documents are checked. Only after the completely submitted documents have been checked will an invitation to the admission examination be issued.

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!

Necessary documents for online application

• Curriculum vitae in tabular form with photo.
• Letter of motivation (approx. one DIN A4 page).
• BA certificate or diploma of a relevant degree programme, if the degree programme has already been completed. 
• The following studies are considered relevant for admission: at least six semesters of a pedagogical, artistic-pedagogical or artistic BA (e.g. BA Lehramt ME/IME, BA IGP, BA Instrumental).
• 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!)
• In the case of non-pedagogical studies, proof of pedagogical activity, professional practice, teaching activity, e.g. in the following form, must also be submitted: Proof of professional activity by those providing the service, proof of relevant further training, documentation of teaching activity (such as courses held, target groups, programmes, flyers, visual material, evaluation or feedback).
• 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.
• If applicable, proof of German.

Form of the documents

• The documents can be uploaded as PDF files in the application form (when activated).
• If the documents mentioned are not available in German or English, an official translation must be submitted.

The Admission Examination

Within the admission examination, the following partial examinations have to be passed:

A- Artistic-pedagogical aptitude (leading a group)

Examination requirements: The focus of this part of the examination is to determine aptitude for artistically oriented teaching practice with groups. The candidates work with a group (usually fellow candidates) on a prepared piece of their own choice, possibly also composed by themselves, e.g. song or canon with or without accompaniment (body percussion, instruments, movements, gestures, dance): 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 material used with the corresponding source information (e.g. sheet music, spoken piece, choreographic sketch, music selection) and steps of the lesson planning (course plan) are to be brought to the entrance examination in triplicate in written form. The teaching rehearsal is to be reflected on afterwards

B - Audition Instrument/Performance Voice

Examination requirements Recital Singing:

• Three pieces of different epochs and characters are to be performed from memory. The pieces to be performed are solo pieces with accompaniment (no choir parts).
• Solution of a vocal improvisation task (e.g. playful vocal realisation of a spontaneously given theme).
• Prima Vista Singing.

Examination requirements Audition Instrument:

• Three pieces of different epochs and characters are to be played. Memorisation is not required.
• Solution of a spontaneously given improvisation task on the instrument.
• Prima Vista Playing.

C - Pedagogical-practical entrance examination

Examination requirements General musical aptitude: All applicants take an examination on percussion aptitude, which is determined by participation in an ensemble class under the direction of a teacher. Contents include question and answer games, imitation and coordination exercises.

 Examination requirements practical aptitude voice:

All applicants take a practical aptitude test for voice:

• Two short pieces of different character and style are 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.
• Preparation of a short text (poetry, prose, etc.). This is to be recited from memory (including linguistic elements) with a duration of approx. one to two minutes.

D - Dance Practice (general dance aptitude in the group and solo study)

Examination requirements general dance aptitude in the group: participation in a dance technique class (contemporary), examination in the group under the guidance of a teacher with the following elements, among others: Guided warm up, implementation of given movement material in the square and through the space, rhythmic exercises, contact and spatial orientation exercises, variation and interpretation of movement material and improvisation. (Duration approx. 45-60 minutes.)

Examination requirements Solo study: Performance of a prepared, individually designed movement/dance study on a freely chosen topic, e.g. presentation of a movement research 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, process, if necessary a spontaneous task on what has been shown and questions on previous experience in dance.

E - Music theory and ear 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 exam example as well as further help for preparation 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.

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 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

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 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 and 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