Violoncello

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 violoncello 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 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, during which an application video must also be submitted. In case of a positive evaluation of the application video, an invitation to the admission examination will be sent.

ATTENTION:

• The assessment of the application video takes place after the application deadline and can take 2-4 weeks!
• You can only apply for studies for which you have not yet obtained a degree!

Application video

On the basis of the submitted videos, a pre-selection will be made by the examination board. The following excerpt from the examination program BA Violoncello has to be uploaded on a video platform of your choice:

• Prelude or another movement from a suite by Bach
• an etude
• first movement from a concerto, exposition

Applicants will be asked to briefly introduce themselves in an oral presentation.
Important information on the video upload can be found HERE, as well as the data protection information. The requirements mentioned there are to be observed urgently!

Structure of the Admission Examination

If you have received an invitation to the admission examination based on your application video, the following partial examinations must be completed:

A- Instrumental audition to determine artistic aptitude

The program presented must in principle contain representative pieces from several styles or epochs for the respective instrument, taking into account the technical and stylistic diversity. Concertos, solo pieces and caprices must be performed from memory (exception for modern and contemporary works after consultation with the examination committee). 
The following works must be prepared:

• Concerto by Haydn in C major or D major, first movement and cadenza
• an etude by Popper or a caprice by Piatti
• Prelude and another movement from one of the six solo suites by Bach
• first movement from a concerto of the Romantic period or of the 20th century
• second movement from the Arpeggione Sonata by Schubert or second piece in folk tone by Schumann or third movement from the Chopin Sonata 

An experienced répétiteur is available during the examination, unfortunately communication rehearsals are not possible. You have to bring your own sheet music!

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 - Examination of elementary piano playing

Audition of about 10 minutes duration. The program has to consist of two pieces of different style in the degree of difficulty from:

• J.S. Bach: little book of notes for Anna Magdalena
• J. Haydn: Sonatas in C major, G major or F major (HOB: XVI: 7, 8 and 9)
• R. Schumann: Album for the Youth, Op. 68

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 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 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 at International Affairs.