Chamber Music (N0215A310024)

Programme objectives

The objective of the programme is to prepare highly qualified musicians who possess a significant degree of skill in interpreting the chamber literature in ensembles such as piano trios, string quartets, wind quintets or other chamber ensembles with sufficient original literature. The Master’s programme in Chamber Performance is focused on applying and developing the student’s skills acquired in previous levels of education in musicianship. The programme in Chamber Performance also accepts applications from individual members of existing ensembles engaged in respected artistic activity. The Master’s programme will provide them with a unique opportunity to creatively develop the quality of their current ensemble and confront it with the experiences of prominent Czech chamber performers who teach at HAMU.

Through its own interpretation of chamber music, the programme is focused on mastery of a wide range of the most technically challenging repertoire, as well as on developing the student’s individual musical expression, collective sensibility, capacity for critical self-reflection, flawless command of instrumental technique and knowledge of a broad spectrum of interpretative approaches. The student is also led to synthetically interconnect artistic practice and acquired knowledge concerning the problems of the organisation and structure of music operations.

Profile of a programme graduate

A graduate of the programme in Chamber Performance has perfectly mastered the principles of chamber performance, built on the deeply rooted and excellent traditions of Czech chamber music. Thanks to HAMU’s extraordinarily strong pedagogical prowess in this area as verified at prestigious foreign festivals and performing arts shows, the graduate is safely and deeply oriented in all stylistic periods and in the musical legacy of the past when collaborating creatively and finding a unified interpretive approach with other members of the ensemble. The graduate performs as a versatile and accomplished artistic personality capable of masterful, original and compelling interpretive musical expression, and can substantiate his or her decisions with relevant arguments. The graduate is able to independently, purposefully and efficiently plan and structure his or her own work.

Specialist knowledge

Graduates of the Chamber Performance programme possess comprehensive knowledge of the Czech and world repertoires for the selected type of chamber ensemble, and demonstrate a high standard in creating and delivering seamless musical experiences and interpretations. They develop, present and execute artistic programmes which are coherent and appropriate for various contexts. They have an in-depth understanding of the musician’s role in contemporary society, and they explore, are engaged in and contemplate specific relevant professional work environments and contexts. They have an overview of the regimen and function of music in society, and are familiar with the basic concepts and terminology of the existing model of music operations.

They have basic knowledge in the area of copyright law, legal and economic aspects of musical life, and publishing law with a practical focus on the possible organisation of concerts or recordings and making adaptations to a protected work pursuant to valid legislation.

They are familiar with the media industry and its links to other segments of the music industry, including the ever-growing role of social networks and online music broadcasting.

Specialist skills

Graduates of the Chamber Performance programme effectuate music at a high professional level (technically and interpretatively masterful expression), and they express their own artistic concepts on the level of an accomplished musical personality. They have mastered sophisticated skills of the craft with respect to the repertoire of the selected type of chamber ensemble, style, genre, etc. They demonstrate breadth and depth of expertise, as well as proficiency in a number of styles or a distinctive and individual expressiveness in one particular style. Publicly, they execute high-quality artistic performances in the role of a chamber player. They understand their field in depth with respect to the relevant career path and opportunities, and on this basis they identify and formulate strategies for developing collaborations. They engage in a high level of critical self-reflection with respect to their own learning style, skills and strategies. They are able to apply their knowledge of the organisation and structure of music operations in their own artistic practice.

General competencies

Graduates of the Chamber Performance programme demonstrate independence in all aspects of learning and social interaction, and in recognising opportunities. They are able to integrate knowledge obtained from various contexts and perspectives. They recognise the relationships between theory and practice, and use this knowledge to support and strengthen their own artistic development. They have mastered the presentation and communication skills appropriate for all aspects of their practice and activity. They engage and share information with expert and lay musicians and audiences across a broad spectrum of society; they are aware of individual and group reactions to this information and are able to respond appropriately. They have a positive attitude and willingly engage in lifelong personal and professional development. They actively collaborate with individuals and groups as required, with respect to their own context as well as to the broader cultural context.

Students also have the opportunity at any time during their studies to sit for a state examination in pedagogical competency to teach a given musical instrument. A prerequisite for taking this state examination is completion of the relevant optional subjects: Pedagogy, Psychology and Didactics / Teaching Practical.

General information about admission process

An admissions proceeding has been organised for the continuing Master’s programme in Chamber Performance, which takes the form of an in-person aptitude test. The applicant shall include with his or her application for admission to the Master’s programme in Chamber Performance such materials (programmes, awards, etc.) which document and demonstrate at least one year of successful group artistic activity in an ensemble. A requirement for admission to the Master’s programme in Chamber Performance is successful completion of a Bachelor’s programme in interpretive instrumental performance in the instrument which will be part of the selected type of ensemble, i.e. piano trio, string quartet, wind quintet or other chamber ensemble with sufficient original literature. The ensemble as a whole shall participate in the aptitude test. A requirement of admission is the evaluation of the individual performance of each applicant in the ensemble. It is possible for only one member of an existing chamber ensemble to apply for admission; it is not necessary for the ensemble to apply as a whole. Admission is granted to individual ensemble members on condition that the other members participate together with the student in selected elective subjects, Chamber Performance Seminars and concert performances.

Aptitude test

The precise requirements of the aptitude tests for admission to the Master’s programme in Chamber Performance are published for each academic year and consist of a specific programme (a designation of required compositions and compositions selected by the applicant, of whether these compositions must be played from memory, etc.) which is specially selected for each type of ensemble and in such a way so as to enable the applicant to demonstrate his or her extraordinary aptitudes for the Master’s programme.

These requirements are updated each year and posted in the relevant parts of the Studies section on the faculty website, and thus they are also available to prospective HAMU applicants. The aptitude test shall take place in person before the examination committee, where the applicant shall perform the stipulated programme. The examination committee has the right to designate which of the required compositions the applicant shall perform. The examination committee has the right to interrupt individual compositions at any time.

The committee shall evaluate, within the ensemble, the individual performance of the applicant. The level of interpretive execution shall be evaluated for the ensemble as a whole as well as for the individual members. Furthermore, the overall impression of the mutual collaboration shall be evaluated with respect to the joint construction of phrases, interplay, the musical exhibition of the work, individual members’ artistic expression, the players’ technical skill and facility in instrument control at least on the level of a Bachelor’s programme graduate.

The admissions committee shall rank individual applicants according to their average scores and shall recommend for admission those applicants who ranked within the admissions target and who earned the minimum score for the Chamber Performance programme of study.

The requirements of the admissions proceeding, including designation of the method by which points are awarded, their range and the admissions target, are defined for each academic year by a relevant Decree of the Dean, which is subject to approval by the academic senate of the faculty.

If not enough applicants receive the required number of points, the admissions target will not be met.