Composition (8201T080)

master's programme qualification

Specific admission requirements

The entrance examination consists of a presentation of compositions and the demonstration of talents and technical abilities:

  1. submission of one´s own compositions as scores (or in corresponding graphic form) and their performance on the piano or other instrument, or from a recording;
  2. ability to analyse one´s own compositions and those of others;
  3. a written examination: test of practical skill and extemporaneity in harmony (harmonising with a given melody) and in counterpoint (composing a Baroque fugue). Both without the use of a piano; a test of musical creativity based on an assignment (a short study); candidates for the Master´s programme may be granted an exemption on the basis of presented compositional studies;

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning

The programme does not have any specific requirements for the recognition of prior learning.

The procedure for recognition at AMU is governed by Articles 89 and 90 of the Act on Higher Education Institutions No. 111/1998 Coll., as amended, and by the AMU Attendance and Examination Regulations (Articles 8, 14, 18).

Qualification requirements and regulations

Completed university education in a Bachelor?s programme in the field of Composition.

Regulations: The Czech education system is governed by the Act on Higher Education Institutions, as amended (Act No. 111/1998 Coll.), and by the internal regulations of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

Field of study characterization

In the main field of Composition, the instruction grants to the student latitude in stylistic direction, but requires extemporaneity, technical certitude, responsibility in handing in work and possibly also the ability to understand and make use of various expressions of applied genres and types of music in the student?s work. For the duration of the programme, the student is developed and cultivated mainly by the pedagogue of the main subject in individual lessons (2 hours of instruction per week at the Bachelor?s level and 3 instructional hours per week at the Master?s level). In addition, the department places great emphasis on students? well-founded general and specific scholarly informedness, which helps them to search for and find distinctive paths in artistic practice. The instruction of composers is divided into several mutually interconnected wholes which participate in shaping students? artistic and human qualities. Emphasis is also placed on the creative mastery of present-day digital technologies in compositional practice.

Study tasks are selected for students in individual years according to their level of compositional maturity.

In the Master?s programme, creative work continues to larger symphonic, cantata or multi-media (final diploma work) compositions. A graduate must demonstrate independence in his or her artistic direction and in resolving technical problems.

Key learning outcomes

Ability to perform independent composing work; development of creative and stylistic differentiation; independent and creative work with modern technologies including programs for working with sound, live electronics, creation of professional and stylistically appropriate graphic representations of scores and materials in notation software; confident orientation in the contemporary directions of musical production; creative evaluation and use of these impulses in the student?s own work; a broad overview of the cultural scene and the ability to elaborate in the student?s own work stimuli from across artistic fields; developed ability to independently and initiatively organise in introducing contemporary (including the student?s own) work into the concert environment; ability to offer qualified opinions in scholarly discussions, including the music-theoretical and analytical rationale for the student?s own compositional solutions.

Occupational profiles of graduates with examples

A graduate of the Master?s programme is able to perform independent composing work with differentiated and stylistically distinctive traits; is able to work independently and creatively with modern technologies including programs for working with sound, live electronics, creating professional and stylistically appropriate graphic representations of scores in notation software; is able to offer a qualified and well-argued opinion on the contemporary directions of musical creation; is able to evaluate these impulses in a creative manner and to react to them in his or her work; has a broad overview of the cultural scene and is able to elaborate in his or her own work stimuli from across artistic fields; is able to independently and initiatively organise in introducing contemporary (including his or her own) work into the concert environment; is able to offer qualified opinions in scholarly discussions, including the music-theoretical and analytical rationale for his or her own compositional conceptions and solutions.

Access to further studies

The doctoral programme in the field of Composition and Theory of Composition, lifelong learning programmes, master courses, etc.

Examination regulations, assessment and grading

Studies are assessed by credits and examinations stipulated by study plans. The student is informed of these through the information system.

The student registers for examinations using the information system, and is entitled to a second and third attempt to pass an examination. If neither of these attempts proves successful, the Dean may in exceptional cases permit a fourth attempt (administered by a commission). It is not permitted to repeat an examination for the main subjects or to repeat written examinations.

The credit is an ungraded form of assessment of studies. It is allocated upon fulfilment of requirements stipulated for individual subjects and is recorded in the information system with the word „Credited“ (Z). An examination is a graded form of assessment of studies, which tests knowledge and level of creativity in the relevant subject. In the main subjects, examinations are administered by a commission. An examination may be practical, written, oral, or involve a combination of these methods. Examinations are graded on the scale "A, B, C, D, E, F

Graduation requirements

The student fulfils the requirements set by the study plan.

The student passes the final state examination.

A condition of advancement to the Master?s examination is the elaboration of the diploma composing task (diploma composition) as a score or different corresponding final form of the diploma composition (performance is assumed but not a condition). Its defence is part of the state examination in the field of Composition.

An additional requirement is the elaboration of a supplemental theoretical written work in accordance with an assigned topic (its defence is also part of the state examination in the field of Composition).

The State Master?s Examination consists of the following parts:

Mode of study

full-time

Qualification director or equivalent

Hanuš BARTOŇ

Field of study is part of study programme

Qualification study plans