String Instruments (N0215A310040)

Programme objectives

The aim of the programme is to prepare highly qualified musical artists with a high degree of skill in the performance of solo, chamber and orchestral literature. The continuing Master's Programme builds upon and deepens the curriculum studied in the Bachelor's Programme. It develops and systematizes skills and knowledge related to the presentation of students' own performance in chamber ensembles, orchestras, and as a soloist. The study focuses on the mastery of a wide range of repertoire of the highest possible performance difficulty, the development of the student's individual musical expression with an ability for critical self-reflection, flawless mastery of instrumental technique and knowledge of a wide range of performance approaches.

Profile of a programme graduate

The graduate has acquired advanced skills to choose the optimal performance approach to a given repertoire and to support his/her decision with relevant arguments. He/she emerges as a versatile and mature artistic personality capable of masterful, original and convincing musical expression in the performance of highly demanding, extensive and stylistically diverse repertoire. He or she is able to plan and structure their own work independently, purposefully and effectively.

Expertise

Graduate of the String Instruments programme

Has a comprehensive knowledge of the global as well as national repertoire in their specialisation and demonstrates a high standard in creating and delivering seamlessmusical experiences and interpretations.

Develops, presents and implements artistic programs that are coherent and appropriate for a variety of contexts.

Understands in depth the role of the musician in contemporary society, exploring, engaging with and reflecting on their specific relevant professional working environment and context.

Professional skills

Graduate of the String Instruments programme

Performs music at a high professional level (technically and artistically masterful expression), expresses their own artistic concepts at the level of a developed musical personality.

Within the scope of his/her specialisation, the student masters sophisticated craft skills in relation to repertoire, style, genre, etc.

Demonstrates breadth and/or depth of expertise, in relation to their specialisation, and demonstrates proficiency in a range of different styles and/or has a distinctive and individual expression in one particular style.

Takes a leading role in an ensemble and/or leads other collaborative musical activities.

Publicly presents high quality artistic performance in solo, chamber and orchestral roles.

Understands his/her field in depth in relation to relevant career paths and opportunities, and identifies and formulates strategies for developing collaborations on this basis.

Exercises a high level of critical self-reflection in relation to their own learning style, skills and strategies.

General competences

Graduate of the String Instruments programme

Demonstrates independence in all aspects of learning, social interaction and in recognizing opportunities.

Is able to integrate knowledge gained from a variety of contexts and perspectives.

Recognises the interrelationships between theory and practice and uses this knowledge to support and enhance their own artistic development.

Has a high level of appropriate presentation skills in all aspects of their practice and activity.

Engages and shares information with professional and lay musicians and audiences across a broad social spectrum, is aware of individual and/or group reactions to this information and is able to respond appropriately.

Has a positive attitude and willingly engages in ongoing (lifelong) personal and professional development.

Rules and requirements for creating study plans

The basic framework for the conception of study programmes at AMU is created by the AMU Rules of Quality Assurance System, specifying the basic principles of accreditation processes. The current practice is further formally anchored by the AMU Accreditation Rules. These set the parameters common to all study programmes taught at AMU and also transfer part of the responsibility for subject specifications (theatre, music, dance, film/television) to the faculties.

The curricula are drawn up in accordance with the AMU Attendance and Examination Regulations. On the basis of the specificities of higher artistic education, this document defines within the typology of subjects the required main subject (PH): this is a key artistic (or talent-based) core course, for which the assessment is always carried out on a commission basis and which does not allow for re-attestation. Another specificity of the curricula is the flexibility allowed in the distribution of credits (60 ECTS per academic year) between the winter and summer semesters, based on the greater workload associated with the completion of artistic outputs in the summer semester in some disciplines.

The theoretical and historical background of the field is a compulsory part of all study programmes; these are compulsory core courses co-determining the profile of the graduate and forming part of the state final examination. Each study plan also includes compulsory completion of discipline-specific English language instruction, with a minimum of 6 ECTS per study cycle.

Courses completed by examination are graded on a scale from A to E (F = fail), while „pass/fail“ grades are used for other courses; a combination of the two types of assessment is not possible.

The standard length of a lesson is 45 minutes. The basic organisational forms of teaching are lecture, seminar, exercise, workshop, the last three forms of teaching involving the creation of artistic outputs to varying degrees. Teaching takes place either on a weekly basis or in the form of intensive blocks or workshops.

The curriculum automatically assumes prerequisites in the form of sequences of courses, indicated by an ascending number after the course title. This type of prerequisite is not specifically mentioned in Part BIII for individual courses. If a course has a non-sequential prerequisite, it is explicitly listed in Part BIII for the course. In the same sense, we do not list prerequisites; these are determined by the mandatory inclusion of the course in a particular year and semester along with other courses.

The curriculum includes elective subjects: Movement and Relaxation Education, Contemporary Music Performance and other elective subjects offered by AMU. The student can also choose the subject Professional Activities, which is closely related to the field of application in the area of artistic performance, which the student performs outside the faculty. The student must earn a minimum of 14 credits in elective subjects.

The curriculum includes specialisations in Harp, Violin, Double Bass, Guitar, Viola, and Cello. The student enrolls directly in the specialisation.

General information about admission process

There is a fee for studying in English. The amount of tuition fees for each study programme, including specialisations, is set by the Dean's Decree, which is published in the relevant section of the faculty website in English.

The admission procedure for all specialisations (Harp, Violin, Double Bass, Guitar, Viola, Cello) of the continuing Master's String Instruments Programme is organised in the form of an audition examination.

Audition examination

For each specialisation, the exact conditions of the audition exam are decreed for each academic year - a specific programme (specification of compulsory compositions and compositions of one's own choice, whether it is compulsory to perform these compositions from memory, etc.), which is chosen so that the applicant has the opportunity to demonstrate his or her exceptional aptitude for the Master's degree.

These requirements are updated annually and published in the appropriate places on the study section of the faculty website in English.

The audition examination is conducted live before an examination committee by having the candidate present a set programme. The examination committee has the right to determine which of the required pieces the candidate will perform. The examination board has the right to interrupt individual pieces at any time.

The admissions committee evaluates the candidate with a cumulative score that includes an assessment of mastery of playing technique, sense of rhythm, musical memory, performance imagination, developed musical ear and individual performance contribution, all at least at the level of a bachelor's degree graduate.

The conditions of the admission procedure, including the determination of the method of scoring and its range, are regulated for each academic year by the relevant decree of the Dean, which is subject to approval by the Academic Senate of the Faculty.

Applicability to other types of academic programmes

This programme is a continuation of the Bachelor's programme String Instruments. Graduates of the continuing Master's Programme have the opportunity to apply to the Doctoral programme in Performance and Theory of Performance at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague or to Doctoral programmes focused on music performance at other art schools in the Czech Republic and abroad. Graduates can also apply for the Doctoral programme in Music Theory.

Parts of the state final examination and their contents

The University Qualifying Work consists of two parts:

1. A graduate artistic performance - a solo recital of 75 minutes, which may include a chamber ensemble of up to 20 minutes (relevant subjects of the profiling basis: Chamber Music 7-10, Playing in the Orchestra 7-10, Violin / Viola / Cello / Double Bass / Harp / Guitar 7-10)
2. Master´s thesis – at least 40 standard pages

State final examination consists of:

1. Oral defence of the graduate artistic performance
2. Oral defence of the Master´s thesis
3. Theoretical oral examination: (relevant subjects of the profiling basis: Czech Music Summary 1, 2)

Thematic areas of the theoretical oral examination include:

1. Significant composers of the Czech Renaissance
2. The impact of the presence of the imperial or royal court in the Czech Lands
3. Czech Baroque composers
4. The phenomenon of émigré Czech composers
5. Significant symphonic poems by Czech composers
6. The importance of opera in the period of the National Revival
7. Antonín Dvořák's orchestral compositions
8. Significant personalities of Czech music of the first half of the 20th century
9. Leoš Janáček: inspiration and oeuvre
10. Brief characteristics of a composer active after 1945 and his or her most significant works

Other academic duties

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Characterisation of professional practice

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Anticipated job placement for graduates (typical employment)

The graduate finds professional employment as an independent freelance artist or a member of chamber and orchestral ensembles, or as a teacher at a conservatory or university. He or she has the prerequisites that can lead to continuous collaboration with major arts agencies.