Master of Arts in Harpsichord Performance

The focus of this full-time course of study is on practice-oriented and academically grounded professional training as a harpsichordist on the basis of the harpsichord-related competencies acquired in the bachelor’s degree programme. This flexible master’s degree programme offers harpsichordists the opportunity to specialise in accordance with their personal interests and talents. A key objective here is to cultivate independent approaches to interpretation.

There are two artistic major subjects (Harpsichord and Basso Continuo), of which students choose one as their major (2 hrs./week) and one as their minor (1 hrs./week).

Alongside the provision of specialised training, this programme of study also supports the development of independent artistic personalities.

By expanding students’ repertoires, helping them to explore various musical areas in depth, and having them engage in reflection on artistic and/or artistic and scholarly phenomena as part of their artistic or scholarly MA theses, this program equips students with individual specialisations and a high degree of artistic maturity.

Overview

  • Graduation with a: Master of Arts (MA)
  • Registration period for entrance examination: 1 March 2024 – 15 May 2024
  • Entrance examination date: listed on the website of the Department of Early Music
  • Tuition: detailed information
  • Prerequisites: successful entrance exam; prior completion of a thematically related bachelor’s degree or diploma programme; documentation of German skills (please see “Information on Entrance Examinations”)
  • Information on entrance examinations: PDF [ger] | PDF [en]
  • Study Plan Overview: PDF [ger] | PDF [en]
  • Curriculum: PDF [ger]
  • Course offerings in mdwOnline
  • Dates and requirements for committee-evaluated final exams: listed on the website of the Department of Early Music

Upcoming Events

You’re cordially invited to attend our student recitals. They’re a good opportunity to speak with students and teaching staff members in person! Admission is free. You’ll find our event schedule under Events.

Applying for this Programme of Study

  1. The document “Information on Entrance Examinations” (download link above) informs you about what you need to prepare for this examination. Some documents (such as your exam programme) need to be uploaded as part of the online registration process.
  2. Please set up an applicant account in mdwOnline if you don’t already have an mdwOnline account from another mdw programme of study.
  3. Log into your account, click on “Entrance Exam Registration”, and then on the link “Enter new application” at the upper right. Follow the instructions that appear. If you can’t find a particular programme of study in the online registration system, it means either that the registration deadline has passed or that registration is not yet possible!
  4. If German is not your first language, please submit documentation of your German skills. You’ll find more detailed information on this in the document “Information on Entrance Examinations”.
  5. Important: If you are a citizen of a “third country” (from a country not belonging to the EU/EEA; exceptions: Switzerland and Liechtenstein), please inform yourself in a timely manner concerning the applicable requirements for entering and staying in Austria.
  6. Once you’ve registered to take the entrance exam, you’ll receive an E-mail that informs you of your assigned exam date.
  7. Take the entrance examination. Remember to bring along a photo ID.

After the Entrance Examination

  1. You’ll receive the results of your entrance exam by E-mail.
  2. If you have passed the entrance exam, you’ll still need to register in order to be enrolled and commence your studies at the mdw. You can do so by visiting the Studies Center within the admissions period; please bring along your passport or personal ID.
  3. You can find out about the further steps you need to take in the brochure “New at the mdw?”.