Master of Arts in Music Education for Voice and Instruments (IGP) – Viola
Curriculum information at: https://www.mdw.ac.at/1319
Programme objective:
Training of highly qualified instrumental and vocal music teachers for both institutional and freelance teaching careers. Graduates should be in a position to do justice to the changing demands entailed by the everyday practice of this profession. The objective of training in this second phase of study is therefore further development of students’ technical and interpretive abilities along with cultivation of their ability to work independently in scholarly and/or instructional capacities related to their chosen artistic fields.
Teaching activities may include:
Instrumental and/or vocal teaching both at educational institutions and freelance at all levels of training.
This master’s degree programme is recommended only to those students who can be expected to have mastered their instruments at the highest level (close to that of performance degree-holders) upon graduation.
Entrance Examination
1 slow and 1 fast movement from a solo suite (originally for violoncello) or a partita (originally for violin) by J. S. Bach
- 1 fast movement from a classical concerto at a level of difficulty at least equivalent to that of Hoffmeister, with cadenza
- 1 slow and 1 fast movement from a sonata or other cyclical work
- 1 freely chosen work
Master’s Degree Examination:
- 1 solo suite for violoncello or 1 solo sonata or partita for violin by J. S. Bach arranged for viola
- 2 concerti from different stylistic eras at a level of difficulty equivalent to those by composers such as Walton, Bartók, Hindemith, and Mozart (Sinfonia Concertante). Of 1 of these works, only a fast movement must be performed.
- 2 sonatas or equivalent works from different stylistic eras (1 modern work whose musical language differs markedly from that of the 19th century must be included. Level of difficulty approximately that of Schubert, Brahms, Reger, Britten).
- 1 chamber work
- 1 caprice or etude by Paganini or Dont or
Palaschko op. 49
The solo work by J. S. Bach and 1 of the 2 concerti should be played from memory.
One’s programme must include 1 work relevant to the candidate’s personal emphases (can be explained at the examination).
One’s chosen artistic programme must be made available in printed form at the examination.
Didactics Examination:
General Examination Criteria:
The didactics examination is meant to reveal a candidate’s comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge and abilities as well as to facilitate recognition of their ability to think within broader contexts. The concern here is with a sound approach to pedagogical and didactic issues as well as with the ability to work with students as their teacher in a way that makes sense. The candidate should also be capable of demonstrating details of instrumental technique on an instrument and should therefore bring along their viola to this examination.
This examination consists of two parts:
1) List of works
The list of works to be submitted at one’s examination must contain 2 works; these may include 1 instructional work and 1 work from one’s artistic examination programme.
1 of the works on this list can be skipped if, instead, a well-developed teaching-related project (e.g., a workshop currently in planning or already held) is introduced and explained.
The expectation is for the candidate to have dealt in a deep-reaching scholarly manner with the chosen works including consideration of their historico-cultural contexts.
2) Teaching demonstration
The candidate must demonstrate their teaching in the form of a demonstration lesson lasting at least 20 minutes. In doing so, the candidate should adapt to the participating pupil and their present skill level as well as make a theme of instrumental technique-related, musical, and stylistic aspects in a suitable manner and effect clearly recognisable change on the pupil’s part.
Selection of the Demonstration Pupil:
The demonstration pupil is selected by the examination committee (representing the Hellmesberger Department) and should play at a level approximately equivalent to that of learners who fulfil the requirements for admission to the ME and IGP bachelor’s degree programmes.
Examination Structure:
The candidate is permitted to begin the examination by discussing a topic of their own choosing that relates to the provided work list, speaking spontaneously (not reading!). The examination committee will then ask questions pertaining to further works on the candidate’s list; the answers to these questions must likewise be spontaneous.
One’s chosen artistic programme must be made available in printed form at the examination.
Exam duration: ca. 45 minutes