Music Education – Instruments (IME) | Viola


Programme objective:
Certification to teach 2 instruments or
1 instrument and voice in academic secondary schools (AHS)

Teaching activities may include:
Instrumental and/or voice instruction as an optional subject at academic secondary schools and as a compulsory subject in special upper-cycle programmes. Teaching of groups.

Admission criteria:
The level of skill demonstrated by the applicant in the entrance examination must be such that the level needed to teach this instrument and/or voice can be attained within this programme of study.

Entrance Examination:

As a 1st Instrument (corresponds to BA IGP)

  1. 1 etude
  2. 1 sonata or other cyclical work in its entirety
  3. 2 movements from a viola concerto

As a 2nd instrument (corresponds to ME: 1st instrument and IGP: complementary 2nd instrument)

  1. 1 etude
  2. 2 works from different stylistic eras:
    sonatas, sonatinas, or other cyclical works.
    1 slow and 1 fast movement of each must be prepared.


Bachelor’s degree examination:

As a 1st instrument (corresponds to IGP: bachelor’s degree examination)

A total of 5 works must be prepared:

  • Baroque: 2 movements (slow/fast) 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
  • 2 sonatas or other cyclical works (of which 1 can be chamber music): 1 slow and 1 fast movement each
  • 1 freely chosen work

One’s programme must include all of the main genres (sonata, concerto, chamber music) and the following styles: baroque, classical, romantic, and first half of the 20th century, plus 1 work composed after 1945, with baroque being accounted for by the first programme item listed above.

As a 2nd instrument (corresponds to ME: 1st instrument and IGP: complementary 2nd instrument)

  • 1 etude
  • 1 slow movement and 1 fast movement from a baroque work
  • 1 movement from a classical work
  • 1 piece or 1 movement from the romantic era
  • 1 work from the 20th or 21st century including from the realm of popular music (a modern or contemporary work that differs markedly in style from works that are part of the traditional repertoire).
  • 1 of these pieces or movements must be from a chamber work; small formations such as duets are permitted.

The piece with which the exam performance begins may be chosen by the candidate.

One’s chosen artistic programme must be made available in printed form at the examination.