Degree programme specification
Basic prerequisites for admission to studies include talent, the ability of creative imagination, creative application of acquired knowledge and skills. The entrance examination requires the applicant to demonstrate his or her knowledge of the field at the level of a student of a specialised secondary school (conservatory, music grammar school), a deep long-term interest in the field’s development and broader general grasp and knowledge of events in culture. The applicant should be capable of playing an instrument or an electronic device intended for music production, be able to use current computer and information technology and be active in the search for opportunities to apply his or her own opinion in original presentations.
The applicant must have completed secondary school or university education.
During the admission procedure, the following is assessed:
– professional preparedness – for the Composition specialisations it is the ability to create on-site short composition studies based on simple assignments related to individual musical parameters (e.g. pitch, modally or serially organised using micro-intervals, chord creation, inventive composition of rhythmic structures, based on number series, random methods, etc., layout of sound colours within the study and so on) and an screening written examination on harmony, counterpoint and auditory analysis; for the Incidental and Film Music Composition specialisation, on the other hand, the test of knowledge of harmony, counterpoint, auditory dispositions, etc., is of major importance and realisation of short composition studies is focused on the harmonic-melodic style rather than possible innovative ways of creation; in the case of the Composition of Electroacoustic Music specialisation, the examination will test the applicant knowledge of methods of synthetic sound creation, possibilities of electroacoustic instruments, electroacoustic studio equipment, music software and hardware, etc.
- for studies focused rather on “classical” composition and incidental and film music,, the assessment takes the form of oral examination focused on knowledge of general music theory, harmony, counterpoint, musical forms, science of musical instruments and music history, etc. within the scope of conservatory curriculum, and piano skills are also assessed to the extent of at least two cycles at a primary art school;
– knowledge of current music events in the field of corresponding specialisation and in terms of general knowledge of other types of art;
– submitted scores (for specialisation in electroacoustic music recordings) of own works of various forms and cast (for scores, their formal quality is also assessed, for vocal compositions, the assessment focuses on the attached texts). The applicants are expected to have ability to analyse their own compositions and to play them on a piano or other musical instrument in informative quality information (in the case of written scores). Applicants can also submit their music theory works.
– level of general knowledge in the form of a written test;
– level and results of previous studies;
– the applicant’s language proficiency.
Study plans
Studies
- Objectives
The studies aim to create graduates who:
have comprehensive knowledge of the field and its various multimedia forms of art production and the full range of their expressive possibilities, as well as advanced artistic and technical skills in the field that are suitable for the 21st century and the ability to apply the latest knowledge of science and development in the field of new technologies;
have deep knowledge of changes in social processes, art history and the development of artistic styles and trends;
are proficient in language with good knowledge of music, art, theatre and film terminology;
are sufficiently versed in the field of pedagogical work: methodology, didactics of pedagogy and psychology;
have practical experience gained from working on faculty or school-wide projects (solo projects, chamber and orchestral projects, often with international participation) or experience gained through a study stay abroad;
have practical organisational experience gained from working on school projects, productions in the school studio and music and drama laboratory, and at international festivals.
The expected employability of graduates depend on their individual focus.
During the studies, the graduates meet with foreign experts from various relevant fields.
- Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:
- is knowledgeable about various styles of contemporary classical music of the beginning of the 21st century and incidental and film music (graduates of both specialisations are to a large extent well versed in matters of the opposite specialisation);
- graduates of the mentioned specialisations have deep knowledge in the field of instrumental possibilities of musical instruments and various casts;
- has a deep knowledge of the principles of creating synthetic sound (a sufficient level of knowledge is also achieved in the Composition and Composition of Incidental and Film Music specialisations);
- demonstrates a thorough knowledge of technologies and devices for post-production and presentation of outputs;
- is knowledgeable about music history, aesthetics and the development of artistic trends, including sufficient knowledge of foreign literature;
- by acquiring comprehensive current knowledge in the field, the graduate is ready to use and develop his or her ideas, attitudes and creative activities in an original manner;
- is informed about the possibilities of creative or theoretical overlap into other fields;
- is acquainted with the principles of pedagogical work and is familiar in detail with the current trends in teaching methodology of the field, as well as with secondary literature, including foreign sources;
- masters the basic issues of copyright and its application;
- has basic knowledge of public relations;
- is aware of the key financial, business and legal aspects of the music profession.
- Occupational Profiles of Graduates
The graduate can work in the following characteristic professions:
– composer of classical music;
– composer of electroacoustic music;
– composer of incidental and film music;
– music director for music recording in radio, television, on CDs, etc.;
– teacher at all levels of music education (primary art school, conservatory, university) and in various subjects (composition, composition theory, music theory, music history, etc.).
The graduate can work in the following relevant professions:
– music dramaturge in all types of theatres and in cultural institutions;
– music dramaturge of an artistic ensemble;
– music dramaturge in an art agency;
– music dramaturge of a festival.
- Rules and Conditions for the Creation of a Study Plan
The study plan consists of compulsory, elective and optional courses and of compulsory artistic study outputs.
The system of studies is conceived so that the students should acquire a total of at least 300 credits for all five years of studies and they must achieve a minimum of 30 credits per semester (60 credits for one year of studies).
Compulsory courses include:
– profiling courses for musical arts, forming the backbone of all master’s degree programmes at Faculty of Music JAMU;
– profiling courses for the specialisations Composition, Composition of Electroacoustic Music and Composition of Incidental and Film Music, which are set to lead to a successful graduation, consisting of the State Final Examination on topics based mainly on the subject of Composition Theory, qualification work and graduation project:
– for the Composition specialisation, it is usually a composition for symphony orchestra or a vocal-instrumental work (chamber opera, etc.), at least 15 minutes long;
- for the Composition of Electroacoustic Music specialisation, it is a more extensive multi-channel electroacoustic composition from a recording or live performance by one or more performers possibly with some acoustic instruments or voices, with its sophistication and quality fit for a graduation orchestral composition of the Composition specialisation, at least 30 minutes long;
– for the Composition of Incidental and Film Music specialisation, it is a complete music and movement component for a feature film or music and ambiance for a full-length theatre performance, full-length multimedia performance, chamber opera or ballet, etc. The set of compulsory courses is designed so that the final sum of credits is higher than 150.
Elective courses include an expanding set of courses that develop and complement the content of compulsory courses in order to increase the necessary specialised skills. The system is designed so that the resulting credit total of elective courses is greater than 75.
Optional courses complement the knowledge and skills of compulsory and elective courses and provide an opportunity to further develop these through related courses. The courses must be chosen so that the final sum of credits awarded for compulsory, elective and optional courses exceeds the required 300 credits for the entire studies.
The set of optional courses is also supplemented by courses from other programmes of the Faculty of Music JAMU.
- Access to Further Studies
Graduates of the master’s degree studies can continue in the doctoral study programme Composition and Theory of Composition.
Basic information
Czech