Percussion Instruments and Jazz

Training of highly qualified music artists with an emphasis on interpretation – composition or arrangement of a wide repertoire. Preparation for a professionally oriented employment as a teach at primary art schools, conservatories, music grammar schools and universities (music academies).

The studies aim to create graduates who:

– have a high degree of performing or composition-arrangement skills;

– work with their own developed creative imagination and fantasy;

– have a wide range of instrumental or compositional-arrangement techniques and interpretive approaches;

– have deep knowledge of music history, art aesthetics and the development of artistic trends and styles;

– have practical experience gained from working on faculty or school-wide projects (solo or ensemble projects, often with international participation) or experience gained through a study stay abroad;

– are independent, purposeful, self-confident, disciplined, with the ability to effectively plan and structure their own work and the ability of critical self-reflection;

– have developed healthy physiological and psychological habits associated with the studies and public performance of music;

– have adequate skills to create scientific works.

– have the ability to argue at a professional level in theoretical and creative discussions.

Percussion Instruments specialisation:

The graduate can work in the following characteristic professions:

– highly qualified soloist performing with an orchestra or a soloist performing at his or her own recitals;

– player of a symphony or theatre orchestra;

– leader or member of chamber ensembles;

– teacher at art schools, conservatories and music grammar schools, universities of arts, a private teacher.

Jazz Interpretation specialisation:

The graduate can work in the following characteristic professions:

– soloist or player in an orchestra on the jazz scene, or even in popular music, musicals, etc.;

– studio musician with knowledge and experience of making professional recordings;

– artistic supervisor – artistic and organisational management of own music projects;

– teacher at art schools, conservatories and music grammar schools, universities of arts, a private teacher;

– music publicist focusing on jazz – music-oriented contributions, annotations, articles, reviews.

Jazz Composition and Arrangement specialisation:

The graduate can work in the following characteristic professions:

– arranger or composer, based on his or her artistic focus (work for theatres, orchestras, small ensembles);

– artistic supervisor – artistic and organisational management of own music projects;

– studio musician with knowledge and experience of making professional recordings;

– teacher at art schools, conservatories and music grammar schools, universities of arts, a private teacher;

– music publicist focusing on jazz – music-oriented contributions, annotations, articles, reviews.

The study system is designed so that a total of at least 120 credits is achieved in the two years of studies. We set the system so that students can achieve a minimum of 30 credits per semester (60 credits for one year of study) through the composition of courses.

The system is set up as follows:

Compulsory courses that include

– profiling courses for musical arts, forming the backbone of all master’s degree programmes

at Faculty of Music JAMU;

– profiling courses for the Percussion Instruments, Jazz Interpretation and Jazz Composition and Arrangement specialisations, which are the courses that form the knowledge and skills base of the final master’s thesis and graduation performance and its documentation.

The set of compulsory courses is designed so that the final number of credits for compulsory courses of the programme is 65, with credits awarded for compulsory courses of individual specialisations adding up to 48.

The remaining number of credits is reserved for optional subjects, which are aimed at:

(a) verification of knowledge and competencies in the form of practical projects;

(b) acquisition of knowledge in the field of music art and language skills.

Optional courses are not a mandatory part of accreditations, and as such are not listed in the file.

Graduates can continue their studies in the doctoral studies programme Interpretation and Theory of Interpretation (for the Percussion Instruments and Jazz Interpretation specialisation) or Composition and Composition Theory (for the Jazz Composition and Arrangement specialisation).