Jan Albrecht music and art academy Banská Štiavnica

The master’s study program Music Performance and Composition is aimed at deepening and improving the student’s practical and theoretical musical knowledge, based on the current state of the given system of the field and their application in the performance of a profession or in the continuation of subsequent university studies.

A student who has greater options for choosing forms and methods of education, after completing his studies, is able to apply himself in a demanding work activity, while he acquires the skills of conceptual and coordination activities in his specialization, even in international competition. The master’s program is characterized by the connection of practical and theoretical education in the field of music, while the graduate is able to apply himself in a demanding work activity according to the defined profile of the graduate.

The Master’s study program Music Performance and Composition is aimed at obtaining an education that will enable the graduate to better apply it in practice. The study takes place in accordance with the current modern educational trends of recognition of a broadly conceived qualification, defined by the resolutions of the Association of European Conservatories, the Academy and music universities, where the emphasis is placed on the diversity of approaches and innovative methods in education.

The Music Performance and Composition study program is exceptional in its content, as it allows the student wide flexibility in choosing subjects and forms of education that have a direct impact on his focus and specialization. At the same time, the student has the opportunity to specialize in either classical or jazz music, or the connection of both specializations, in which HUAJA is still unique in Slovakia.

The master’s study program Music Performance and Composition follows on from the bachelor’s program of the same name, which is held at HUAJA. Applicants can be graduates of the bachelor’s program at HUAJA or related art bachelor’s programs in Slovakia and abroad.

Education at the master’s level is realized in the form of lectures, seminars, practical individual and group exercises, which enable the active and interested participation of the student in the educational process. At the Ján Albrecht Music and Art Academy, the master’s program is taught by professors, docents, assistant professors and assistants who are among the leading artistic, scientific and pedagogical personalities at home and abroad.

A great advantage is the wide flexibility of the organization and content of the study program. In addition to the compulsory subjects, the student can also choose subjects from a wide range of obligatory, optional obligatory and optional subjects, which enable him to have a suitable profile in relation to his specialization. In the case of specialization in music performance, the student can also choose subjects focused on music composition and thus acquire skills in composition, electro-acoustic music, music direction and vice versa, in the case of specialization in classical music, the student can choose subjects in the area of jazz performance, jazz composition, jazz history and vice versa.

Examination of the student’s abilities within the master’s program takes place in the form of portfolios, practical presentations (concerts, workshops, compositional projects, arrangements), seminar papers and their presentations, written and oral testing of knowledge. During their studies, students are professionally prepared and guided for the realization of the Master’s diploma thesis – the practical part (more demanding public concert – recital in the range of min. 60 minutes / artistic project in the form of a larger work of art in the field of classical or jazz music, electroacoustic or combined of music) and its successful defence and master’s thesis – theoretical part (a written work of at least 60 pages that reflects the ability to more comprehensively analyse of a musical works and performance) and its successful defence.

Within the framework of the Erasmus program (ID code SK BANSK-S01), HUAJA organizes the mobility of students and teachers, who implement them at partner higher education institutions and in cultural and music-educational institutions in European countries. For students of art education, the traineeship is extremely important, which at institutions focused on practice significantly contributes to the connection of theory and practice and, at the same time, to increasing the quality of education. The exchange of experiences and musical activities is important for students as well as for teachers (artists and scientists). The musical language is international and from this point of view there are no such language barriers as in other study programs where language is the main form of communication. Establishing and developing cooperation with partner higher education institutions and also with institutions where it is possible to implement student traineeships significantly expands the range of their knowledge. Inviting experts from practice who, in addition to educational activities, perform at concerts, or present their musical works, allows students to confront top artistic performances with their previously achieved interpretation and music-creative level and inspires them to better and better performances.

HUAJA permanently develops and innovates teaching and learning methods in combination with practical and theoretical approaches in music and art. It organizes special musical and artistic workshops, seminars, scientific and musicological conferences, festivals, concerts and other artistic events with international participation, in which teachers and students of HUAJA actively participate.

A graduate of the master’s study program Music Performance and Composition has practical and theoretical knowledge in the field of music performance and music creation (composition) according to the chosen specialization (instrumentalist, singer, performer, composer, arranger, orchestral or choral conductor). The graduate is able to creatively use practical and theoretical skills and knowledge in practice in the performance of his profession, or in continuing of a subsequent university doctoral study.

The master’s degree graduate will acquire specialized and targeted knowledge in the field of complex analysis of a musical work, selected topics from the history of Slovak and world music, styles and orientations in music and art of the 20thcentury, selected topics from musical aesthetics, history of art and also applied disciplines of musicology with regard to its specialization, while also gaining deeper information about scientific methods and applied disciplines of musicology.

The successful completion of the master’s study program will enable the graduate to better apply it in practice in terms of current modern educational trends and recognition within a more broadly conceived qualification, also defined by the resolutions of the Association of European Conservatories and the Music Academies.

The graduate will also acquire the ability to verbally and creatively communicate in his mother tongue as well as a foreign language, the ability to more comprehensively analysis of musical works and music performances. He is capable of a critical attitude and understanding of the context, role and function of music in society, as well as practical perception and understanding of musical thinking and the logical development of music from the past to the present. He will develop the ability to perceive genre and stylistic differences in music and art, as well as to assess the quality of a musical work and performance. The graduate is able to convincingly express his opinions verbally and in writing form and apply them in artistic practice and in the collective. Musical art belongs to communication systems, and the ability of social adaptability, organization and management will enable the graduate to be more widely employed in various professions in the field of music, culture and social events.

Successful completion of the master’s degree program will enable the graduate to perform several demanding professions. According to the specialization and focus, a graduate of the master’s degree can work as:

1. performer – soloist and also a member of chamber music ensembles, musical ensembles (symphonic orchestra, opera orchestra, opera singing, jazz and big band ensembles, etc.) with a focus on classical or jazz music, or also as a freelance musician,

2. composer in the field of classical, jazz, popular and applied music, or also as a freelance musician,

3. conductor of demanding professional opera, instrumental ensembles, choirs,

4. music theorist, editor, music dramaturg and employee of music and culture

institutions, with a high degree of independent decision-making and creative thinking, which is also necessary for leading and management functions, or for creating an environment for new job opportunities in music and artistic professions,

5. pedagogue at various levels of education and assistant at universities with a musical and artistic focus.

In case of completion of Supplementary Pedagogical Studies during the master’s program study, the graduate is qualified to teach at basic artistic schools, conservatories and other secondary schools with a musical specialisation.

The second level of higher education allows a master’s degree graduate to continue on the third level of higher education in doctoral studies.

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