Piano

The focus of this degree programme is on further developing and deepening the practice-oriented academic and artistic skills already acquired in a subject-related Bachelor's degree, thus preparing students for a performing career. The MA in Performance qualifies students for professional practice in the following fields:

• Soloist
• Chamber musician
• Orchestral musician (e.g. in chamber/opera/symphony orchestras, orchestras and ensembles for contemporary music, ensembles for historical instruments)
• Freelance artist

The curriculum is competence-oriented. After completing the Master's programme, students should:

• master their instrument at the highest level and be able to present themselves professionally
• be free and independent in their artistic work
• be able to deal critically with artistic and academic issues
• be able to perform professionally in an orchestra/ensemble
• be able to work as a team-player in an artistically constructive way as a member of a chamber music formation or ensemble
• have acquired in-depth knowledge of various playing techniques
• have acquired in-depth knowledge of orchestral repertoire and mastery of the relevant orchestral parts
• have acquired in-depth knowledge and mastery of the solo and chamber music repertoire of various periods
• have in-depth knowledge of stylistics and repertoire
• have mastered the techniques of academic research and writing, and be able to analyse, interpret and write about artistic content in a grounded manner
• be able to use audiovisual media for self-presentation (competition submissions, demo recordings, internet presentations etc.)
• have gained insights into the following areas: safeguarding physical and mental health, self-management and performance optimisation
• have further developed their individual interests beyond their own subject area through targeted consolidation in the context of elective subjects, in the spirit of lifelong learning

The four-semester master's programme is modular in structure.  Each module comprises teaching and learning content that has been combined to form thematically and didactically meaningful units of study. The names and content descriptions (study objectives) of the individual modules, the number of ECTS credits to be achieved for each module, and the type of performance assessment are specified in the curriculum. The module descriptions refer to the corresponding learning outcomes and competencies.

The Master's programme is a face-to-face programme and cannot be offered - not even in part - as a distance learning programme. The courses from the Principal Study, as well as in other One-to-One Tuition, are designed to build upon each other. Prerequisite for enrolment in courses from the Principal Study or One-to-One Tuition is a positive evaluation of the previous semester (from the second semester onwards).

The curriculum provides an overview of the courses to be completed, which are grouped into modules.

The courses are visible online in Curriculum Support:

Link to the curriculum

Please note: The Master's degree programme in Piano is only being offered on a phased basis! Applications will no longer be possible from 2025.

Interested students can apply for the MA Piano Solo instead.

Students of the Master's programme are encouraged to complete a semester abroad. Semesters 2 and 3 of the degree programme are particularly suitable for this. In addition to subject-specific competences, a study period abroad can also lead to the acquisition and deepening of:

• Subject-specific foreign language skills
• General foreign-language skills (language comprehension, conversation, etc.)
• Organisational skills, through independent planning of everyday student life in international administrative and university structures
• Knowledge about international study systems, as well as broadening one's own subject perspective
• Intercultural competences

Examinations and assessments taken during studies abroad can be approved by the Director of Studies as equivalents to compulsory subjects, elective sujects or free elective subjects required by the Mozarteum University for your degree course. The documents required for the approval procedure are to be submitted by the applicant immediately after their exchange semester.

Details at International Affairs.