Performance, Classical Music – Early Music

To be eligible for this programme, you need to

• meet the general entry requirements for second-cycle courses and study programmes, meaning you must have completed an undergraduate study programme of at least 180 ECTS
• meet the specific entry requirements which are a Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music (180 credits) or equivalent, as well as passed entrance examination.

If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of places, a selection will take place. Selection is based on results on entrance examination. You as an applicant are placed in a selection group according to the instrument you apply for.

Read more about general entry requirements

Read the test description for the programme for information about the entrance examination content.

Language requirements

For this Master's programme there are no language requirements for admission. Although the language of instruction officially is Swedish, international students can, in most cases, get tuition in English.

The main instrument courses cover the classical repertoire from the Middle Ages to the early Romantic period, centring round the relation to historical performing practice and performance using authentic instruments and instrumental/vocal techniques.

Artistic and technical proficiency is deepened and profiled in the course of main instrument tuition. Greater scope is provided for individual studies in source criticism and for secondary instruments closely akin to the main instrument (such as the viola d'amore, clavichord, hammerklavier and lutes of various kinds).

In the ensembles and chamber music courses, the interpretation coaching and interpretation of chamber music works in separate crews (duo and larger) which takes into account the specific repertoire of the individual instrument.

Performing practice studies cover general source material, aesthetic problems in the present-day performance of early music and parallels to other arts. Connections with current classical music theory are also enlarged on.

Rehearsal together with other instruments is expanded, and in the case of chamber music greater importance is now attached to developing each group's capacity for creative and efficient rehearsal without a designated leader.

Early and contemporary music have many aesthetic points of contact, not least the musician's problems of shaping an interpretation without having a tradition to fall back on. Modern repertoire can be chosen as an individual speciality. Joint projects are possible, e.g. together with the Composition programmes.

An endeavour is that as much as possible of the ensemble training results are reported in concert form.

The subsidiary support courses include seminars in historical performance practice, mental training and stage preparation as well as the freelance market. All in order for you to be well prepared for a professional life as a concerted musician.

The programme is finalised by an independent degree project with the emphasis in an artistic musical presentation that is to be reported and documented. This often involves a larger own concert or other artistic production together with a written report of the work process as a finish of your education.

The programme prepares you primarily for a professional life as chamber musician, orchestra musician and soloist at a high international level, but the work of a musician can change character several times during a professional life. Many former students switch between freelance assignments as a soloist, concerts in chamber music contexts and project positions in the world's various orchestras.

The programme also prepares for further studies at the artistic research level.