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Norges musikkhøgskole Norwegian Academy of Music Search

Entre­pren­eur­ship for Mas­ter­’s Stu­dents

  • Course type: Elective course.
  • Course level: Master.
  • Year of study: Two semesters, fall and spring.
  • Final assessment: Exam portfolio and oral exam.
  • Language of instruction: English/Norwegian.

Course description

The course is aimed at performance master students. During the course, the students will become more aware of their identity and motivation, roles and opportunities in music life. Through the course, students will gain knowledge that they can use in a future freelance career. The course is linked to the student's master´s project. Based on their own project, students will identify, develop and present their personal professional portfolio.

Learning objectives

On completion of the course, students are expected to:

  • Show awareness of their artistic identity and practice
  • Be able to initiate, develop, implement and lead artistic projects
  • Be able to write an application text aimed at public and private support schemes
  • Show knowledge about relevant venues and how to book jobs
  • Be able to use relevant channels and strategies for marketing their own project
  • Be able to apply principles and tools for financial management in projects related to budget, accounting and financing models

Overview

The course addresses the practical aspects of the implementation of an artistic project. The students use their own master's work as a case throughout the course.

Developing an artistic project

  • Which parts of the master's work are used in the project?
  • How to generate and develop ideas
  • What arenas/venues exist for the project?
  • How does the project relate to society and contemporaneity?
  • Who is the target audience?

Economics/finance

  • Budget
  • Accounting
  • Income sources
  • Rights owners organizations / remuneration
  • Apply for funding from public and private institutions

Production

  • Planning
  • Cooperation with external partners
  • Technical production (stage plot, audio, lights, video, etc.)

Communication

  • Visual image
  • Musical CV
  • Creating texts for various target groups
  • Website
  • Social Media
  • Relevant marketing channels
  • Booking

Sound Recording

  • Pre- production/ demo recording / studio work
  • Various distribution channels

Tour production

  • Booking
  • Contracts
  • Technical rider

Structure

The course is taught for sixteen weeks over two semesters. Parts of the teaching can also be conducted as a seminar. In addition, each student will get four hours of individual guidance.

Teaching methods will be:

  • Lecture
  • Workshops
  • Teamwork

Course requirements

Attendance and active participation is mandatory. More than 20% absence from class will normally cause the student to fail the subject.

The student will have an oral presentation of the project for the group.

The students will create a personal portfolio with their master's work as theme. The folder must contain:

  • Project description
  • Timeline
  • Budget for concert, tour or recording project
  • Promo packages for the project: Press release, press pictures, sound and video.
  • Marketing plan for the project
  • One completed applications for relevant funding institutions

The portfolio will be submitted to the course teacher before the April 1 in the second semester in the course.

Final assessment

All coursework requirements must be approved for the final assessment.

Exam portfolio

Every student put together a exam portfolio that will contain:

  • Personal portfolio
  • Career plan of at least 500 words (analysis and reflection on own skills, interests and visions seen in relation to working life)
  • Reflection text (scope: about 1600 words) describing the project work, with emphasis on social settings, target groups and possible continuation with a focus on own musicianship

Oral exam

The exam portfolio creates the basis for the oral exam. Examination starts with a 10 minute project presentation by the student. Total duration of the oral exam: approx. 20 minutes

Assessment is based on learning objectives. Final assessment is given as a pass/fail mark, which is determined by the course teacher based on each student’s exam portfolio and oral exam.

New assessment

In the case of re-assessment, the same procedures apply.

Published: May 15, 2020 — Last updated: Feb 2, 2021