Skip to main content
Norges musikkhøgskole Norwegian Academy of Music Search

Mas­ter­’s Pro­ject II

  • Year of study: Second year of study, two semesters.
  • Final assessment: Artistic presentation and dialogue with the examination committee
  • Prerequisites: Admission to Master in music performance.
  • Language of instruction: Norwegian/English.

Course description

This course is for students enrolled in the Master of Music Performance program in the following concentrations

  • classical solo instrument/chamber music
  • traditional Nordic folk music accompaniment
  • chamber music for classical pianists

The master project is a performative project that should demonstrate the student's independence and artistic maturity in musical performance. The project should concentrate on a limited topic and focus on a defined artistic issue.

Learning objectives

On completion of this course, the student is expected to

  • have developed a clear profile
  • demonstrate artistic integrity and maturity in musical performance
  • be able to articulate and discuss artistic questions
  • be able to initiate and execute their own artistic projects
  • be able to use material from artistic development work and research

The students will be assessed based on the same learning objectives in Master's Project I and Master's Project II. On completion of the course Master's Project II, the students will be assessed according to the learning objectives of the course.

Overview

During the Master's project, the student will complete an independent artistic project. The project should concentrate on a limited topic and focus on a defined artistic question. The repertoire should normally last 90 minutes, of which at least 45 minutes should be performed in public before the final artistic presentation. Repertoire and public performance(s) from Master's Project I are included. All or parts of the repertoire may be performed as part of an ensemble.

The main elements of the master project involve

  • the development, execution and management of the student's own artistic project
  • learning and interpreting the repertoire covered within the master project
  • giving public performances of the master project
  • using relevant material from artistic development and research

Structure

Most of the course involves independent work on the Master's project. The students are responsible for their progression and should make regular appointments with their tutor(s).

Supervision

Each student is assigned a principal supervisor. The supervisor will usually be the student's instructor in the subject Artistic Specialisation I – Main Instrument. An alternative supervisor may be considered if the nature of the project dictates it, and it is possible to appoint co-supervisors if necessary. The supervisor(s) should give the student advice and feedback on artistic decisions and otherwise help the student develop and complete the master project.

Project description

The students have developed a project description for the Master's project in their first year of study, including a title, topic, topic research question, reasoning and progress plan. The project description may be amended along the way. Amendments must be approved by the supervisor and reported to the programme coordinator.

Supervision agreement

In the first year of the study, a supervision agreement must be entered into by the student, supervisor, any co-supervisors and the Norwegian Academy of Music. The supervision agreement should indicate which and how supervisors should contribute to the Master project and how the overall supervisory resources should be distributed between different supervisors. The supervision agreement describes the student's rights and obligations as well as the supervisor's rights and obligations. The agreement should be amended in the event of any changes that will affect the planned progress of the master project. Download the supervision agreement here.

Students have registered automatically for instruction/supervision and assessment in the course in accordance with the study progress requirements set out in the individual education plan.

Course requirements

Public performances

Before the exam recital, the student should perform a repertoire lasting at least 45 minutes, taking the total performed repertoire in the subject to 90 minutes. The repertoire may, if desirable, be split up into multiple performances.

The performance(s) should be documented in the form of audio or video recordings which should be made accessible to the examiners electronically on the reporting form in relation to the final assessment.

Reporting form

The student should submit a reporting form containing

  • repertoire covered in the subject
  • summary of public performances and repertoire performed
  • link to audio/video recordings of public performances
  • repertoire, venue and presentation format of the final artistic presentation
  • project description of the master project

Deadline for course requirements

15 April in the fourth semester of the programme.

  • Completed public performances of at least 45 minutes of the repertoire included in the master project.
  • Submit reporting form.

All course requirements must be approved by the principal supervisor.

Final assessment

All course requirements must be met and approved in order for the student to be enrolled for the final assessment.

The student will be assessed on the basis of the learning objectives for the course. The student will be given a pass/fail mark based on the final artistic presentation and dialogue. The examiners will have access to the student's project description, reporting form and audio/video recordings of the public performances, and the master project will be assessed comprehensively as a whole.

The master project will be assessed by three examiners. At least one of these will be an external examiner.

Final artistic presentation

The master project concludes with a final artistic presentation, normally in the form of a concert at the Academy in the fourth semester of studies. The master project may be presented in a different format subject to application. Such applications must be submitted to the examinations office by 1 February in the fourth semester of the programme.

Duration: 45 minutes

Dialogue

After the final presentation, the candidate will take part in a public dialogue with the examination committee. Matters relating to the candidate's master project and the coherence within the master project will be covered during the dialogue. Feedback from the audience may form part of the dialogue.

Duration: 30 minutes.

The examination committee should provide an explanation of their assessment of the student.

New assessment

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

Study component

Published: Sep 16, 2021 — Last updated: Feb 1, 2024