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Norges musikkhøgskole Norwegian Academy of Music Search

Mas­ter­’s Pro­ject

  • Course type: Concentration.
  • Year of study: Year 2, 2nd semester.
  • Final assessment: Final artistic presentation and meeting with examinations committee.
  • Prerequisites: Admission to the Master of Music in Performance Degree Programme.
  • Language of instruction: English.
  • Study component: MAUT Master of Music Performance Degree Programme.

Course description

This course is for students enrolled on the Master of Music Performance Degree Programme – ECMAster. The Master's Project is to be an independent project that reflects artistic maturity and independence in musical performance. The project topic should be clearly demarcated and pose a clearly defined artistic question. The project will be carried out in the ensemble, and the ensemble musicians are mutually responsible for the artistic outcome of the ensemble's work. Should, however, a student not be able to complete the course, the remaining students will still get an assessment if the course can be completed with a stand-in. Assessment is given individually.

Learning objectives

On completion of this course, the students are expected to

  • have developed a clear profile for the ensemble
  • demonstrate artistic integrity and maturity in musical performance
  • be able to articulate and discuss artistic issues
  • be able to initiate, develop, and implement artistic projects
  • be able to use material from artistic development activities and research

Overview

In the Master's Project, students will, as part of the ensemble, complete an independent artistic performance project. The project topic should be clearly demarcated and pose a clearly defined artistic question. The repertoire should have a duration of approx. 90 minutes, of which 45 minutes should be publicly performed before the final artistic presentation.

The Master's Project mainly comprises the students' work with

  • developing, implementing and managing their own artistic project
  • rehearsing and interpreting the repertoire for the Master's Project
  • public presentations of their Master's Project
  • relevant material from artistic development work and research
  • reflection and discussion on their own Master's Projects and those of their peers

Structure

The ensembles' mutual masterwork makes up the bulk of the course. The ensemble is responsible for the progression of the Master's Project and must make regular appointments with the supervisor(s).

Supervision

The chamber music coach acts as a supervisor of the project. A secondary supervisor may be appointed if needed. The supervisor(s) will give the students guidance on their artistic choices and, in other ways, support the development and implementation of the project.

Project proposal

In the first two semesters of Master's studies, the ensemble develops their Master's Project idea through the course MUSPER76 Project development and Music in Perspective.

Master's Forum

The ensemble should present their project and take part in Master's forum sessions.

The structure and recommended scope of instruction are further outlined in the programme curriculum.

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

ECMA IP

1. The ensemble must participate in one ECMA session during the 4th semester of studies.

Public performances and log

2. Before the final concert, the ensemble should perform publicly a repertoire of a minimum of 45 minutes duration, making a total of 90 minutes performed repertoire in the Master's Project. If so desired, the repertoire may be divided among several performances. This part of the Master's project should be an arena for trying out artistic ideas and can follow up on the mini artistic research project carried out in the first semester. After the performances, the group members should individually write a log contemplating the experiences made during the planning and implementation of the performance(s). Drawing on these personal reflections, the group should make a common plan for their final exam concert.

3. The performance(s) must be documented with audio and/or video recordings, which should be submitted digitally to the examiners through the report form. The individual logs, as well as the common exam concert plan, should be submitted together with the report form.

Report forms

4. The student must submit a report form containing

  • repertoire studied throughout the course
  • list of public performances, including performed repertoire
  • link to audio and/or video recordings of public performances
  • repertoire, venue and form of presentation for the final artistic presentation

Deadlines

15 April in the fourth semester of studies

  • public performances should be accomplished
  • report form with attachments should be submitted
  • the final project description should be submitted

All course requirements must be approved by the principal supervisor and the leader of the Master's Forum and should be submitted through the Academy's digital learning platform.

Final assessment

All course requirements must be met and approved before the student can take the final exam. Assessment is based on learning objectives. The final assessment will be given as an individual pass/fail mark, which will be determined on the basis of a final artistic presentation and a meeting with the examinations committee. The Master's Project is assessed as a whole, including the project proposal, report form, and audio and/or video recordings of the public performances. The ensemble musicians are mutually responsible for the artistic outcome of the ensemble's work. Should, however, a student not be able to complete the course, the remaining students will still get an assessment if the course can be completed with a stand-in. The ensemble is responsible for finding a stand-in and must normally cover any costs associated with this.

The Master's Project will be assessed by three examiners, of which a minimum of one is external.

Final artistic presentation

The Master's Project concludes with a final artistic presentation which is usually held as a concert at the Academy. In application, the Master's Project may be presented in another form. Applications must be submitted to the Exams Office no later than 1 February in the fourth semester of studies. The presentation must take place in the fourth semester of studies.

Duration: 45 minutes.

Meeting with the examinations committee

After the final presentation, the ensemble will meet with the examinations committee in a public discussion. Topics to be discussed include academic issues related to the ensemble's Master's Project and the internal cohesion between the various elements of the Master's Project.

Duration: 30 minutes.

The examinations committee must give the ensemble an explanation of the assessment.

Re-assessment

In the case of re-assessment, the same procedures as for an ordinary assessment will be followed. A student cannot demand a re-assessment if the ensemble has already passed the course with a stand-in unless a medical certificate can be presented.

Published: Jun 29, 2021 — Last updated: May 30, 2022