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Norges musikkhøgskole Norwegian Academy of Music Search

Cham­ber Music

  • Year of study: Over two semesters.
  • Final assessment: Assessment by the course instructor.
  • Prerequisites: Admission to a programme in which the course is included.
  • Language of instruction: Norwegian and English.

Course description

The course provides skill in chamber music performance.

The chamber music coordinator will email a link to a form where students must submit any requests for teachers, repertoire or who they wish to create ensembles with. Deadline for submission is 1 December for the spring semester and 1 June for the fall semester. Student requests are reviewed and approved by the course coordinator. Students who have not already established ensembles will be placed in suitable groups. A list of chamber music groups is made available at nmh.no before the semester starts. Chamber music groups should normally work together one entire year. Changes to groups can be done in cases of illness, intermissions, leaves of absence, and similar situations.

Course coordinator: Are Sandbakken.

Learning objectives

On completion of the course, students are expected to

  • perform chamber music in an interesting way and demonstrate confidence in the genre
  • plan and participate in chamber music rehearsals resulting in a performance
  • have learned a wide selection of chamber music repertoire

Overview

Student suggestions for repertoire and group composition are the starting point for instruction. Teacher requests will be met, as far as possible. The course entails learning and interpreting chamber music works, as well as collaborative learning with peers.

Learned repertoire must be a minimum of 40 minutes (over 2 semesters). Exemption from this repertoire volume may be granted in the case of, particularly demanding pieces.

Students may choose if they wish to perform parts of their repertoire in concert, or in a semester test at the end of each semester.

Structure

The course is made up of chamber music group rehearsals initiated by the group itself and of tuition from a chamber music teacher. Students should preferably play in groups of 3 or more. Duos are acceptable if the repertoire places equal demands on both performers. Chamber music places heavy demands on students' ability to plan, organise, choose repertoire and rehearse.

For an overview of recommended amounts of instruction and organisation, please see Organisation under the description of the individual study programme.

Students have registered automatically for instruction and assessment in the course, in accordance with the study progress requirements set out in each student's individual education plan.

Course requirements

1. Semester schedule

Each semester, chamber music groups will create a semester schedule with their chamber music teacher. The semester schedule will include:

  • names of group members
  • a repertoire of approx. 20 minutes (per semester)
  • chamber music rehearsal dates
  • dates for tuition with an instructor
  • whether the group will perform their repertoire at a concert or during the semester test. The group may re-order their priorities no later than 1 November / 1 April. The group must notify the chamber music coordinator if they re-order their priorities

Deadline: The semester schedule must be handed into the course coordinator no later than 15 September (fall semester) and 1 February (spring semester). Download form from the Academy web page.

2. Attendance is compulsory

Rehearsals set in the semester schedule, and rehearsals scheduled with instructors, are compulsory.

3. Performance

Each semester chamber music groups may choose between two performance alternatives:

a) The group performs parts of their repertoire at a concert. The group is responsible for the practical organisation of the event. The chamber music teacher will determine if the concert is approved. If the teacher is not able to attend the concert, it must be recorded, video or audio.

b) The group performs 10 minutes of their repertoire at a semester test. Two teachers will witness the test and give the students oral feedback on their performance.

Deadline: All course requirements must be approved by 15 December / 1 June.

Final assessment

All course requirements must be approved prior to obtaining a final assessment.

Assessment is based on learning objectives. The final assessment is given as a pass/fail mark, which is determined by the course teacher(s) based on each student’s level of achievement throughout the course period.

The final assessment is given at the end of the 2nd year of study. Students must pass all semesters before they can receive their final passing grade.

New assessment

In the case of re-assessment, students must complete an additional chamber music project the following semester.

Study component

Published: Apr 3, 2020 — Last updated: Feb 1, 2024