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Norges musikkhøgskole Norwegian Academy of Music Search

Organ Impro­visa­tion

Course description

The course is designed to enable the students to enhance their knowledge and skill in organ improvisation. Stimulating the students’ imagination and creativity is a key aspect of the course.

Learning objectives

On completion of this course, the student is expected to

  • demonstrate their capacity for musical creativity and an artistic style
  • demonstrate insight into classical forms through their playing
  • be able to evaluate and explain their own and others’ improvisations
  • be able to improvise on a selection of musical materials and in selected musical settings

Overview

The course involves

  • improvisation of various forms of free organ pieces in different styles
  • improvisation of preludes, fantasias and suites but also chorale-bound improvisation such as partitas and chorale variations
  • improvisation focusing on the 20th and 21st centuries

Structure

The tuition is given individually.

For a summary of indicative workload and structure, please see the “Structure” section of the relevant programme of study.

The students are automatically registered for tuition/supervision and assessment in the subject in line with the progression set out in the individual education plan.

Course requirements

The student should take one internal test at the end of the first academic year.

The student must participate in the church music forum with two improvisations during the course.

Final assessment

The assessment is based on the learning objectives for the course. The final assessment is graded and is determined on the basis of a practical exam at the end of Year 2. The assessment is carried out by least two internal examiners.

Practical exam

A repertoire list will be issued three weeks before the practical exam based on the repertoire studied during the course that the student should prepare for the exam.

Duration: 30 minutes.

New assessment

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

Study component

Published: Apr 3, 2020 — Last updated: Dec 18, 2023