Bachelor
Music Theory
In the first three years of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Music Theory, you will receive thorough training in music theoretical craftsmanship (counterpoint, harmony, keyboard harmony, partimento, singing) and analysis (harmonic, form and style analysis). The connection between these two aspects comes to life through style compositions, performed in public concerts. Collaboration and discussion between students are encouraged through frequent joint sessions, which focus on reading (academic) literature, form analysis, presentation skills and teaching methods. Teaching practice and methodology are part of the third and fourth-year programme.
In the final year of the Bachelor’s programme, you will have relative freedom to focus on specific repertoire, skills and/or topics, depending on how you want to develop further as a music theorist. You will present the results of this individual focus in a Bachelor’s thesis.
Meet our team
Meet your lecturers
Curriculum
Curriculum
|
Major Music Theory |
More info |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Main Subject and Components related to the Main Subject |
46 |
44 |
37 |
43 |
|
Fundamentals (Theory of Music) |
3 |
3 |
2 |
||
Ear Training and Prima Vista (Theory of Music) |
8 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
Analysis (Theory of Music) |
10 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
|
Writing Skills and Style Composition (Theory of Music) |
15 |
13 |
10 |
12 |
|
Source Reading and Literature (Theory of Music) |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Applied Piano and Improvisation (Theory of Music) |
7 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
|
Research Assignment (Theory of Music) |
5 |
||||
Professional development |
8 |
12 |
16 |
9 |
|
Basic Digital Tools |
2 |
||||
Health and Well-Being |
1 |
||||
Singing |
2 |
2 |
2 |
||
Piano for Theory of Music Students |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Basic Teaching Skills Instrument Specific Methodology |
1 |
||||
Basic Teaching Skills Lectures |
1 |
||||
Advanced Digital Tools |
2 |
3 |
|||
Knowledge of Orchestral Instruments |
2 |
||||
Studio Recording Preparation |
1 |
||||
Your Art as a Business Basic Course |
2 |
||||
Your Art as a Business Electives |
1 |
||||
Instrumentation |
3 |
3 |
|||
Playing from Score (Orchestra) |
2 |
3 |
|||
Music Theory |
6 |
4 |
|||
History of Music |
4 |
2 |
|||
Choir Classical (General) |
2 |
2 |
|||
Minor - Advanced Teaching Skills |
7 |
8 |
|||
Theory and Methodology (ATS mod 1) |
2 |
||||
Instrument Specific Methodology (ATS mod 2) |
2 |
||||
Work Placement (ATS mod 3) |
3 |
3 |
|||
Internal Educational Project (ATS mod 4) |
1 |
||||
Final Assignment (ATS mod 5) |
4 |
Before you apply
Admission
requirements
Pre-audition video requirements:
For the pre-audition, the candidate needs to record 2 videos that contain:
- Video 1: A short introduction of him/herself in English: talk about your musical experiences, your motivation to study music, your main subject and why you choose to audition at Conservatorium Maastricht.
- Video 2: A recording of the requested assignments, in fixed camera position without any editing. The candidate’s face and body should be clearly visible. At the start of the video, the candidate announces his/her Zuyd student number and the assignments he or she will perform.
The videos should be uploaded to an online platform such as YouTube.com or Vimeo.com. It is the candidate’s responsibility to make sure that the video links work.
Pre-Audition requirements for a Bachelor audition
Video recordings of:
- Piano, 2 pieces: at least one piece with polyphonic techniques (for example Bach 2-part invention)
- Sight singing assignment: sing two of Zingarelli’s vocalises ‘pour contralto’ (see this attachment). You may select which two exercises you want to do. Optional: accompany yourself on the piano.
- Rhythm: perform the given rhythms with your voice while tapping or conducting the meter. (see this attachment)
- Partimento assignment: first practice the partimento basic models (see this attachment). Based on these models, play and record a 3-voice realization of the ‘Partimento – MS Theory Entrance exam’.
Submit in pdf:
- Optional: Harmony / counterpoint material from previous courses (max 10)
- Optional: Analysis material from previous courses (max 5 from different styles / genres)
- Fundamentals of music via online platform musictheory.net. Submit progress reports from the following challenges:
- Interval identification
- Interval construction
- Chord identification
- Chord construction
- Seventh chord identification
- Scales identification
Additional requirements for (online) live-audition
- Analysis assignment (the assignment will be shared with the candidate 10 days before the live audition)
- Analysis presentation (10 minutes)
- Literature / article discussion (the articles will be shared with the candidate 10 days before the live audition)
- Harmony/counterpoint assignment (the assignment will be shared with the candidate 10 days before the live audition)
- Unprepared sight singing and rhythm
- Ear training: polyphonic 2- and/or 3-voice dictation and harmonic dictation
- Playing cadences, sequences in various keys on piano, after partimento basic models.
- Score reading: you should be able to specify the instruments in an orchestral score, to read parts separately (be aware of transposing instruments and clefs), and to identify chords and their inversions
- Motivation - interview