Collaborative piano

Teaching Staff

Prof. Nicholas Rimmer

Bachelor of Music (Minor)

Principal subjects in artistic and artistic-pedagogic profile: Main subject lessons, repertoire, chamber music/ensemble, theory/ear training/musicology, elective module.

Supplementary subjects in artistic-pedagogic profile: Methodology/didactics, music education, written project.

Requirements in the entrance exam

a) Instrumental major subject:
Performance of two challenging works for solo piano (individual movements are possible) from two different styles.

b) Prima vista playing:
Performance of a short work for solo piano, which will be announced in the examination.

c) Correpetition/Accompaniment
Performance of a work with an instrumentalist, without prior rehearsal. The work to be prepared will be announced in advance of the examination, e.g. together with the date of the aptitude test.

Examples for c): First movement from an instrumental concerto (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, violin concerto; Robert Schumann, cello concerto; Carl Maria von Weber, clarinet concerto; Joseph Haydn, trumpet concerto; Richard Strauss, horn concerto etc.).

Duration: approx. 15 minutes in total.

(Excerpt from the Statutes on Enrollment; see there also the General examination requirements und the Requirements of the further examination parts [ear training, music theory, piano]).

Master of Music

This program is aimed at pianists who would like in-depth preparation for a career as a repetiteur or

collaborative pianist. The course aims to provide students with the requisite practical and theoretical
skills for such a career, as well as giving students the possibility to gain practical experience whilst
studying. The course allows students to focus more on either opera/vocal repetiteuring or
instrumental accompaniment, according to their individual preference.

The main study modules (2,5 hours per week) focus on building a broad repertoire, fluent and
polished playing from piano reductions and orchestral scores and developing skills in transposition
and sight-reading.

An important part of the course are the compulsory modules: the basics of conducting, harpsichord
& figured bass, singing and vocal coaching, Italian and German diction, Lied/art song
accompaniment and chamber music. The compulsory module Korrepetitionspraxis ('Repetiteuring
in practice') allows students to hone their skills in practice by being assigned to accompany students
in the instrumental and vocal classes of the Hochschule on a weekly basis (3 hours per week).
The final exam consists of a public concert, a repertoire exam and master project/work experience.

Requirements in the entrance exam

a) Main subject:
Performance of three complete, challenging works for solo piano from three different styles, one of which must be from the 20th/21st century.

b) Prima vista playing:
Performance of a short work for solo piano to be announced in the examination.

c) Correpetition/Accompaniment:
Performance of a work with an instrumentalist without prior rehearsal. The work to be prepared will be announced in advance of the examination, e.g. together with the date of the aptitude test.

Examples for c): First movement from an instrumental concerto (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, violin concerto; Robert Schumann, cello concerto; Carl Maria von Weber, clarinet concerto; Joseph Haydn, trumpet concerto; Richard Strauss, horn concerto etc.).

Duration: 20 minutes in total.

(Excerpt from the Statutes on Enrollment; see there also the General examination requirements).