Jazz and Improvised Music

The Institute of Jazz and Improvised Music fosters a dialogue between tradition and innovation. Stylistic diversity, tolerance and curiosity are important basic principles that are also reflected in the institute's teaching staff. Students are encouraged to develop their improvisational creativity and are supported in finding their own means of expression. The institute's numerous in-house ensembles provide ample opportunity for practice and connect the institute with the Upper Austrian event scene.

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Artistic Bachelor's Programme (KBA)

Voice – jazz, piano – jazz, clarinet – jazz, saxophone – jazz, trumpet – jazz, trombone – jazz, violin – jazz, viola – jazz, violoncello – jazz, double bass – jazz, guitar – jazz, e-bass – jazz, percussion – jazz, drum set – jazz

8 semesters / 240 ECTS / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The artistic Bachelor’s programme (KBA) serves to provide qualified artistic and artistic-scholarly professional training. It is intended to create the basis for independent and self-reliant work as an artist and to contribute to the development and exploration of the arts through critical examination of artistic and artistic-scholarly topics. The Bachelor's programmes offer an optimal link between artistic and academic fields of work. The specialization (Studienschwerpunkt), selected from a wide range of subjects, imparts specific artistic skills in addition to the foundational competencies. For the professional application of the skills acquired, there are job opportunities in the private sector, particularly in art and cultural mediation (e.g. theater, concert and radio orchestras) as a freelance musician and in the field of new media.

Pedagogical Bachelor's Programme (PBA)

8 semesters / 240 ECTS / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The pedagogical Bachelor’s programme (PBA) provides students with a qualified artistic-pedagogical professional education. The degree program is intended to create the foundation for responsible, independent artistic-pedagogical work and to contribute to the development and exploration of the arts through critical examination of artistic and artistic-scholarly issues. It is characterized by the critical examination of artistic and pedagogical issues and offers an ideal combination of artistic, pedagogical and academic fields of work. In addition, from the third semester onwards, students can specialize in one of a wide range of subjects. This focus is designed to foster students' individual artistic development.

Professional Fields

Possible professional fields for graduates include public and private educational institutions such as music schools, tertiary educational institutions as well as working in community music and as freelance music teachers. The core study area, chosen from a wide range of options, imparts specific teaching and artistic skills in addition to the basic competencies. The acquired skills can also be applied professionally in the private sector, particularly in art and cultural mediation and in the field of new media. Upon completion of the Bachelor's programme, students are qualified to teach.

Artistic Master's Programme (KMA)

4 semesters / 120 ECTS / Master of Arts (MA)

The artistic Master’s programme (KMA) deepens the skills acquired in the bachelor programme with the aim of providing specialized artistic training. It qualifies graduates to work as independent musicians. The critical examination of artistic and artistic-scholarly issues during the course of study contributes to the development and appreciation of the arts. The Master’s programme adds to the qualifications acquired in the bachelor programme by expanding the students' knowledge in a chosen specialization, in addition to deepening their skills and proficiency.

Professional fields

The professional qualifications acquired in the Bachelor’s programme are strengthened according to individual student needs. Possible career settings include opera, concert and radio orchestras, opera houses, state and city theatres, big bands and chamber music ensembles, Early and New Music ensembles, freelance work, as well as organizational and management work.

Pedagogical Master's Programme (PMA)

4 semesters / 120 ECTS / Master of Arts (MA)

The pedagogical Master’s programme (PMA) serves to provide highly qualified artistic-pedagogical professional training, particularly in the further development of vocal and/or instrumental ability and artistic-pedagogical and scholarly terms. The critical examination of pedagogical, artistic and artistic-scholarly issues during the course of study contributes to the development and appreciation of the arts. The Master’s programme expands on qualifications acquired in the Bachelor’s programme by broadening a students' knowledge in their chosen focus of study, as well as by deepening their skills and proficiency.

Professional fields

Possible professional fields for graduates include public and private educational institutions such as music schools, tertiary educational institutions, areas of integrative/inclusive education, work in community music and as freelance music teachers. This degree program develops skills in both teaching and artistic instruction. The skills acquired can also be applied professionally in the private sector, particularly in art and cultural mediation and in the field of new media. Upon completion of the Bachelor's programme, students are already qualified to teach; the Master's programme builds on this, furthering artistic and pedagogical knowledge and allows students to focus on a specific subject area.