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Group courses
Course description
The VMI offers various group courses thematically dealing with the following areas: Music Theory, Ear Training and Rhythm. A clearly structured teaching structure makes it possible to easily understand the course content and to quickly make appropriate progress in the respective areas. In addition, course participants benefit from the group dynamics that take place in these classes. The lessons take place weekly with VMI instructors who are specialized in the respective areas.
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Music theory
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The goal of music theory courses at VMI is to gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of harmonic and compositional relationships. A detailed study of scales, intervals, chords and cadences is therefore at the beginning of these courses, which in the following second semester deal with compositional analysis, chord substitutions, alterations, polychords and the like.
Course leader: Mag. Alexander Lackner (course leader for artistic and pedagogical courses at the VMI)
Course duration: 1 semester (5 months) with an option of extension
Course times: Thursdays, 10:00-10:45 a.m. (Course I) and 10:45-11:30 a.m. (Course II)
Course fees: € 420 per semester / € 640 in combination with Ear Training / € 860 in combination with Ear Training & Rhythmics
Ear training
The courses for ear training of the VMI aim at the development of a so-called relative ear, which is practically indispensable for musicians*. Starting with simple examples, listening and recognizing different intervals in relation to reference tones is trained systematically and under professional guidance. Subsequently, the course participants are able to recognize various intervals, chords, and rhythms by listening.
Course leader: Alexander Lackner (head of artistic and pedagogical studies at the VMI)
Course duration: 1 semester (5 months) with option of extension
Course times: Wednesday, 15:30-16:15 (Course I) and 16:15-17:00 (Course II)
Course fees: € 420 per semester / € 640 in combination with ear training / € 860 in combination with ear training & rhythmics
Rhythm
Participants in the rhythmics courses at the VMI will quickly gain the ability to recognize a wide variety of rhythmic notations and to implement them without errors. Based on simple examples, the notations are first "sung" with certain syllables in order to internalize the rhythms without counting and to be able to reproduce them with confidence. A subsequent transfer to instruments or musical contexts is then usually no longer a problem.
Course leader: Federico Peréz (VMI lecturer for rhythm training, improvisation, songwriting and bass)
Course duration: 1 semester (5 months) with option of extension
Course times: Tuesday, 17:45-18:30 (WS Course I) and 17:45-18:30 (SS Course II)
Course fees: € 420 per semester / € 640 in combination with ear training / € 860 in combination with ear training & rhythmics
Afrocuban rhythms for drumset
Mainly rhythms from Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are covered in these courses. Traditional rhythms of percussionists are transferred to the drumset and vice versa, the influence of the drumset on this music is discussed in detail. Furthermore, methods are demonstrated how to specifically apply this vocabulary in other musical styles, such as jazz, Latin jazz or fusion.
Course instructor: Harry Tanschek (specialized in Latin American rhythms and featured on over 50 CD releases)
Course duration: 1 semester (5 months) with an option to extend.
Course times: Monday, 18:30-20:00 (14-day block) and Tuesday, 15:30-17:00 (14-day block)
Course fees: € 420 per semester / € 640 in combination with Brazilian rhythms for drumset
Brazilian rhythms for drumset
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Bossa Nova, Samba, Samba Cruzado, Batucada, Bajao, Partido Alto, Afoxe - just to name a few - will be covered in this course. The focus is not only on learning these rhythms, but also on mastering them to the point where you can move more freely and improvise without leaving the idiom. Another main focus is on the phrasing typical of these rhythms and the rhythmic analysis of corresponding compositions.
Course leader: Harry Tanschek (Specialized in Latin American rhythms and featured on over 50 CD releases)
Course duration: 1 semester (5 months) with option of extension
Course times: Monday, 18:30-20:00 (14-days blocked) and Tuesday, 15:30-17:00 (14-days blocked)
Course fees: € 420 per semester / € 640 in combination with Brazilian rhythms for drumset
Course details
Course start: February and September
Course duration: 1 semester (5 months) with extension option
Prerequisites: Basic previous knowledge and a minimum age of 15 years. Persons from non-EU countries need a valid residence permit for Austria for the duration of the course.
Teachers: The course is taught by professional musicians and experienced VMI instructors who work systematically in these courses according to curricula that have been tried and tested for decades.
Course end date: The courses can be completed at the end of each semester or extended for one additional semester.
Follow-up studies: The courses can also be used to prepare for studies at the VMI in order to prepare for the entrance examination in the best possible way.
Course fees:
€ 420 semester fee for one course
€ 640 semester fee for two courses
€ 860 semester fee for three courses
Online registration
Online registrations for these course offerings should be made in a timely manner prior to the start of the semester to ensure an appropriate course seat.
Recommended registration for the winter semester (courses start in September): May/June
Recommended registration for the summer semester (courses start in February): November/December
If possible, you can also include 2 YouTube video links with your online application so that we can get a better idea of your current knowledge and skills. Creating a video and YouTube channel is very easy and can be done in a few steps, as explained below.