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Deutsch Who is the Bachelor’s degree programme in Music at the Barenboim-Said Academy suitable for?
The Bachelor of Music at the Barenboim-Said Academy is aimed at young musicians who aspire to a professional career as an orchestral musician, pianist or composer. The programme is particularly suitable for talents who value a broad humanities education alongside comprehensive instrumental training. It is generally intended for highly talented musicians from (late) adolescence onwards who wish for a holistic artistic and academic development and who have an interest in international exchange as well as ensemble work.
What formal criteria apply for an application?
You need a university entrance qualification (usually Abitur or a recognised equivalent qualification). In addition, proof of exceptional musical talent is required, which is provided by an audition or an entrance examination. Applications are possible for the fields of orchestral instruments, piano, and composition. For international applicants, sufficient knowledge of German or English is required, as teaching can take place in both languages. A school leaving certificate obtained in Germany is not mandatory, but an equivalent international certificate must be provided.
Ideally, you already have many years of continuous training in your main musical instrument or in composition. Participation in competitions, concert experience or awards are positively evaluated but are not mandatory requirements.
Personal requirements and expectations during the course of studies
You should have pronounced instrumental or compositional skills and be prepared to focus intensively on your main subject. Discipline, perseverance and a high level of self-motivation are essential for success in your studies, as the workload is considerable in both the artistic and humanities fields. Important qualities include ability to handle criticism, team spirit and openness to intercultural exchange, as ensemble work and international collaboration are central aspects of everyday academic life. A willingness for regular reflection and the development of your own artistic personality as well as an interest in philosophical, historical and literary questions are expected for the accompanying humanities studies.
What content does the Bachelor’s degree in Music at the Barenboim-Said Academy convey?
In the Bachelor of Music programme at the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin, you combine a highly qualified musical education with a comprehensive humanities-based education. The degree is divided into nine thematic modules and a total of 24 courses, which impart practical and theoretical skills. The content focuses on:
- Instrumental practice and individual tuition for all orchestral instruments, piano or composition
- Ensemble playing and work on chamber music pieces
- Music theory, music history and ear training, complemented by advanced courses in musical performance practice and musicology
- Composition and music communication, to artistically express and convey your own ideas
- Humanities modules in philosophy, history and literature
In the first two years of study, you attend a fixed core curriculum with introductory courses in all areas. From the third year onwards, you can set your own priorities and choose from advanced elective courses in musicological or artistic fields as well as in the humanities. The aim is, alongside instrumental and analytical skills, to also develop critical thinking, cultural reflection and interdisciplinary dialogue.
How is the course structure and organisation of the Bachelor of Music designed?
The degree is divided into eight semesters (standard period of study: four years, 240 ECTS). You study in face-to-face teaching at the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin. The structure is as follows:
- Individual tuition and regular ensemble rehearsals
- Compulsory and elective courses from the fields of music practice, theory and humanities
- Practical projects and public concerts in the Pierre Boulez Saal and other venues of the Academy
- Interdisciplinary formats such as the Academy Forum, symposia and the Edward W. Said Days
- Support through a scholarship and accommodation in the Academy’s dormitories
The first years of study are more structured, while you set your own focus in the later stages of the programme. The final year is characterised by writing an artistic-scientific thesis as well as a final recital or composition presentation.
What career paths does the Music degree at the Barenboim-Said Academy open up?
Graduates of the B.A. Music at the Barenboim-Said Academy qualify for a wide range of musical and cultural mediation career paths. Typical fields of work include:
- Membership in professional orchestras or chamber music ensembles
- Solo careers in the concert field
- Work as a composer for theatre, film or media
- Music mediation and pedagogical work as well as artistic-scientific work
- Advanced Master’s degree programmes at home and abroad
- Cultural management and project work in the music and event sector
Thanks to the broad humanities foundation, activities in intercultural exchange and in international cultural institutions are open to you.
Where does the degree take place and what is the spatial environment like?
The study location is the Barenboim-Said Academy at Französische Straße 33D in Berlin-Mitte. The carefully redesigned, listed Academy building offers:
- Practice rooms, lecture halls and seminar rooms with modern equipment
- Mozart Auditorium for internal events
- Own library with workstations and specialist collections
- Student flatshares in a central location
- Pierre Boulez Saal as an internationally renowned concert and performance venue directly within the Academy complex
The Pierre Boulez Saal is a hallmark of the Academy and promotes a lively concert life as well as close exchange between teaching, practice and the public.
How much are the tuition fees and what funding opportunities are available?
There are no tuition fees for the Bachelor of Music at the Barenboim-Said Academy. All admitted students receive a monthly scholarship that supports living expenses. In addition, the Academy provides free accommodation in shared flats for all Bachelor students.
- Tuition fees: 0 € for the entire duration of studies
- Monthly scholarship for living costs
- Free accommodation in flats provided by the Academy
External funding is not necessary due to the scholarship and free housing offer. The scholarship programme is sponsored by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and is an integral part of the study place.
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