Questions about the mdw talent lab
The mdw talent lab offers individual supplementary programs for interested young musicians at the mdw – in addition to instrumental lessons. Performance opportunities and concert tours are organized, chamber music projects between peers and like-minded young people are carried out, special workshops are offered. Our projects enable the young talents to network with other musicians, to motivate each other and to develop their own visions in community. Through the projects, the young talents get first insights into life as professional musicians.
The projects of the mdw talent lab are primarily open to mdw musicians from the Programme for Gifted Children, 6 – 16 years of age, and from the mdw preparatory programmes, 16-19 years of age.
External interested talents from our partner institutions can also participate in certain projects, such as e.g. students of the JSBM in the Young Masters Programme. Prize-winners of the Prima la Musica competition, for example, can participate in the children’s or youth master classes (Kinder und Jugend Masterclasses).
Every musician from the the mdw’s preparatory programmes (Programme for Gifted Children and major-specific preparatory programmes) can participate in the projects of the mdw talent lab. An entrance exam is not necessary. However, there are annual “meet the talent lab” days, in which the needs and wishes of the young talents are discussed individually.
It depends on the project. Since our musicians are mostly students/pupils of general education schools, our projects take place mainly on weekends, holidays and during vacations.
We send out the invitation to our projects by e-mail to all musicians of the Programme for Gifted Children and the mdw`s major-specific preparatory programmes. You can easily register for our projects by sending an e-mail to talentlab@mdw.ac.at. If you have any questions, please contact us at +43 1 711 55 7811.
Classes take place at the institutes and locations of the mdw.
Since our musicians are mostly still students/pupils of general education schools, our projects take place mainly on weekends, holidays and vacations.
In general, classes at mdw are open to the public in agreement with the teacher.
Questions about the projects of the mdw talent lab and the individual support of your child can be sent to us by email or directly by phone:
talentlab@mdw.ac.at,
Tel. +43 1 711 55 7811.
We advise you individually, feel free to contact us: talentlab@mdw.ac.at. Or call us at +43 1 711 55 7811.
Questions about the Programme for Gifted Children
The Programme for Gifted Children is designed to be the first offering of the pre-college program in a university context and is designed to provide instrumental instruction for highly gifted children and adolescents.
Central artistic subject (2.0 KE, individual artistic instruction), which consists of instrumental instruction, ear training and teaching of basic concepts of music theory. Instrumental training is supported by additional projects of the mdw talent lab.
Information about the contents of the Programme for Gifted Children can be found on the website of the Office of the Dean of Studies for Instrumental Studies.
Generally, it is possible to set up a meeting/informal audition with the professors and teachers of the mdw and get one or more opinions before applying for the formal entrance exams. This is highly recommended. We are also very happy to advise you personally on this topic. Please just write to us at talentlab@mdw.ac.at. Or call us at +43 1 711 55 7811.
From the age of 6 to a maximum of 16.
The programme lasts until the age of 16 at the latest (cut-off date September 30).
There is a fee for the Programme for Gifted Children (currently 500€/semester).
Scholarships are available for parents who need financial assistance to cover the the Programme fee. Please send information and inquiries to: Dr.in Birgit Buxbaum at buxbaum@mdw.ac.at.
From the age of 12, an intermediate examination must be taken every 4 semesters with an examination program that must cover various styles. If the examination commission comes to a negative assessment, this examination can be repeated once within a period of up to 6 months. If the commission again comes to a negative assessment, the student is excluded from the continuation of the course and from the new admission.
An additional audition can be scheduled every 2 semesters at the request of the teacher.
Information about the admission requirements of the Programme for Gifted Children can be found on the website of the Office of the Dean of Instrumental Studies.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr.in Birgit Buxbaum at buxbaum@mdw.ac.at.
Participants of the preparatory programmes have to enroll every semester in the Studies Center.
Questions about the university programme for the advancement of gifted children
Questions about the Preparatory Programmes
The preparatory programmes prepare particularly talented and interested young people for regular studies at mdw.
The mdw offers preparatory programmes for particularly talented young people who have not yet reached artistic maturity or the required age for regular study.
Young musicians can participate in preparatory programmes from the age of 15 after passing the entrance examination. They can participate until the age of 19 (exceptions: military service, illness, pregnancy, covid…) for 6 semesters.
Information on registration and admission exams can be found on the mdw page under Studies – Programmes of Study – Preparatory Programmes – Preparatory Programmes for your instrument.
Detailed information can be found in the curricula under Studies – Programmes of Study – Preparatory Programmes for your instrument
After every 2 semesters from the beginning of the course, there is an audition in front of a commission, which is commented with a verbal description. For this purpose, a course protocol is to be kept by the teachers for each course participant, in which the studied works are to be documented, beginning with the entrance examination up to the end of the course.
Should the commission come to a negative description during this audition, a control examination can be scheduled, which has to take place in front of an enlarged commission. If the commission again comes to a negative assessment, the student is excluded from the continuation of the course and from the new admission.
To be admitted to the preparatory programmes applicant have to pass an entrance examination.
All instruments offered at mdw in the Instrumental Studies are also offered at the preparatory programmes.
Yes, from the age of 15 as part of the preparatory programmes for voice training.
If you do not have your own instrument, it is also possible to lend one from the mdw. For this purpose, please contact the respective institute management directly.
Preparatory programme serves as preparation for regular studies if the artistic maturity for regular studies or the required age has not yet been reached. They are an additional support to existing musical education such as music school or music high school. The mdw is not a substitute for regular school attendance with school maturity (Matura, Abitur).
Yes. In general, it is possible to audition for all teachers at the mdw. Depending on the individual assessment and depending on the teacher`s capacity and available places, a place will be allocated after you have passed the admission exam. A change of a teacher is also possible.
Registration for more than one instrument is possible for each musician.
Questions about the Young Masters Programme
The Young Masters Programme was created in cooperation between the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Johann Sebastian Bach Music School, which have been working closely together in the field of promotion of gifted students for more than 15 years.
Diverse projects, workshops and concerts – also internationally – have been carried out during this time and the experiences and results are documented. The Young Masters Programme offers young, particularly interested and enthusiastic musicians of both institutions an extended and joint offer to individually support their way to a successful artistic career.
All interested musicians from the programme for gifted children and the preparatory programmes, as well as the musicians from the gifted classes of the Johann Sebastian Bach Music School can participate in the Young Masters Programme.
All musicians, 8 – 19 years of age, can participate in the Young Masters Programme. We invite you to the specific projects according to your age.
Every musician from the Programme for gifted children or from the mdw`s preparatory programmes as well as from the gifted classes of the JSBM can participate in the projects of the Young Masters Programme. Participation is agreed individually between the student and the teacher together with the programme managers.
You can find some examples of the Young Masters projects on our website under “Impressions”.