General Information
The Conservatory of Music “C. Pollini” in Padua offers many possibilitiesfor musical study, equivalent to Bachelor and Master degrees.
These programs are called in Italy "DIPLOMA ACCADEMICO" (Academic Degrees).
They are:
A) Traditional Courses: Bassoon, Clarinet, Cello, Choral and Sacred Music, Chamber Music, Composition, Double Bass, Flute, Guitar, Harp, Harpsichord, Historic Transverse Flute, Horn, Jazz, Lyric Singing, Mandolin, Oboe, Orchestra, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Recorder, Saxophone, String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, String Quartet, TromboneTrumpet, Viola, Violin.
B) First Level (three-year courses): Bassoon, Clarinet, Cello, Choral and Sacred Music, Chamber Music, Composition, Double Bass, Flute, Guitar, Harp, Harpsichord, Historic Transverse Flute, Horn, Jazz, Lyric Singing, Mandolin, Musical Methods and Techniques for The Disabled*, Oboe, Orchestral Musicianship, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Recorder, Saxophone, String Ensemble. Wind Ensemble, Sound Engineering **, String Quartet, Trombone, Trumpet, Viola, Violin.
Musical Methods and Techniques for The Disabled*:
This three-year course trains assistant teachers for pupils with various kinds of disabilities, with a particular regard to blindness. They will be able to offer help specifically in the field of (and by means of) music. Mandatory topics include: Braille music notation (3 exams), History of music (3 exams), Practical keyboard and vocal-instrumental repertoire sight reading (3 exams), General theory of music (2 exams), Harmony and counterpoint (2 exams), English (2 exams), Information technology (2 exams), Analysis of music (2 exams), Pedagogics of music (2 exams), Methods of musical didactics (2 exams), Music therapy (2 exams), Ergonomics (2 exams), Acoustics and psychoacoustics (1 exam), Anthropology of music (1 exam), Medical and psychiatric aspects of disability (1 exam), Psychology applied to disabilty (1 exam), Psychology of music (1 exam), Elements of psychomotricity (1 exam), Elements of anatomy and physiology of the locomotory apparatus (1 exam), Sensorimotor co-ordination and sensorial integration (1 exam), Musical technique workshops (vocal function, body expression, vocal-instrumental improvisation), Psychoacoustics workshops, Braille music notation teaching workshops. Students must attain 180 CFU Credits (to include the final thesis) to attain their qualification Teaching is in Italian or English.
The Sound Engineering Course **
is a three-year degree course dedicated to modern sound engineering, involving sound and music computing. Mandatory topics include: Acoustics and Psychoacoustics (1 Exam), Anthropology of Music (1 Exam), Ear Training and Score Sight Reading (4 Exams), Musical Acoustics (1 Exam), Information Technolgy (3 Exams), Mathematics (1 Exam), Electroacoustics (3 Exams), Acoustic Physics (1 Exam), Audio Formats, Controls and Protocols (1 Exam), Sound and Music Computing (3 Exams), Legal Provisions for Acoustics (1 Exam), English (1 Exam), Practical Keyboard and vocal/instrumental repertoire sight reading (3 Exams), Studio Production (2 Exams), History of Art (3 Exams), History of Music (3 Exams), Applied Digital Signal Processing Techniques (6 Exams), Applied Recording Techniques (6 Exams), Musical Organization Techniques (1 Exam), Media and Journalism Techniques (1 Exam), General Theory of Music (2 Exams).
The SaMPL (Sound and Music Processing Living Lab)
SaMPL is the first Living Lab devoted to music and musicians. In Living Lab jargon, its first end users are musicians and scientists interested in research and experimentation – while the public can be seen as an important "second level" end users. SaMPL was created thanks to the collaboration between the Conservatorio C.Pollini and the Department of Information Engineering of the University in Padova, and to substantial funding from the Fondazione Cariparo.
SaMPL activities span from research to production and are constantly traversed (in both domains) by an instructional target - many of its activities are carried out by students at all levels followed by world famous tutors in all fields. From the lab to the auditorium Scientific research in music cannot be severed from musical production, because the latter provides its substantial motivations and objectives. By the very same token, contemporary musical production itself needs tools, instruments, concepts and technologies generated by advanced research. Thus, SaMPL production activities are the tip of the iceberg of a wide range of other operations carried out within the lab. Music Creativity and Scientific Creativity are the same. Music and science have their own specific methodologies and we will not try to put them together in a naïve way. However, the SaMPL experience shows that high level music research and scientific research both pervaded by a methodological rigour that is distinctive. The selection of works, the philological rigour which permeates their production and the overall quality of the finished product are very close to the high conceptual value of refined research instruments.
Rediscover the pleasure and fun of thinking music. Choosing music whose primary function is purely speculative is another salient feature of SaMPL activity: we like music that make us think and that invites the public to think. Entertainment is valid, but SaMPL wishes to rediscover the oldest cultural feature of music which is currently in risk of disappearing: to be a powerful stimulus for human thinking and cultural processing. We want to rediscover the fun of thinking and reflection through music, through the discovery of unheard sounds, musical forms and musics tout court, above and beyond that which has already been done (and heard). Students must attain 180 CFU Credits (including the final thesis) to attain ther qualification Teaching is in Italian or English.
B) Second level (two- year course): Bassoon, Clarinet, Cello, Choral and Sacred Music, Composition, Double Bass, Electronic Music, Flute, Guitar, Harp, Harpsichord, Historic Transverse Flute, Horn, Jazz, Lyric Singing, Mandolin, Oboe, Orchestral Studies, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Recorder, Saxophone, String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, String Quartet, Trombone,Trumpet, Viola, Violin.
ACADEMIC COURSES
The academic programs are organized according to the international credit-system. One credit in Europe is equivalent to 25 hours of study activity (lessons and personal practice). For First Level degrees the students must obtain 180 credits (ECTS) (60 credits for each year, which correspond approximately to 1250 hours of study and 250 hours of lessons every year), and for the Second Level 120 credits. The students must attend at least 80% of lessons. If a student wishes to continue his or her studies in another Italian or
European school, the credits obtained will be valid.
To enter First Level courses it is compulsory for the students to possess a regular High School diploma (not exclusively musical). Foreign degrees must be evaluated as equivalent to the Italian qualification “Diploma di scuola media superiore” (High school diploma). Moreover, the students should demonstrate that they have the necessary practical musical skills to perform the admission program.
To progress to the Second Level (Master), students must have attained a First Level (Diploma, Bachelor) or equivalent degree ( or a foreign university degree or comparable qualification recognized in Italy). Adequate practical musical skill is an essential requirement. Seminars, workshops, lectures and master classes on various subjects are held regularly throughout the years.
Other possibilities include: Beginners’ courses for young musicians, Suzuki Courses for young string players; “I Pollicini” orchestra for children; A031 – A 032 Music Education, A0777 Musical Instruments (D.M. 28.10.2007 prot. N° 137/2007 Ex Teaching Methodology Course.
Students interested in entering Padua Conservatory must return an application form (with the required legal documents) and also pass the selection proceedure in summer. For the dates, please see www.conservatoriopollini.it Academic lessons run from November 2nd until June 15th.
Prof. Stefano Patarino
Erasmus Coordinator & Int. Rel. Mng.
