Nordplus conservatoire

EAR TRAINING AND MUSIC THEORY

This course is designed to develop musical ear training and deepen knowledge of music theory. During musical ear training exercises, students develop their musical ear and memory, precision in intonation, sight-singing skills, analysis of musical structures, a sense of harmony and rhythm, and the ability to write musical dictations. The exercises develop skills in listening to, recognizing, and singing musical structures from sheet music and by ear, and foster the ability to control and evaluate the quality of one’s own performance.

ECTS credits: 6

Semester: Autumn and Spring

Delivery mode: asynchronous

Institution: Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

Faculty: Gabrielius Simas Sapiega

Delivery platform: Moodle

Start and end dates: 01-09-2026 – 31-05-2027

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EAR TRAINING

This course is designed for individuals with exceptional talent and a strong foundation in music theory, harmony, musical analysis, and ear training, with the aim of developing their musical ear and deepening their knowledge of music theory. During ear training exercises, students develop their musical ear and memory, precision in intonation, sight-singing skills, analysis of musical structures, a sense of harmony and rhythm within complex musical textures, and the ability to write musical dictations, using contemporary music. The exercises develop skills in listening to, recognizing, and singing musical structures from sheet music and by ear, and foster the ability to control and evaluate the quality of one’s own performance. The curriculum integrates 20th–21st-century music, atonal ear training, and the rhythms of complex 20th–21st-century music.

ECTS credits: 6

Semester: Autumn and Spring

Delivery mode: synchronous

Institution: Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

Faculty: Gabrielius Simas Sapiega

Delivery platform: Moodle and Teams

Start and end dates: 01-09-2026 – 31-05-2027

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The Language of music: Middle Ages – Renaissance

The course is designed to study the harmonic systems, musical genres, compositional techniques, and strict-style counterpoint of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The lectures cover church monody, harmonic systems, early medieval polyphony, the development of musical composition during the Ars Nova and Renaissance periods; key terms and concepts necessary for analyzing the music of these eras are introduced; works are examined; and skills in musical analysis and the creation of counterpoint are developed. Practical assignments are designed to enable students to analyze works independently and to develop techniques in strict-style counterpoint.

ECTS credits: 6

Semester: Autumn

Delivery mode: synchronous

Institution: Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

Faculty: Gabrielius Simas Sapiega

Delivery platform: Moodle and Teams

Start and end dates: 01-09-2026 – 24-12-2026

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The Language of music: BAROQUE

The course is designed to familiarize students with the instrumental and vocal-instrumental genres of this era, simple and complex forms, free-style compositional techniques, and the figured bass. During lectures, the theoretical context of the Baroque era is discussed, terms and concepts related to music analysis are introduced, and musical works and compositional characteristics are examined. Through lectures, seminars, and independent assignments, students develop skills in music analysis and free-style writing.

ECTS credits:

Semester: Spring

Delivery mode: synchronous

Institution: Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

Faculty: Gabrielius Simas Sapiega

Delivery platform: Moodle and Teams

Start and end dates: 01-05-2027 – 31-05-2027

Registration deadline: 21-01-2027

Registration

PERCEPTUAL OUTLINES OF PHENOMENOLOGICAL MUSIC ANALYSIS

The course focuses on the fundamental parameters of musical perception—timbre, pitch, loudness, and time—and their role in shaping musical texture. It also examines memory and anticipation as essential to perceiving rhythm, syntax, and form, as well as associations with movement, energy, weight, and space.

Gestalt principles—including figure–ground organization, proximity, similarity, continuity, reification, and multistability—provide a framework for connecting perceptual and structural analysis. Through lectures, seminars, independent study, and twentieth- and twenty-first-century repertoire, students develop tools for interpreting music as an evolving perceptual experience.

ECTS credits: 3

Semester: Spring

Delivery mode: asynchronous

Institution: Centria University of Applied Sciences

Faculty: Mikko Pelinen

Delivery platform: Moodle

Start and end dates: T01-09-2026 – 31-05-2027

BUILDING YOUR CAREER: DESIGNING, FUNDING, AND NEGOTIATING IN THE ARTS

The course is designed to help musicians design and develop a distinct and authentic brand that resonates with their audience. It covers key elements such as identity planning, developing a unique visual style, brand story and overall artistic identity across media (platforms). Artists will learn theoretically and practically how to align their identity and image with their music and values to strategically build a strong, memorable and consistent presence in an extremely competitive industry.

ECTS credits: 3

Semester: Spring

Delivery mode: synchronous

Institution: Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

Faculty: Inga Uus and Neringa Valuntonytė

Delivery platform: Moodle

Start and end dates: 01-02-2027 – 31-05-2027

APPLIED ARRANGING

The course will concentrate on laying out fundamental concepts on arranging and orchestration. Rather than a set of fixed rules, these concepts help the student to develop a set of tools to orchestrate and arrange for all kinds of ensembles. Concepts are illustrated with real-world examples, and to practice the craft there will also be individual assignments. Also a deep understanding of the terms orchestration, transcription and arranging will be discussed, also from the viewpoint of copyright laws.

ECTS credits: 3

Semester: Autumn

Delivery mode: synchronous (20 contact lessons)

Institution: Centria University of Applied Sciences

Faculty: Jussi Lampela

Delivery platform: Moodle or Itslearning

Start and end dates: 15.09 – 11:45, 10 times

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PRACTICE

This 5-ECTS online course is designed for university-level musicians who want to tackle the challenges of 20th and 21st-century post-tonal repertoire. We bridge the gap between tradition and the avant-garde, combining the history and aesthetics of modern music with hands-on practical skills.

Through the modules on the Moodle platform, you will learn to decode novel musical notations, master intricate rhythms, and explore extended instrumental techniques. From score analysis to rehearsal and performance, you will gain the tools to interpret today’s music with confidence. Redefine your artistry and expand your professional toolkit. Bring the music of our time to life!

Course Content:

1. Introduction. An overview of the course goals, structure, and discussion about the general mindset of contemporary performance.

2. History & Aesthetics. The evolution, aesthetic principles, and performance demands of 20th and 21st-century art music: The journey from the “crisis of tonality” to the diverse, pluralistic landscape of the present day.

3. New Notations. Decoding the new visual languages of the 20th and 21st centuries, from extended staff notation and complex rhythms to graphic, action, and text-based scores.

4. Extended Techniques. Exploring the expanded sonic palette of various instruments, delving into the physics and aesthetics of sound production, and discussing the essential features of microtonality.

5. Practice and Performance. Synthesizing theory and technique into artistic practice: Rehearsal strategies, the ethics of interpretation, and the professional landscape of the contemporary scene, culminating in the final performance project.

ECTS credits: 5

Semester: Autumn, Spring

Delivery mode: asynchronous

Institution: Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

Faculty: Joonas Pohjonen

Delivery platform: Digicampus.fi

Start and end dates: 15-09-2026 – 31-05-2027

Registration

FRENCH PHONETICS AND DICTION FOR CLASSICAL SINGERS

This course introduces students to the French sound system, the articulation of core vowels and consonants, and pronunciation features relevant to classical singing—especially the mélodie repertoire. Students practice the relationship between French spelling and pronunciation, including key phonetic phenomena such as liaison, mute‑e behavior, nasal vowels, and consonant voicing. The course also covers the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and guides students in producing accurate phonetic transcriptions of sung texts. Both written and oral exercises support the development of clear, intelligible French diction in a vocal context.

Learn to sing in French with a vocal coach with over 20 years experience of coaching singers at the Finnish National Opera, amongst others. Get familiar with the sound system of the French language with its characteristic nasal vowels. Discover the basics about interpreting French spelling, the particularities of French diction in singing, the phenomenon of liaison. Learn how to make phonetic transcriptions of French mélodies using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

ECTS credits: 3

Semester: Spring

Delivery mode: asynchronous

Institution: Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

Faculty: Juha Karvonen

Delivery platform: Moodle

Start and end dates: 15-01-2027 – 15-05-2027

Registration (TBD)

HEALTHY MUSICIAN: DEVELOPING BODY, AWARENESS AND PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL BALANCE

Feldenkrais method, music therapy, and stage stress management are three complementary areas that are increasingly in demand today. They not only help individuals enhance well-being and performance but also create new professional niches in health, education, and cultural sectors. Stage stress affects musicians, actors, dancers, and public speakers. Interest is growing in skills that manage anxiety, improve performance, and maintain mental balance. These areas have been relatively recently incorporated into music education programs, making it essential to transfer knowledge of the latest developments and practical problem-solving skills to professionals in the workforce.

ECTS credits: 5

Semester: Autumn

Delivery mode: synchronous

Institution: Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music

Faculty: Sigita Razminoviča, Jens Holm and Gundega Smite

Delivery platform: TBD

Start and end dates: 01-09-2027 – 15-12-2027

Registration (TBD)