Composition courses are offered at both Bachelor and Master’s degree levels. Contemporary composition technique and aesthetics are taught in advanced undergraduate studies and are accompanied by seminars and exercises. Our state-of-the-art and professionally equipped Studio for electronic music is open to students. Usually, students are given the opportunity to present their newly created work before a live audience twice a semester.  

The New Music studio supports these performances with its ensemble, coordinates the university’s activities in the area of contemporary music and organises concerts, events, projects and congresses. Composition can also be taken as a minor subject.

Music theory is taught as a core module (mandatory module) and also as a part of advanced undergraduate studies. When studied as a major in either the Bachelor or Master’s degree courses, you will learn about music theory throughout history, while simultaneously acquiring a deeper understanding of the subject matter. In addition, we will give you the opportunity to build upon your practical experience and knowledge through a range of style exercises.    

Here in Stuttgart we offer the basic Music Theory course as core subject which is taught as a four- or six semester lecture series. Critique classes help to expand and elaborate upon teaching material. The Literature Study course is offered as a connection between analysis and interpretation in special courses for wind instrument players, string players, piano players and vocalists. In addition, we offer literature study for new music. The subject’s full range spans from analytical seminars, courses in instrumentation, exercises in counterpoint and methodology, to seminars in media practice as well as lectures on the introduction of historical and new music.   

Our Aural Training course is structured with small groups in mind. The course has a modular structure consisting of four obligatory courses during the period of basic undergraduate study phase. These four courses are taught in historical order: classical baroque, classical romanticism, music from 1900 to 1940 and music after 1945. Moreover, the subject of sound awareness is part of all four modules. Each of the four modules is about 90 minutes long and the modules are distributed throughout the four semesters of the basic undergraduate study phase. Students can chose whether they wish to attend additional seminars as a part of their basic or advanced undergraduate periods of study with a view to developing a particular subject matter in which they wish to specialize. On top of the obligatory modules, aural training courses are offered.