Advanced music course for piano taught by Emanuele Arciuli delves into contemporary music, an extremely varied field which includes post-serialism and minimal music, complex and irregular tempos and phrasings that derive from jazz or from rock. In recent years especially, a renewed, intense relationship has developed between piano music and audiences, the result of the performance skills of many composers who are excellent pianists, or of close collaboration between musicians and composers.
‘However, we will never see the much wished for regeneration of repertoire if our pianists are not capable of understanding the profound motivating factors – both aesthetic and intellectual – of the music of our time and of sharing this experience with their audiences.‘
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A complete learning pathway that will enable the young pianist to discover a repertoire that is extremely important, even though it is little taught at our conservatories. Lessons will be held in groups but also, and most importantly, individually. The course consists of 4 teaching sessions with two individual lessons and a collective one for each session. The individual tuition consists of eight one-hour lessons, divided among the four teaching sessions organised during the academic year, from October/November to May/June. Dates of lessons for the Academic Year 2025/2026 will be published in October.
The group lessons cover two areas:
- firstly, an historical overview of piano music from the 1950’s to the present day, where students will listen to and analyse significant pieces;
- secondly, an approach to theory, where the student will learn about reading and decoding scores, interpretation, body movements, techniques (from using the piano strings to prepared piano, from improvisation to chance operations), interaction with electronics etc.
PROGRAMME IN DETAIL
Each of the teaching sessions will be held over two days and will be divided into three parts:
- History of contemporary piano focused on themes, or on decades | Group lesson
- Techniques of present-day music: prepared piano, use of piano strings, electronics, improvisation, body movements, score notation etc. | Group lesson
- Repertoire | Individual lessons
Some of the sessions will feature special guest teachers: major composers, sound engineers, as well as other musicians (including non-classical performers). The teacher and the student will together decide on the repertoire for the individual course, based on the student’s specific needs (participation in competitions and concerts, special focus on one composer or on a particular style).
During the course students may also study historic compositions from the first half of the 20th century, including pieces by the composers who were most committed to finding new languages in music (Ives, Ruggles, Cowell, Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Bartók etc.). The course may occasionally focus on compositions from other eras, particularly incorporated in programmes that demonstrate how they relate to contemporary music.
The study pathway also includes at least three major compositions, for solo piano (or piano duo) and/or piano and orchestra:
- one composed from 1946 to 1970;
- one from 1970 to 2000;
- one from 2000 to the present day.
A detailed list of the composers to be studied will be provided at the beginning of the courses, with a complete bibliography. However, it is already possible for students to contact M° Arciuli per further details.
An entrance exam is NOT required for this course.
Applications for the Academic Year 2025/26 must reach our offices by 28 September 2025. With the same requirements, the date of submission of the application is considered for choosing the students. Any applications sent after the deadline will be evaluated by the Directors of Studies.
For this course, admission exam IS NOT required.
– Enrolment fee (annual)*:
€ 100,00
– Tuition fees (annual)*:
€ 950,00
– Single lesson:
Students can enrol for a single lesson or for a mini-course of two lessons. The fee for a single lesson (which includes an individual lesson + a group lesson) is € 130.00.
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*PAYMENTS
The enrolment fee must be paid annually. It is non-refundable. The receipt proving that payment has been effected must be attached to your application to enrol. In case a student wants to attend more than one advanced course, the enrolment fee is to be paid only once in a year.
The tuition fee annual attendance fee is to be paid only after passing the entrance exam, according to the instructions that will be sent by the secretary’s office.
For students concurrently enrolled in one of the advanced piano courses at the Accademia di Musica, enrolment is free and there is a discount of € 100.00 on the annual tuition fees.
Payments of enrolment and tuition fees must be made by bank transfer on the following bank account details:
BANK: Intesa San Paolo
ACCOUNT HELD TO: Fondazione Accademia di Musica ETS
IBAN: IT71X0306909606100000101696
SWIFT/BIC: BCITITMM
ADRESS: Piazza Paolo Ferrari, 10 – 10121 Milano
Once you have become a student of our Accademia a range of opportunities are open to you: special arrangements for accommodations and meals; a dedicated web page; free admission to all concerts; study rooms; to attend any other lessons where auditors are allowed; the opportunity to perform in public at concerts staged by the school or by our partner associations; free use of the concert hall to make recordings.
See the REGULATION for more information.
Sign it for acceptance and attach it to your application form.
