Erasmus BIP “International Magnus Piano Week” at Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy: creative and cultural week for pianists
Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy became an international space of artistic communion from 17 to 25 October 2024, hosting masterclasses, concerts, and artistic discoveries through the week-long Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “International Magnus Piano Week.” This immersive experience, developed in collaboration with the Royal Danish Academy of Music and the Norwegian Academy of Music, combined virtual and physical activities to enhance piano students’ technical proficiency, deepen their understanding of the artistic and psychological aspects of performance, and enrich their concert experience.
The programme started virtually on 17 October, allowing students and teachers to familiarize themselves with the planned activities and lecture content. The physical part of the programme took place from 21-25 October, when students participated in intensive masterclasses led by professors from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the Norwegian Academy of Music, Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music and Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy. These masterclasses helped each student to develop their technical skills, and the teachers provided personal feedback for each student’s personal development.
In addition to the practical training, the programme included group lectures. Topics such as the psychology of stage fright, Leopold Godowsky: his life, art and legacy, and the methodology of artistic research encouraged students to look deeper into their area and field of studies and work. The lecture “The Psychology of Stage Fright” discussed the universal challenge of performers and provided valuable insights into how to overcome stage fright and build self-confidence. A lecture on Leopold Godowski, a legendary figure in the piano world, revealed his extraordinary life and legacy, enriching students‘ understanding of his music and influence on the art of the piano, and of his connection to Lithuania. The lectures were delivered by lecturers from Vilnius University and Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy.
The Erasmus Blended Intensive Program (BIP) International Magnus Piano Week also included public concerts where students could showcase their skills on the stages of Kaunas and Vilnius. The concert series started on the evening of 21 October with a special professors‘ performance at the Concert Hall of the VMU Music Academy.
On the following days, student concerts were presented: on 22 October, a concert took place at the Kaunas Choral Synagogue,
and on 24 October, piano music was performed at the Great Hall of the Kaunas Juozas Gruodis Conservatoire.
The closing concert of the Erasmus Blended Intensive Program (BIP) International Magnus Piano Week at the Organum Concert Hall in Vilnius on 25 October was the highlight of an intensive week full of learning, cultural exchange and creative discovery. The students had the opportunity to showcase their skills and experience on stage. They also shared their creativity and spirit of community with the audience and their partners on stage – the concert was a celebration of their efforts, their growth and their experiences.
The Erasmus BIP International Magnus Piano Week project has become more than a series of lectures, masterclasses and concerts, it has been a lively exchange of ideas and cultures, bringing together students from Lithuania, Denmark, Norway and beyond for the united purpose. The programme, which included teaching, lectures, and performances, enriched the students’ musical abilities and strengthened their commitment to achieving excellence in their field.
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