Vienna Premier Music Academy

Details About How To Apply

The Vienna Premier Music Academy (VPMA), Academy for Highly Gifted Musicians, offers a comprehensive online Performance Grades system for young musicians up to the age of 24. Our Performance Grades are open to external learners worldwide, providing an opportunity to assess and celebrate musical progress across a wide range of instruments, including voice.

Instruments included: Piano, Organ, Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, Guitar, Horn, Trumpet, B-Cornet, E-Soprano Cornet, Flugelhorn, Trombone, Tuba, Snare Drum, Tuned Percussion, Timpani, Harp (Pedal), Harp (Non-pedal).

Voice: Pop, Jazz, Opera/Operetta.

The Performance Grades system is divided into 8 levels (Grades), each representing a specific level of difficulty. Learners can apply for the grade that best matches their individual progress and skills. Each grade is clearly structured with well-defined requirements, allowing learners to focus on their development while working toward recognized goals.

The Application Process

Start Application

Visit our official website at www.vpma.at and navigate to the Exams section. Read the Details About How to Apply. Download the VPMA - Performance Grades Qualification Specification (PDF) and the Performance Grades Syllabus 2024-2026 for your instrument/subject. Familiarize yourself with the available options and choose the Grade that corresponds to your current abilities.

Submit Application

Make sure to fill out the online application form completely and submit it (using the Apply button). It is important to include all the necessary information for your application to be processed.

Receive Results

Once you have submitted your application, the VPMA commission will review your video within three weeks. You will receive an email with the results, and if you pass, you will be awarded a certificate that acknowledges your progress.

Performance Grades at the Vienna Premier Music Academy (VPMA).

What are Performance Grades?
Performance Grades are digital exams assessed through submitted video recordings by the candidates. These exams are available for instrumentalists and cover levels 1 to 8.

Who are the exams for?
All learners up to the age of 24 can participate in the Performance Grades. The exams are open to external students worldwide.

How do the exams work?

Flexibility: Performance Grades can be booked and recorded at any time. There are no fixed exam periods; you decide when to take your exam.
Video Recording: Learners perform pieces from the program specified by VPMA and record them on video. You then upload the video to a video platform (such as YouTube, Vimeo, or similar) and send the link along with your application to VPMA.

VPMA - Performance Grades Qualification Specification (PDF)

Assessment:

Technical Skills: What is assessed? The technical execution of the piece.
Interpretation: What is assessed? The musical expressiveness and understanding of the piece.
Overall Presentation: What is assessed? The overall impact of the performance.

Exam Content:
Each level has specific requirements and a selection of pieces that you must prepare for the exam. This information is available in the exam guidelines, which you can download from our website.

Entry Requirements:
There are no entry requirements for Performance Grades at VPMA. Any student can register for the exams, regardless of prior achievements in music theory or practical musicianship.

Why Performance Grades?
These exams are an excellent way to showcase your progress and demonstrate your musical abilities as an instrumentalist. They motivate you to set new goals and provide a valuable opportunity for personal and musical development.

You can find repertoire lists and program requirements in the syllabus for your subject, see below.   