The courses offered
The Conservatory of Verona offers the following three-year First-Cycle Degrees (referred to as Trienni sperimentali or more simply Trienni):
Composition; Wind-Band Composition; Singing, String instruments: Violin – Viola – Cello – Double Bass; Wind instruments: Clarinet – Flute – Oboe – Bassoon – Saxophone – Horn – Trumpet – Trombone – Tuba; Piano, Organ, Harp, Guitar, Percussion; Early Instruments: Singing – Violin and Viola – Cello – Viola da Gamba – Harpsichord – Lute – Harp – Flute – Oboe – Bassoon
The structure of the courses
The subjects taught in each course are divided into:
- discipline caratterizzanti: core subjects specifically relating to the main object of the student’s programme (e.g.: the principal subject: composition, violin, singing; other subjects such as chamber music, orchestra, choir);
- discipline comuni: subjects common to all courses (harmony, analysis, history, score reading, etc.);
- discipline integrative: elective subjects that help to define the student’s specific field of interests (acoustics, psychology of music, etc.);
- other credit-bearing activities (foreign language, computer notation, etc.: other conservatory courses, concert activities, research).
For precise details of the subjects available to each course and for full details of the admission requirements, candidates must consult the programmes published in the Italian website: First-Cycle Courses
The system of credits and assessment
The study plans are based on a system of credits (crediti) that applies the principles of the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). It therefore adopts the convention that 60 credits measure the workload of a full-time student during one academic year. Each credit conventionally corresponds to 25 hours of work per student (inclusive of classes and private preparation). To obtain the final academic diploma students must have acquired 180 credits overall (60 for each year).
To acquire the necessary credits, students must not only pass the examinations (if required) for each course, but must also ensure sufficient attendance of lessons. Minimum attendance requirements are specified in each study plan.
Credits can also be awarded to activities carried out by the student outside the school. These will be quantified by the Course Council (Consiglio di Corso). Conversely, the Course Council can also draw attention to any gaps (debiti, “debts”) in the student’s prior training that will need to be filled during his period of study at the conservatory. The Course Council will indicate how these “debts” must be paid off.
Admission
Admission to the three-year First-Cycle programme (Triennio) is open to both students already enrolled in the junior departments of the Conservatory and outside students, provided that they have completed their secondary education. Even students lacking formal musical qualifications can be admitted, provided their theoretical and practical preparation is considered as sufficient. The requirements for admission to the Triennio will be verified at the admission exam (esame d’ammissione) for the programme chosen.
For more information on the administrative procedures for admission to the Triennio, go to