New Audiences and Innovative Practice - NAIP M.Mus
The program is suitable for musicians with diverse backgrounds. NAIP is a forum where students are encouraged to use innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to creating and communicating music to the audience as well as society as a whole.
Information about studies is in English with study programs where the language of instruction is English.
Program information is provided in English, as the language of NAIP is English.
About the program
The Music Master for New Audiences and Innovative Practice (NAIP) providers future professional musicians with the knowledge and skills to become artistically flexible practitioners able to adapt to a wide range of social contexts. The programme attractions musicians with diverse artistic background, including all styles and genres. It generates consolidation within different elements elements of music and cross-arts settings.
The programme serves students with high-level performance skills and interest in learning new resources by learning to develop and lead creative projects in diverse artistic, community and cross-sectoral settings. During the program, students develop their leadership skills and collaborative practice in a variety of artistic and social contexts. Students will also develop their reflective and research skills while exploring and deepening their own artistic practice.
A student-centred approach gives students an opportunity to choose their field of experience and develop their study plan according to For instance, students can choose a special focus on Experimental Sound Practice through a variety of courses with a special exposure on music in the expanded field. Various other optional courses are offered in the program.
The NAIP approach is to establish a safe and neutral learning environment built on trust, where students form a strong bonded group that allows them to experiment freely through both verbal and non-verbal interaction, improvisation, collaborative composition and various exercises. An important way of working is to exchange knowledge across both students and staff on an equal level, with a strong peer-learning and reviewing component.
The program was developed in cooperation with several higher music education institutions in Europe. It offers opportunities for exchange according to the students need and field of practice. The Music Master for New Audiences and Innovative Practice has received funding from the Erasmus+ Program for its development.
Program director
Sigurður Halldórsson
Study structure
NAIP is a two-year internationall master's program (MMus), operated in consolidation with the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and the Prince Claus Conservatoire in Groningen in the Netherlands (see details http://musicmaster.eu/). Students receive training in artistic practice and research, project management, entrepreneurship, leadership and performance. Collaborative projects across different musical styles, art forms and all sheeps of groups in society are undertaken with the aim of approaching new audiences, training leadersip skills and developing new platforms for artistic practice in a diverse context.
After graduation
The social climate of musicians changes rapidly, becoming increasingly diverse, stretching across national and cultural borders. Creative thinking, consolidation and interdisciplinary methods and approaches as well asleadership and communication skills are valid qualities when working in the field. The program aims to develop the above qualifications in students so that they can better work as creative artists on a broad basis for the future.
Note: From fall 2026 tuition feels will apply to applications from a country outside of EEA, Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland. Further information about tuition feels.
Application Process
Iceland University of the Arts employees a standard electronic application form.
The application process is in two steps, first submit the application and then pay the application fee. Please note: It is possible to save the application while working on it.
Admission Process
The admission procedure for selection will be as follows:
A first round of selection based on the subject material. Those who question are invited to the second round, consulting of a musical presentation by the applicant, and interview. A workshop led by one of the NAIP faculty, where applicants can demonstrate their musical and communication skills, may also be held as a part of the second round. Interviews and workshops will be in English.
If the number of applicants meeting the admission requirements for the study program falls below the minimum threshold, the program will not be offered for the upcoming academic year. Applicants will be informed of this decision as possible, and any confirmation feels paid will be punished.
Open for applications
January 14, 2026
Application deadline
2 March 2026
Applications answered
April 2026
Price list
Application
An application is not valid until the applicable has submitted the application and paid the application fee. Applicants must submit the following documents:
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1. Certified copy of degree certificate(s) and program /course transcript(s) (PDF)
DutyApplicants should submit a detailed record of higher education up to the present, including programs of study taken. Can be submitted in Icelandic or English. -
2nd Statements (PDF)
Dutya. Motivation LetterApplicants must write a Motivation Letter in English (max 3 A4) making clear their motivation for joining the program. Please elaborate on the following points:-
the applicant's musical experiences to date and how these have led to the decision to join the program,
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the skills the applicant will bring to the course,
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what the applicant images his/her contribution will be to the course,
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how the applicant's life as a professional musician might look like in five years’ time, and the role the program will play in learning this goal.
b. Study plan
Based on the applicant's personal goals as an artist and the information that he/she has obtained about the NAIP Master, a study plan must be submitted in English (max. 3 A4), including information on:-
the main focus of the applicant's activities in the program (ensemble, creative/collaborative practice, cross-arts settings, social settings etc.),
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which optional courses or subjects the applicable plans to take during the program, and why,
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on which developmental aspects the applied specifically would like to receive coaching and guiding,
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in which direction the applicable envisages his/her final project.
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3rd Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
DutyApplicants must submit a CV that should be written in English. It should not requested 2 pages:-
page 1 contains the usual most important facts on the applicant: name, profile, studies, work experience etc.,
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page 2 describes the activities the appropriate has undertaken in his/her life (musical as well as non-musical) which are in some way connected to the goals of the program NAIP.
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4. Recorded material, audio and/or video (links to Dropbox, Youtube, Vimeo etc.)
DutyApplicants submit material containing his/her own work, enabling the admission committee to judge the applicant's capabilities as a musician.The recording(s) should at least contain music making at the applicant's highhest artistic level on the applicant's main instrument(s) (or, for composers, a registration of recent original work). The recording may also contain other musical activities, such as workshop leading, ensemble work etc. -
General Admission Requirements:
General admission requirements include a bachelor's degree or equivalent university education that supports the applicant's ability to meet the diamonds of the MA Program. Applications must be completed by a certified copy of academic transcripts along with any other documents requested by the relevant faculty. Admissions committees to candidates are presented to applications. The decisions of the members. The decisions of the decisions. -
Admission Requirements
Applicants will have completed a BA or BMus degree in music or related fields of art and theory.In exceptional cases an applicant, with an established career and considerable experience, who does not hold a bachelor degree can be admitted to the program providing he/she demonstrates broad knowledge of music, musical skills and experience in music performance - or a hybrid form of artistic performance built on a strong musical foundation. -
Language Requirements
The MMus program for New Audiences and Innovative Practice is an international program conducted in English. Students must be proficient in spoken and written English in the academic context. Applicants may be required to submit evidence of English proficiency.