Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts Brno Czech
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A STUDENT‘ GUIDE Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts Brno Czech Republic JAMU 2013/2014 A STUDENT’S GUIDE Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts Brno Czech Republic JAMU 2013/2014 CONTENT 1 WELCOME TO BRNO ............................................................................................................ 5 2 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND THE CITY OF BRNO ................ 6 2.1 THE CZECH REPUBLIC .................................................................................................... 6 2.2 THE CITY OF BRNO......................................................................................................... 7 3 JANÁČEK ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS (JAMU) AND THE THEATRE AND MUSIC FACULTIES ......................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 JANÁČEK ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS (JAMU) ................................. 8 3.2 THE THEATRE FACULTY ............................................................................................... 12 3.2.1 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ................................................................................... 13 3.2.2 “BRIDGING EAST AND WEST” AN ERASMUS STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME 13 3.2.3 LANGUAGE COURSES ............................................................................................. 15 3.2.4 APPLICATION PROCESS .......................................................................................... 15 3.2.5 CALENDAR OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014 ................................................... 17 3.2.6 THE MARTA THEATRE AND “SETKÁNÍ/ENCOUNTER“ INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE SCHOOLS ................................................................................................................ 19 3.3 THE FACULTY OF MUSIC .............................................................................................. 20 3.3.1 ACCREDITED STUDY FIELDS .................................................................................... 20 3.3.2 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ERASMUS .................................................................. 22 3.3.3 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2013/2014 ......................................................................... 24 3.3.4 KOMORNÍ OPERA (CHAMBER OPERA STUDIO) ...................................................... 25 3.3.5 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC MASTER CLASSES ............................................................. 26 3.3.6 LEOŠ JANÁČEK INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN BRNO ...................................... 27 4 VISA REQUIREMENTS AND HOW TO GET TO BRNO ........................................................... 27 4.1 VISA REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................. 28 4.1.1 STUDENTS FROM EU COUNTRIES ........................................................................... 28 4.1.2 STUDENTS FROM COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE EU .................................................... 28 4.2 HOW TO GET TO BRNO ............................................................................................... 32 4.2.1 PLANE ..................................................................................................................... 32 4.2.2 COACH OR TRAIN ................................................................................................... 33 4.2.3 HOW TO GET AROUND IN BRNO ............................................................................ 34 5 FACILITIES ........................................................................................................................... 35 5.1 ACCOMMODATION ..................................................................................................... 35 5.2 MEALS AND BOARD ..................................................................................................... 36 5.2.1 STUDENT CAFETERIA/CANTEEN ............................................................................. 36 5.2.2 RESTAURANTS ........................................................................................................ 38 5.2.3 SHOPS AND SUPERMARKETS.................................................................................. 38 5.2.4 JAMU LIBRARY ........................................................................................................ 39 6 HEALTHCARE AND INSURANCE .......................................................................................... 40 7 USEFUL INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 42 8 BASIC WORDS AND PHRASES IN CZECH ............................................................................. 48 9 SOME IMPORTANT LINKS ................................................................................................... 48 10 CONTACTS .......................................................................................................................... 53 1 WELCOME TO BRNO The decision to live and study in a foreign country always involves breaking new ground and means being prepared to face the unknown. Today international relations and academic exchange are more important than ever. Let us welcome you to the Czech Republic and to the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts Brno as the host institution for your studies. There are always a lot of problems involved in living and studying in a foreign country with diferent culture. To help you with your preparation and also during your stay, we have prepared this Practical Guide. It concentrates on practical aspects of life in the Czech Republic and in the town of Brno. We wish you success and happiness during your study visit in the Czech Republic and we hope you will later look back on this period with affection. 5 2 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND THE CITY OF BRNO 2.1 The Czech Republic The Czech Republic is situated approximately in the geographical centre of Europe and has an area of 78,866 sq. km. It shares borders with Poland in the northeast, Germany in the west and northwest, Austria in the south and Slovakia in the east. The population of the Czech Republic is approaching 10,500,000 and its capital and largest city is Prague (Czech: Praha). The country is composed of the historic lands of Bohemia and Moravia, as well as parts of Silesia. The Czech Republic ha been a member of NATO since 1999 and of the European Union since 2004. BASIC FACTS Area: 78,886 km2 | Population: 10,436,560 (2011 census) | Population density: 134/km2 | Currency: Czech crown (CZK), 1 CZK = 100 hellers | Capital: Prague (Praha); population: 1,262,106 | Official language: Czech | Religion: 58.3 % of the populationis nondenominational, 41.7 % religious – incl. 38 % Roman Catholic and 2.5 % Protestant (according to the National Census of 2001) | Climate: Temperate, four seasons, combinedocean and continental climate, changeable in winter, warm in summer. Average dailytemperature: in January, the coldest month, around –2°C; in July, the hottest month, +20 °C and higher. | Political system: pluralist multi-party parliamentary democracy with the Prime Minister as a Head of government. The Parliament is bicameral, with the Chamber of Deputies (200 members) and the Senate (81 members). | Highest point of elevation: Mt. Sněžka (1,602 m above sea level) | Lowest point of elevation: near Hřensko, where the River Elbe leaves Czech territory (117 m above sea level). 6 AVERAGE TEMPERATURES (PRAGUE) Temperature (◦CELSIUS) Wet Average Average Days Month Sunlight Average Record Precipitation (+0.25 (hours) (mm) Min Max Min Max mm) Jan 2 -5 0 -23 13 18 13 Feb 3 -4 1 -28 18 18 11 March 5 -1 7 -14 22 18 10 April 6 3 12 -6 29 27 11 May 8 8 18 -2 32 48 13 June 9 11 21 5 36 54 12 July 8 13 23 6 38 68 13 Aug 8 13 22 5 36 55 12 Sept 6 9 18 0 33 31 10 Oct 4 5 12 -6 26 33 13 Nov 2 1 5 -10 18 20 12 Dec 1 -3 1 -21 13 21 13 The flag of the Czech Republic The Czech national emblem 2.2 The City of Brno With a population of 400,000, Brno is a city with long history and rich cultural traditions. Brno, the capital city of Moravia, came into being thanks to its position on merchant routes leading from the Alps to northern Europe. The history of Brno has a substantially central-European character (Czech and German elements merged together) and there is a clear influence from Vienna (the capital of Austria). Brno was given town rights in 1243 A. D. by King Václav I. 7 Brno is located in the south of Moravia, not far from Vienna. Brno is surrounded by beautiful countryside suitable for all kinds of sports – hiking, cycling, swimming, horse riding, etc. A lot of historical monuments, houses, churches and castles can be found both in Brno and its surroundings. The Moravian Karst, with its famous caves and the abyss, is within easy reach of Brno. Brno is also close to the main folklore centres of Moravia, where traditions are still alive. 3 JANÁČEK ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS (JAMU) AND THE THEATRE AND MUSIC FACULTIES 3.1 Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts (JAMU) The Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts was founded in 1947. Its beginnings were preceded by efforts connected to the name of Leoš Janáček over many years, including the establishment of an organ school in 1881 and of the Brno Conservatoire in 1919. It was with the emergence of JAMU that Janáček´s life-long striving to establish of a college of arts which would develop the abilities of conservatoire graduates and other talented students was