INTERDEPARTMENTAL UNIT OF EARLY MUSIC
The Interdepartmental Unit of Early Music supervised by Senior Lecturer Agata Sapiecha started its activity in the academic year of 1996/97, thanks to the initiative of the FCUM authorities of that time.
- The course of education last at least two years in order to obtain basic qualifications in deliberate interpretation in a historical context (this cycle may be prolonged into the whole period of studies depending on a student’s interests).
- Lessons and group classes may be also open to “passive: students, who would like to find out what the classes are about.
- Participation in classes at the IUEM is open to candidates from Poland and abroad, who study at the FCUM or at the Department of Instrumental and Pedagogical Studies in Białystok.
- A plan of two-year postgraduate studies in the specialty: Historical Instruments Playing, which will cover practical and theoretical subjects, is currently being prepared.
- It is now possible to start Postgraduate Artistic Training in the specialty: Historical Instruments Playing.
- All subjects are run by Senior Lecturer Agata Sapiecha. In order to create optimum conditions of development for students (so that they can obtain the necessary knowledge and experience) in the area of music interpretation in a historical context, the Unit cooperates with the most outstanding artists, pedagogues and musicologists from Poland, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, France and other countries. This cooperation consists in running master classes, workshops, lectures, concerts of students, sometimes featuring pedagogues.
- The classes run by Senior Lecturer Agata Sapiecha, cover 4 subjects:
1. Historical Instruments Playing (also singing, depending on students’ interests) — 1 hour per week
2. Performance Aesthetics — 2 hours; theoretical group classes
3. Early Music Ensembles — 2 hours; practical group classes
4. Baroque Orchestra — 2 hours; group classes - Classes at the IUEM are optional but students participating in them regularly have the right to subject completions and exams, as agreed with Dean of the Department of Instrumental Studies.
- Students of the Division of Musicology, University of Warsaw, also have the right to complete some subjects as part of the Interdepartmental Unit of Early Music.
- Subjects are completed on the basis of tests and exams. Members of the Committee – according to the needs – are pedagogues from other Departments.
- Exams in Historical Instruments Playing have a form of open concerts.
- Classes are run in Polish; it is also possible that they are run in English, German or Russian.
- Classes at the Unit, as well as the organized master courses, are open all students of the FCUM or the Department of Instrumental and Pedagogical Studies in Białystok.
- Orchestra of the Interdepartmental Unit of Early Music run by Senior Lecturer Agata Sapiecha, cooperates with the ensemble Il Tempo, as well as with soloists who run master courses.

