General Terms and conditions
In order to make the piano lessons as comfortable as possible, we ask you to respect the following rules:
Tryout Lesson
A trial lesson is only possible if there are free places and serves to get to know each other. The trial lesson is non-binding, an acceptance of futher piano lessons is only possible after mutual agreement.
Semester ticket
The semester ticket includes 18 lessons during the school semester (Jan-Feb and Feb-June). There are no lessons on days when school is not in session. The semester card guarantees a regular weekly lesson at a fixed time, therefore lessons not attended cannot be refunded. If you give us at least 48 hours notice, we can try to find an alternative date, depending on availability, but there is no fixed entitlement to this.
If a lesson cannot be attended by the teacher, an alternative date will be offered. If no alternative date is possible, the lesson will be refunded or credited. The teacher reserves the right to cancel 1-2 lessons per semester due to illness without any right to a refund. Any hours in excess of this will be refunded or credited.
If it is prohibited by law to hold face-to-face classes, classes will be switched to online. Online hours will be treated the same as face-to-face classes; no refunds will be given due to online classes or online classes not taken.
Exams
Semester ticket holders who are under the age of 18 are required to take an exam every three years as part of a semester concert. The exam pieces are selected in consultation with the teacher and must meet the requirements of the Austrian music school curriculum (www.komu.at). At the request of the teacher, the respective learning phase can be extended by a maximum of one year. Adults and ten-block holders can take the exam on a voluntary basis. If the exam is not passed, it can be repeated once. Repeated failure entitles the Vienna Piano School to terminate the semester contract. The duration of the exam is:
Elementary: 5-10 minutes
Bronze: 10-15 minutes
Silver: 15-20 minutes
Gold: 25-30 minutes
One piece must be played from memory and one piece must be presented as chamber music piece.
Starting with the bronze exam, a theory exam must also be taken, with the points from the theory exam accounting for 1/3 of the overall grade.
Block of Ten
The block of ten is valid for half a year from the date of issue. During this period we agree on 10 hours at a reduced price. The block of ten is non-refundable and we ask you to cancel arranged lessons at least 48 hours in advance, otherwise there is no right to a refund. Online lessons are treated the same as face-to-face lessons.
Piano Accompaniment/Coaching
Please let us know at least one week in advance which pieces you would like to work on in which key and send us the sheet music. If we do not receive the sheet music in time, we reserve the right to cancel or postpone the lesson. In this case the payment will be refunded. Please note the 48h cancellation rule.
Semester Concert
Once a semester you have the opportunity to perform at one of our popular semester concerts. Participation is voluntary.
By participating, you also agree to the publication of concert photos/short videos on our website or social media.
Summer School
The registration for the Summer School is binding after receipt of the registration confirmation. In case of cancellation up to 4 weeks before, no fees will be charged, up to 2 weeks before 50% of the course price, after that 100% of the course price. A credit for the next year's Summer School or for piano lessons during the year is possible. Participation in the final concert is by arrangement with the teachers only. With your participation you agree to the publication of concert photos/short videos on our website or social media.
Corona
The current rules of the city of Vienna apply. See more at: https://coronavirus.wien.gv.at/.
Vouchers
Our vouchers and gift cards are valid for up to one year—the exact duration is stated on the respective voucher/gift card. If the voucher is not redeemed by the expiration date, you have the option for a period of three years to either
a) receive a new voucher with a validity period of one year
b) receive a refund.
After that, the voucher expires and neither a cash refund nor the issuance of a new voucher is possible. A cash refund is also not possible during the validity period of the voucher.
The gift cards can be redeemed for individual lessons and trial lessons, but not for semester cards and ten-lesson blocks.
Masterclass
Registration for the master class is binding upon receipt of the registration confirmation. In case of cancellation up to 8 weeks in advance, 50% of the course fee will be charged; after that, 100% of the course fee will be charged. Participation in the final concert is only possible after consultation with the teachers. By participating, you consent to the publication of concert photos/short videos on our website and social media. The Vienna Piano School does not provide practice rooms for the masterclass, but practice rooms can be booked by the hour via the Musikquartier website (www.musikquartier.at).
Competition
Third International Vienna Piano Competition 'WIENER KLASSIK' 2026
The International Vienna Piano Competition takes place once a year in the Ehrbarsaal and is organized by the Vienna Piano School and the Association ProArte, ZVR Zahl 1561803945.
The competition is open to participants of all nationalities.
The prize and competition categories for 2026 are as follows (the reference date is July 18th, 2026).
1. Categories
Category 1: 7–9 years (born between July 19, 2016 and July 18, 2019)
Category 2: 10–12 years (born between July 19, 2013 and July 18, 2016)
Category 3: 13–15 years (born between July 19, 2010 and July 18, 2013)
Category 4: 16–23 years (born between July 19, 2002 and July 18, 2010)
Category 5: 24–32 years (born between July 19, 1993 and July 18, 2002)
First prize winners from previous competitions are excluded from participation.
2. Rounds
The competition consists of three rounds:
Round 1
The first round of the piano competition takes place via video submission. You may submit up to three freely chosen pieces. The maximum performance time is:
Category 1: 5 minutes
Category 2: 7 minutes
Category 3: 10 minutes
Categories 4–5: 15 minutes
Videos must be uploaded no later than February 28, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CET. The results of the first round will be announced by the end of April 2026.
Please note: if your video exceeds the maximum duration, only the given time will be considered. It is possible to send one video with the different pieces or single videos. Cutting or any modifications within the videos/during the playing are not allowed and lead to immediate exclusion from the competition.
The application fee in order to enter the first round is 75€.
Round 2
The second round of the piano competition will take place on July 18 and 19, 2026, at the Ehrbarsaal Vienna. The program must include one work by Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven ('Viennese Classic'). If you choose a sonata, one movement is sufficient. The remaining piece(s) may be freely chosen.
Category 1: 5 minutes
Category 2: 7 minutes
Category 3: 10 minutes
Categories 4–5: 15 minutes
Round 2 will take place on July 18, 2026 for categories 1–3, and on July 19, 2026 for categories 4–5.
Round 3 / Prize Winners’ Concert
The winners of each category will perform their second-round program on the evening of July 20, 2026, at the famous Musikverein Vienna (Magna Auditorium / Glass Hall). The top three of each group will receive cash prizes and perform in the Prize Winners’ Concert. Additional special prizes will be awarded, including concerts in Vienna and a professional CD recording.
3. Prizes
The total value of prizes is €15,000.
Prizes for each category are as follows:
Categories 1–3: 1st Prize €500, 2nd Prize €250, 3rd Prize €100
Categories 4–5: 1st Prize €2500, 2nd Prize €1000, 3rd Prize €500
Additional prizes:
Mozart Prize: A solo concert at the Mozarthaus Vienna (€1,500 value)
Beethoven Prize: A solo concert at the Ehrbarsaal Vienna (€1,750 value)
Haydn Prize: A professional CD recording at C-Arts Studio (€1,200 value)
4. Festival Pass
Participants and visitors of the second and third rounds must hold a Festival Pass to participate in the competition and to access all events of the Summer Festival.
Festival Pass prices:
€75 for active participants (Category 1)
€90 for active participants (Category 2)
€120 for active participants (Category 3)
€150 for active participants (Categories 4–5)
€120 for passive participants / visitors
€60 for minors (under 18) / passive participants
The Festival Pass grants access to the four core days of the Summer Festival, including the masterclass concert on July 17, the entire competition on July 18–19, the award ceremony and Prize Winners’ Concert at the Musikverein Vienna on July 20, and all other concerts during the two-week festival.
Festival passes for participants and visitors are non-refundable.
5. Competition Rules
In categories 1–3 (Junior), the following evaluation system applies:
60–69 points: Merit Award
70–79 points: Bronze Award
80–89 points: Silver Award
90–100 points: Gold Award
In categories 4-5, the ranking is determined by the number of highest points awarded. The participant in first place receives a First Prize, the participant in second place a Second Prize, the participant in third place a Third Prize.
In addition, to receive a First Prize, a participant must achieve an average score of over 90 points; for a Second Prize, an average score of over 80 points is required; and for a Third Prize, an average score of over 70 points.
By participating in the second round, competitors agree that video and audio recordings of their performances in the second and third rounds may be streamed and published. The Vienna Piano School holds the rights to these recordings.
Instructions from the organizing team must be followed. Repeated violations or disruptions may lead to disqualification.
The Vienna Piano School provides rehearsal rooms equal to twice the performance time. Additional rooms can be booked hourly via www.musikquartier.at.
The jury reserves the right not to award prizes if no suitable candidate is found.
The administration reserves the right to adjust the prize money according to the number of applications.