The aptitude test is the first step towards gaining admission to the Pop major.
Throughout the course of this multi-stage examination, we evaluate candidates’ musical, creative, instrumental/vocal and social skills and abilities.
Even if a candidate passes the admissions examination, their admission is also contingent upon the availability of study places.
Approximately 5–6 students are accepted for the Major Pop each academic year.
Vocalists, instrumentalists, (only guitar, bass, drums, piano/electronic keyboards such as synthesizers, Rhodes piano, organ etc.) can apply, and the programme is also open to Live-Electronics-Artists who use a laptop plus, if applicable, an instrument or their voices.
If candidates pass the aptitude test but are not accepted due to a lack of study places, they must repeat the examination when re-applying for later admission to the degree programme.
Important: Candidates who do not receive a study place following the Bachelor’s aptitude test will not automatically be accepted into PreCollege Music if they are interested. We recommend that, if necessary, you also register for PreCollege Music in full by 01 March.
Admission to the aptitude test on the basis of a video portfolio, as part of the online application
All candidates present themselves and their music in a self-produced video (max. 5 minutes). They are free to choose the form and sequence of the video; the video should be creative and artistic.
- The video must be submitted along with the rest of the documents during online registration as a link to streaming-platform (YouTube, etc.) by 1 March at the latest. The links must be available until 31 May.
It contains a meaningful insight into the individual artistic work and excerpts from at least two musical performances. Original compositions / original songs are highly encouraged. - At least one of the performances must be played and sung “live” with a main instrument or voice. Full playbacks, lip-syncing, and editing of pitch, timing, etc., as well as compilations of different recorded versions (“comping”) are not permitted and will result in exclusion from the admission process.
Attention:
Before admission to the aptitude test, the submitted documents are first checked for completeness by the university administration.
The university administration then informs the candidates and the jury whether the documents are correct and the candidate is admitted for the professional evaluation, i.e. the viewing of the video portfolio by the jury.
This is only an administrative pre-clearance and not the admission to the aptitude test by the jury. This will take place in a second step and will be communicated separately.
After reviewing all video portfolios, the jury decides whether or not the candidates meet the necessary artistic requirements for the study programme and are admitted to the aptitude test.
The jury evaluates
- the excellence of the instrumental/vocal performance,
- the musical originality/recognizability,
- the general creativity and originality of the video and performances,
- as well as the artistic potential/individuality of the candidate’s own music/interpretations.
As of March 29, all candidates will be informed by the Jazz and Pop Secretariat via e-mail about their admission or non-admission. Until then, please bear with us, any enquiries directed to the Jazz and Pop Office cannot be answered. There is no entitlement to a professional explanation of the decision.
The aptitude test consists of four parts:
- Artistic-musical performance, including interview
- Eartraining/Theory
- Song writing
- Aptitude interview
1. Artistic-musical performance – instrumental/vocal audition Pop
Duration: approx. 45 minutes, individual
The practical instrumental/vocal audition takes place on stage in the department's own music club, Mehrspur. The department arranges an audition band that, along with the candidates, consists of drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and a vocalist.
- With band
- Performance of a song of the candidates’ choice from the repertoire list, which will be sent to them approx. 2 weeks before the aptitude test.
- Instructing the band: Candidates should bring their own short song in the form of lead sheets or sheet music, which they will perform with the band (approx. 1 verse, 1 chorus, approx. 90 seconds). They will have 3–4 minutes to instruct the band.
- Alternatively, they can also develop a short, new song including a basic arrangement and lyrics based on a given chord progression.
- Jamming/improvising by ear (i.e. without written notes) on a previously unknown chord progression in a band context. Vocalists: with (spontaneous) lyrics. Drummers: Groove and fill-ins on a song in A–B form.
- Without band
- Presentation of two original songs that the candidate has written themselves (instrumental/vocal), as a solo performance without a band or playback accompaniment (singers may accompany themselves on an instrument, instrumentalists may sing themselves, a “looper” may be used)
The second song can also be presented as a self-produced work. In this case, candidates should bring the relevant DAW projects on their own laptop and explain their idea and production process.
A projector and a 3.5 mm jack connection cable A connection cable (3.5 mm jack) will be made available at the audition.
Playing/singing various instrumental/vocal exercises, grooves, cadences, chords, scales and arpeggios at the discretion of the jury.
- Sightreading
- Guitar: Sightreading of a melody.
- Bass: Sightreading of a bass line.
- Keyboards: Sightreading of a two-handed piano piece melody (melody plus chord symbols)
- Voice: Sightreading of a melody in treble clef.
- Guitar, keyboards, bass: Performance of an accompaniment using chord symbols (various stylistics).
- Drums: Sightreading of several grooves, including improvised fills.
Available equipment:- Vocal: Shure SM 58 microphone, incl. mic stand and cable. Candidates may also bring their own microphone.
- Guitar: Guitar amplifiers (Fender, Vox, Blackstar). Candidates must bring their own effects devices, tuners and cables. They may not bring any additional amplifiers or boxes of their own.
- Drums: one drum set with 3 toms, a hi-hat, one ride cymbal and one crash cymbal. Candidates may bring their own cymbals and a snare, as well as the necessary percussion instruments. They may not bring a further drum kit of their own.
- Bass: one bass amplifier. Candidates must bring their own effects devices, tuners and cables. They may not bring an additional amplifier of their own.
- Keyboards: DI boxes, cable and keyboard stands. Candidates must bring the necessary keyboards with them. An accoustic piano is not available.
2. Eartraining/Theory
- Written
Duration: approx. 2 hours, group- a) Listening
- Diatonic scale melodic dictation in unison
- Rhythmic dictation in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 9/8 or 12/8 meter
- Identification of intervals (second to the octave, notes played simultaneously or as a sequence)
- Identification of scales (all common scales made up of semitone, whole tone or sequitone steps)
- Identification of triads – major and minor, in inversions as well, seventh chords (root position only)
- Harmony dictation with triads and seventh chords
- General questions about various presented aural examples (e.g. instrumentation, meter, music styles etc.)
- b) Notating
- Identification and notes of scales (see above), chord scales (assigning scales to the corresponding chords)
- Identification and notes of chords (see above), voice leading with triads and seventh chords and guide tone lines
- Analysis of chord progressions in tunes and songs
- Motif and form analysis of compositions and songs
- Oral
Duration: approx. 20 minutes, individual- Sing a melody a prima vista from a sheet
- Reproduce rhythms a prima vista from a sheet
- Sing the intervals, scales and chords listed under “Listening”
- Realization of simple polyrhythms (2:3, 3:2, 3:4 and 4:3) through clapping, walking, speaking
- A rhythm is given, the candidate determines the right pulse and sings the phrase
- Cadences on the piano in major and minor in keys up to and including 3 accidentals. I–IV–V–I three-part chords in all positions
3. Songwriting
Duration: approx. 30 minutes, group
Group songwriting and performance on an assigned theme
4. Aptitude interview
Duration: approx. 15 minutes, individual
Open discussion with a mentor: the he discussion focuses on questions concerning examination preparation, career objectives and organizing one’s course of study. Questions refer specifically to the letter of motivation submitted with the application.
Sample examinations: Eartraining and Music Theory (written/oral)
Allocation of study places
As of 10 May, all candidates will be informed by the Jazz and Pop Office via e-mail whether or not they will be offered a study place. Until then, please bear with us, any enquiries directed to the Jazz and Pop Office cannot be answered.
Candidates with the status “waiting list” will not be offered a place at first, but in case of cancellations by other candidates, they can move up to a place and will be informed by the Jazz and Pop Office via e-mail as of 29 May whether they will be offered a study place or not. Until then, please bear with us, any enquiries directed to the Jazz and Pop office cannot be answered.
There is no entitlement to further justification of the decisions.
If a candidate passes the admissions examination but is not accepted due to a lack of study places, they must repeat the examination when re-applying for later admission to the degree programme.