The aptitude test is the first step towards admission to the Major Jazz. Throughout the course of this multi-stage examination, we evaluate the candidatesโ 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 10โ12 students are usually accepted for the Major Jazz each academic year.
In principle, vocalists and instrumentalists of any instrument may apply for admission to the programme.
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 1 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. 15 minutes) with the following repertoire:
- 1 piece of their choice with accompaniment play-along track or ensemble recording
- 1 piece from the jazz standard repertoire with accompaniment play-along track or ensemble recording. Tempo: Medium Up. At least 1โ2 choruses of improvisation.
- 1 solo performance
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 29 May.
All performances must be recorded in full, without editing or cuts.
Technical requirements
- Video recordings must be taken from a fixed camera perspective โ the hands and face of the musician must be visible.
- Recordings may be made on a mobile phone, camera or laptop computer.
- Use of a stereo microphone is desirable.
- The quality and format of the recordings should meet the following criteria: HD video (720p; 1080i; 1080p) with 265 kbit/s sound resolution
The jury evaluates
- the excellence of the instrumental/vocal performance,
- the musical originality/recognizability,
- as well as the artistic potential/individuality of the candidateโs own music/interpretations
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.
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.
As of March 31st, 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 prior to this time cannot be answered. There is no entitlement to a professional explanation of the decision.
The aptitude test consists of three parts:
- Artistic-musical performance, including interview
- Ear training/theory
- Improvisation
- Artistic-musical performance โ instrumental/vocal audition
Duration: approx. 30 minutes, individual
The practical instrumental/vocal audition takes place on stage in the department's own music club, Mehrspur. We will provide the audition band on-site: - For voice, guitar, wind instruments: Quartet with the band consisting of piano, bass, drums
- For piano, bass: Trio with accompanying bass and drums or piano and drums
- Drums, percussion: Quartet with accompaniment trio piano, bass, wind instrument
- With band
- Performance of three pieces of choice, by heart, in different keys and in various groove aesthetics (Blues, AโAโBโA form, Ballad, Modal, Latin, Fusion, etc.). One of the three pieces must be a Ballad (does not apply to drum candidates). Candidates must also audibly demonstrate their improvisational skills in each tune. The performance can be reduced to two pieces for time management reasons.
- Improvisation by ear (i.e. without sheet music) over an unknown chord progression in a band context. For drums: accompaniment by ear to various grooves played by the band.
In the case of Jazz standards from the "Real Book", the notes (leadsheets) must be brought along to the performance in a legible form. For all other pieces, a recording plus notes must be sent to the Jazz Office at least two weeks before the examination date.
Three copies of all the lead sheets (treble clef, key of C) including the lead sheet or the complete notation of the performance of choice must also be brought to the audition.
- Without band
All candidates prepare ONE of the following tasks; they may additionally be requested by the jury: - Presentation of a self-composed piece in a style of their choice
- or performance of a composition from their music subject area,
- or a technical รฉtude / a solo transcription,
- or an original audio-production via laptop.
The presentation can be prepared as a solo performance or with playback via computer/mobile/iPad (bring it with you), incl. explanations (idea, statement, production process, etc.) for the jury. A connection cable (3.5 mm jack) will be made available at the audition.
- Sightreading
- Vocals, guitar, piano, bass, woodwinds: Sightreading of a simple melody with improvisation over the chord progression.
- Guitar, piano, bass: additional performance of an accompaniment a prima vista using coded chord symbols.
- Drum/percussion: sightreading of a simple big band part.
- Available equipment:
- Vocals: Sure SM 58 microphone, incl. mike stand and cable. Candidates may also bring their own microphone.
- Guitar: two guitar amplifiers (Fender, Vox, Mesa Boogie), incl. channel switching. Candidates must bring their own effects devices, tuners and cables.
- Drums: one drum set with 2 toms, a hi-hat, one ride cymbal and one crash cymbal. Candidates may bring their own cymbals and snare.
- Bass: one bass amplifier. Candidates must bring their own effects devices, tuners and cables.
- Piano: one Yamaha S4 grand piano
- Percussions: 3 Congas. Candidates may bring their own percussion instruments.
- Eartraining / Theory
- Written
Duration: approx. 2 hours, group. The exam will contain a number of the following assignments: - 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 โ major and minor, in inversions as well, seventh chords (root position only)
- Harmony dictation with triads and seventh chords
- General questions about various musical examples (e.g. instrumentation, meter, music styles etc.)
- 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 โListeningโ
- 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 exercise on the piano in major and minor in keys up to and including 3 accidentals. IIโVโI four-part chords in two different positions.
- Improvisation
a) Prepared group improvisation on an assigned topic
Duration: approx. 30 minutes, group
b) Spontaneous, unprepared duo instrument improvisation on the instrument with a musician from the jury
Duration: approx. 3 minutes, individual
Sample examinations: eartraining and music theory (written/oral)
Allocation of study places
As of 15 May, all candidates will be informed by the Jazz and Pop secretariat 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 Of๏ฌce cannot be answered.
Candidates with the status โwaiting listโ 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 Of๏ฌce 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.