1. Practical music and dance
- Type of test: Individual test
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Panel: Music and Movement / School Music lecturers
- Sheet music: The panel must be given one copy of sheet music for each piece played
Candidate(s) must include the following in the musical and, if applicable, dance performance they create:
- Singing an accompanied piece of repertoire (not required if voice is their main instrument)
- Performing/singing an accompanied piece on their main instrument/voice
- Playing a piece of repertoire on the piano (not required if piano is their main instrument)
For dance as a major subject: Instead of interpreting an existing work, musical instruction, accompaniment and interactive improvisation with a moving person can be demonstrated on the piano or another instrument (a moving person will be organized by the examination board). Performing a song composed by the candidate to a text they have written themselves. The piece must be adapted to the target level of the chosen Core Subject (children, young people or adults) and performed with the candidate's own accompanist. Structure: Intro, two verses, chorus, bridge, outro
* Note on the selection of pieces: The pieces provided for download are examples. Candidates are free to choose from these pieces or to make their own selection adapted to their playing level.
Documents for preparation
2. Teaching and movement exercises
Type of test: Group test
Duration: 90 minutes
Panel: Music and Movement / School Music lecturers
2.1 Teaching exercise
Teach a short lesson (7 minutes per candidate)
Each candidate will teach some well-prepared musical or dance content to the other participants. This could be a short dance routine, body percussion, a canon, a circle song or similar. The candidates each have seven minutes to teach their short lesson.
2.2 Rhythm and movement
1. Performing various rhythmic movement coordination exercises using the space and a variety of instruments (shakers, balls, groovy bags, sticks). Candidates must produce regular, pulsating basic movements and combinations of movements on and off the beat, doubletime offbeat and with accents on different parts of the beat.
2.3 Practice and improvisation
Improvising and creating movements to music, stories and for imitation.
3. Practical teaching of music theory
This part of the examination is not required for candidates with a Bachelor of Arts in Music / Musicology or a Master of Arts in Music / Musicology.
3.1 Practical teaching of music theory: written
- Type of test: Individual test
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Panel: Music and Movement / School Music lecturers
Aural analysis:
Candidates listen to two audio samples selected by the examination board several times and note down their observations on the musical elements.
Using (excerpts from) pop/rock songs and/or classical works, they prepare statements on style, instrumentation, form, melody, rhythm, harmony, compositional technique, contrast, tension (and, where applicable, the era, composer and performers).
The findings are presented in a discussion with the lecturers.
3.2 Practical teaching of music theory: oral
- Type of test: Colloquium
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Panel: Music and Movement / School Music lecturers
Singing, playing, listening, identifying and notating melodic, harmonic and rhythmic structures
Contents:
- Intervals up to a tenth – read / play on the piano / listen and identify / note down
- Major and minor scales up to four sharps and flats – read / play on the piano / listen and identify / note down
- Major and minor triads, diminished and augmented – read / play on the piano / listen and identify / note down
- Play rhythmic patterns / perform and combine Bodypercussion grooves and add breaks and fills – please prepare at least three Bodypercussion groove patterns of your choice.
- Analysis of chord progressions (leadsheet or classical Lied)
- Sight-reading (leadsheet or choral)
- Major and minor cadences up to four sharps and flats – play on the piano
How it works:
Candidates receive different samples of sheet music. They use the samples to work through some basic music theory and put them into practica under the guidance of a lecturer.
Candidates without prior training in music theory: Please contact the programme director before registering for the aptitude test to obtain information on how to prepare for this part of the test.
Documents for preparation:
– Exercises:
– Bodypercussion Grooves and examples “Rhythmen prima vista” (PDF)
– Chorals (PDF)
– Leadsheets (PDF)
– Scales and cadences on the piano (PDF)
– Eartraining apps and links:
– Ear Master
– Music Tutor
– ET-Ear Trainier (by Daniel Schenker, ZHdK)
– Earz
– Musictheory.net
– elmu.online
4. Presentation and discussion
- Type of test: Individual test
- Duration: 15 minutes
- Panel: Music and Movement / School Music lecturers
- Presentation of previous musical, dancing and teaching activities; experience and/or shadowing in the candidate’s future professional field
- Presentation of how you prepared for the audition
- Outline of individually tailored academic and professional goals
- Language skills
- Candidates will be asked follow-up questions and discuss possible academic intentions.