Historical and Contemporary Compositional Technique

• University entrance qualification
• Advanced musical ability in the programme subject which must be demonstrated in the audition exam
• Applicants without German university entry permission must provide evidence of their German language skills through:
  • Language certificate B 2.2 (GER) of the Goethe Institute, ÖSD, telc GmbH or TestDaF – Level 4, DSD II, DSH I or UNIcert II.
    Language certificates must be submitted during enrolment at the latest.
  • Technical German language skills in music will be assessed during the music theory examination.

For the pre-selection the platform muvac is used.

On muvac you can link PDF, PNG and JPG files as well as video and audio recordings from YouTube, Soundcloud, Vimeo, Youku and Google Drive on your profile.

Based on the linked files and audio/video recordings the pre-selection is made subsequent to the application period.

Please check that the recordings are available and accessable via the links provided (without password/no login function).

• No requirements.

• several own reworkings or arrangements of varying orchestration and compositional technique in written, fixed scores
• own compositional works

To be submitted with the application:

• several own reworkings or arrangements of varying orchestration and compositional technique in written, fixed scores
• the additional submission of own compositions is preferable

Proof of knowledge in elementary music theory/ear training

• performance of simple and extended cadences and modulation on piano
• performance of basso continuo exercises
• harmonization of a folksong on piano
• analysis of two short music examples, both written and aural (tonal and atonal)
• beat a notated rhythm with ties and/or syncopation
• sight-read (sing) a choir part of medium difficulty in treble clef and/or bass clef

• one baroque solo work (e.g. three part Invention by J. S. Bach)
• one solo work of the First Viennese School (e.g. sonata first movement by Beethoven)
• one work of the 19th to the 21st century, can be an own composition or chamber music

• notation in treble and bass clefs
• knowledge of keys and their accidentals in major and minor
• knowledge of major and minor scales, including modal keys
• determination and notation of intervals in designated octaves
• determination and notation of triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented) and dominant seventh chords, including reversals
• knowledge of the primary and secondary functions in major and minor
• spelling of a short cadence (four parts) according to the functional and level symbols
• analysis of two short excerpts from different musical epochs

• melody dictation (Baroque and/or classical melodies)
• rhythmic dictation (binary and ternary rhythms with slurs and/or syncopation)
• determination of major and minor scales as well as modal scales
• determination and notation of intervals of designated octaves
• determination of triads and dominant seventh chords with inversions (ascending and descending)
• aural analysis of two short music examples from different musical epochs

• Applicants for undergraduate studies who have already studied at a RKM-recognizes German music school and are applying to transfer to HFM are exempt from taking the exams in piano, composition, and ear training if they are able to provide a matriculation certificate/certificate of enrolment.

• For winter semester: 15 April
• For summer semester: 15 November

• For winter semester: May/June
• For summer semester: January/February