Orchestra Conducting

• 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 video and audio recordings from YouTube, Vimeo, Youku and Soundcloud on your profile.

Based on the linked 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).

• One video per work of about 5 minutes length, also rehearsal or concert excerpts.
• The recordings should be recorded from the orchestra’s perspective.
• One video of the instrumental recordings.

• Conducting: At least 2 different works from any repertoire of classical, romantic and classical modern music,
• interpretation of 2 works of different styles, one of them classical, on the piano, an orchestra instrument or singing.

The audition exam consists of two rounds. After the first round, the Exam Committee will decide who will proceed to the following round.

• fundamental knowledge of conducting technique
• knowledge about musical theater and its artistic relationship with theater
• comprehensive knowledge of music theater and symphonic repertoires

• conducting (realized with three pianos)
  compulsory piece: Weber: Der Freischütz Overture
• presentation of a chosen discerning solo work on piano or an orchestra instrument (also solo concertos or piano-accompanied works in which case an accompanist must be organized by the applicant) or a vocal work. The audition criteria are equivalent to those of an audition exam for the major of the instrument played.

• Conducting (also in a teaching situation)
  three compulsory pieces:
  • Dvořák: 8th Symphony, 1st Movement Exposition
  • Brahms: 3rd Symphony, 2nd Movement
  • Stravinsky: Histoire du Soldat, Part 1 until 15 (March)
• Correpetition
  • presentation of a chosen opera scene with several characters in original language
  • sight-read simple opera passages
  • sight-read singing (atonal passages without rhythm)
• Score-reading
  • sight-read a simple orchestra score
  • playing of transposed instruments
• Core Subject Piano
  • presentation of two chosen solo works, one of which must be a slow movement of a classical sonata or a baroque work in slow tempo
• Ear Training
  Determining and repeating on the piano or on the applicant's major instrument
  • dissonant tetrads
  • demanding chord progressions
  • dissonant melodies

• Knowledge of treble and bass clef (also C clef, if applicable)
• Knowledge of key signatures in major and minor
• Determining and notating intervals in various octaves
• Knowledge of major and minor scales, including modes
• Determining and notating triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented) and dominant seventh chords, including their inversions
• Recognizing and writing different types of cadences (authentic, plagal, half and deceptive) in various keys
• Realizing a simple figured bass in four parts
• Harmonic analysis (Roman numerals and German functions)
• Formal and compositional analysis of a short musical example (or excerpt)

• Determining intervals (melodic and harmonic)
• Determining triads and dominant seventh chords, including their inversions (simultaneous and arpeggiated)
• Determining major and minor scales as well as modes
• Rhythm dictation (binary and ternary rhythms, tied and/or syncopated)
• Melody dictation (baroque and/or classical style)
• Two-part (polyphonic) dictation
• Harmonic dictation
• Aural analysis of a short musical example

Small colloquium on general music questions in German language with the following issues:

• foundation of music history from Bach to present (problematic nature of era categories: baroque/classical/romantic/modern/postmodern)
• development of orchestral genres
• development of opera

• Applicants for undergraduate studies who have already studied at a RKM-recognized 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: 8 April
• For summer semester: 8 November

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