Choral Conducting
Bachelor of Music
Principal subjects in artistic and artistic-pedagogic profile: Main subject lessons, theory/ear training/musicology, elective modules
Supplementary subjects in artistic-pedagogic profile: Methodology/didactics, music education, written project.
Requirements in the entrance exam
a) Conducting: Rehearsal with a university ensemble. The candidate receives the task at least two weeks before the examination.
b) Subject-specific listening test: Intervals, chords and chord relationships, tasks from the areas of error hearing, rhythm/metre.
c) Score playing: reading transpositions and clefs, sight-reading simple choral and orchestral scores.
d) Instrumental/vocal main subject: performance of three works from three styles. (If singing: please bring sheet music for piano accompaniment).
e) Piano (if not instrumental major): Performance of two compositions from two styles.
f) Voice (if not a major subject): Performance of two vocal works of different character. (Please bring sheet music for piano accompaniment.)
g) Written test: questions from the areas of repertoire knowledge, instrumentation/instrumentology, vocal physiology, music theory and music history, duration: approx. 15 minutes.
At the candidate's request, further areas of specialisation can be presented (e.g. orchestral instruments, composition).
Total duration: approx. 75 minutes.
Bachelor of Music – Church Music
At Freiburg University of Music you can complete an eight-semester bachelor’s degree in church music. After successfully completing the bachelor’s degree, students can continue on to a master’s degree in church music.
1. Organ
a) Performance of two chorale preludes from the “Orgelbüchlein” and a free work by Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as a work from the 19th or 20th century. Sight-reading.
b) Harmonization of a congregational hymn from the “Gesangbuch” including intonation/prelude.
2. Conducting
Conducting and rehearsing a simple to moderately difficult choral piece, including piano accompaniment, testing of basic conducting skills (e.g., fermatas and entrances), duration: 10 to 15 minutes. The piece will be announced two weeks before the exam.
(Excerpt from the Statutes on Enrollment; see there also the General examination requirements und the Requirements of the further examination parts [ear training, music theory, voice, piano]).
Master of Music
Principal subjects: Main subject lessons, chamber music, musicology/theory, elective module, Master's thesis.
Requirements in the entrance exam
a) Conducting: Rehearsal with a university ensemble. The applicant will receive the task at least two weeks before the examination.
b) Subject-specific listening test: Intervals, chords and chord relationships, tasks from the areas of error hearing, intonation hearing, rhythm/metre.
c) Score playing: reading transpositions and clefs, sight-reading demanding choral and orchestral scores.
d) Instrumental/vocal main subject: performance of three works from three styles. (If singing: please bring sheet music for piano accompaniment).
e) Piano (if not instrumental major): Performance of two compositions from two styles.
f) Voice (if not a major subject): Performance of two vocal works of different character (please bring sheet music for piano accompaniment).
g) Written test: questions from the areas of repertoire knowledge, instrumentation/instrumentology, vocal physiology, music theory and music history (duration: approx. 30 minutes).
At the candidate's request, further areas of specialisation can be presented (e.g. orchestral instruments, composition).
Duration: approx. 90 minutes in total.
Master of Music – Church Music
At Freiburg University of Music, graduates of the bachelor's program “Bachelor of Music – Church Music” can complete a four-semester advanced degree program with a focus on organ and conducting.
1. Organ
a) Performance of organ works from four different styles, including one by Johann Sebastian Bach, one from the Romantic period, and one composed after 1930.
b) Improvisation/liturgical organ playing: Three cantus firmus arrangements in different forms based on a given hymn. Duration: approximately 10 minutes.
2. Conducting
Rehearsal work with a university ensemble (choir). The applicant will receive the assignment at least two weeks before the exam. The rehearsal lasts approximately 20 minutes.
(Excerpt from the Statutes on Enrollment; see there also the General examination requirements).
Requirements in the entrance exam
a) Conducting: Rehearsal work with a university ensemble. The candidate will receive the task at least two weeks before the examination.
b) Subject-specific listening test: prima vista singing of difficult choral parts, intervals, chords and chord relationships, modulation progressions, tasks from the areas of error hearing, intonation hearing, rhythm/metre.
c) Score playing: reading transpositions and clefs, sight-reading demanding choral and orchestral scores.
d) Instrumental/vocal main subject: performance of two works from two styles. (If singing: please bring sheet music for piano accompaniment).
e) Piano (if not an instrumental major subject): Performance of a work of medium difficulty.
f) Written test: Questions from the areas of repertoire knowledge, instrumentation/instrumentology, music theory and music history, duration: approx. 30 minutes.
g) Colloquium: Colloquium on the rehearsal and literature studies.
Total duration: approx. 90 minutes.