Accordion

The 1st round of the entrance examination is done by sending in an application video. Important information for a correct recording of your application video can be found here.

The application video includes:

• Introduction + artistic presentation

Introduction

In the introduction (max. 2 minutes), speak freely in either German or English and introduce yourself directly before you start playing. Please include your motivation for studying and additional information on your written application.

Directly after the introduction, you will start your artistic presentation (without editing).

Artistic presentation

The presentation of your artistic programme takes place directly after the introduction (without editing!). You choose the programme in your own order. The specified 1st round examination programme must be recorded (without breaks/cuts) in full length.

1st round:

Examination programme:
A programme of 15—20 minutes, consisting of pieces from various stylistic eras, taking into consideration the following minimum requirements:

• A piece composed before 1800 (of the level of difficulty of The Well-Tempered Clavier by J. S. Bach, D. Scarlatti: Sonatas)
• An original composition for accordion with single tone manual (of the level of difficulty of T. Hosokawa: Melodia, A. Nordheim: Flashing, B. Lorentzen: Tears)
• A piece of freely chosen style (including a transcription) with a virtuoso character

The choice of technical equipment is up to you, since it is in your own interest that sound and image quality are as representative as possible.

You will be informed via e-mail about the (1st round) result of your video application. An optional invitation for the on-site audition of the 2nd round (Place: Johannesgasse 4a, 1010 Wien) will be sent to selected applicants.

2. round (optional on-site audition)

Same programme as in the 1st round (the jury chooses program excerpts at the audition).

Please make all organizational preparations (flight reservations, visa, etc.) in time to participate. You will be informed by e-mail in the middle of March 2022 at the latest if you will be invited to this optional on-site audition.

Note: Another examination of the musical ear and of music theory knowledge will take place at the start of the first semester as part of a classification in the Aural Training and Composition courses only for those candidates who have been admitted to the course.

The entrance examination for the Master’s degree is used to check the candidate’s aptitude for the specific requirements of the Master’s degree, with particular consideration of their prior knowledge and skills. The condition for admission to the Keyboard Instruments Master’s degree is a completed Bachelor’s degree in a pertinent branch of study or an equivalent qualification from an Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational facility, as well as successfully passing all parts of the entrance examination.

To pass the entrance examination, a rating of “Passed” is required in all sections. Admission also depends on the specific availability of a course place. Being placed on the waiting list supposes a probability of future availability (i.e. by the end of the semester in question) of a course place.

The 1st round of the entrance examination is done by sending in an application video. Important information for a correct recording of your application video can be found here.

The application video includes:

• Introduction + artistic presentation

Introduction

In the introduction (max. 2 minutes), speak freely in either German or English and introduce yourself directly before you start playing. Please include your motivation for studying and additional information on your written application.

Directly after the introduction, you will start your artistic presentation (without editing).

Artistic presentation

The presentation of your artistic programme takes place directly after the introduction (without editing!). You choose the programme in your own order. The specified 1st round examination programme must be recorded (without breaks/cuts) in full length.

1st round:

Examination programme:
A programme of 15—20 minutes, consisting of pieces from various stylistic eras, taking into consideration the following minimum requirements:

• A piece composed before 1800 (of the level of difficulty of English Suites, Partitas by J. S. Bach)
• An original piece composed after 1975 (of the level of difficulty of:
  S. Gubaidulina: „De Profundis“, J. Tiensuu: „Fantango“, L.Berio: „Sequenza XIII“)
• A piece of freely chosen style (including a transcription) with a virtuoso character

The choice of technical equipment is up to you, since it is in your own interest that sound and image quality are as representative as possible.

You will be informed via e-mail about the (1st round) result of your video application. An optional invitation for the on-site audition of the 2nd round (Place: Johannesgasse 4a, 1010 Wien) will be sent to selected applicants.

2. round (optional on-site audition)

Same programme as in the 1st round (the commission chooses program excerpts at the on-site audition).

Please make all organizational preparations (flight reservations, visa, etc.) in time to participate. You will be informed by e-mail in the middle of March 2022 at the latest if you will be invited to this optional on-site audition.

The entrance examination serves to check the following

a) the motivation to study
b) the educational, artistic and personal competence of the candidates.

The entrance examination is divided into four parts; the positive assessment of the first and second parts is a prerequisite for admission to the further parts of the examination.
 

1. Online Application

The following documents must be included in the online application:

• A short biography with an overview of the qualifications, competences and main areas of activity acquired so far.
• Letter of motivation with details of personal expectations and objectives
• Programme (prepared pieces) for the artistic examination part (= part 2)
• Programme (prepared pieces) for the pedagogical-practical examination part (= part 3)

More information on the online application can be found here.

2. Artistic part of the examination

ATTENTION: The programme to be prepared as well as the examination process (video or on-site audition) are identical to the requirements of the respective artistic bachelor’s programme. Please inform yourself on the respective page for the corresponding programme requirements.

Another examination of the musical ear and of music theory knowledge will take place at the start of the first semester as part of a classification in the Aural Training and Composition courses only for those candidates who have been admitted to the course.
 

3. Educational-practical part of the examination

Applicants must demonstrate their educational-practical abilities and potential by showing their practical piano and vocal skills in a presentation:

a) Singing and chordal accompaniment

Singing and simultaneous chordal accompaniment (with lead sheets) at the piano. Applicants are given five songs from the field of popular music to prepare (see here)

b) Accompaniment at the piano

Applicants prepare the accompaniment of three pieces (or single movements) which they may choose from the beginner and intermediate literature for their own instrumental or vocal musical subject (in the piano, organ, accordion, guitar, harpsichord and historical keyboard instrument subjects, accompanying three pieces or single movements of their own choice from the beginner and intermediate literature for an orchestral instrument of their own choice).

Practice-oriented simplifications of the accompaniment parts are permissible, if not desirable. Applicants are required to name the pieces when they submit their musical programme at the time of registration. They must submit four copies of the scores to the Examination Panel at the examination.

c) Sight-Singing

Singing a simple song in German.

4. Colloquium

For testing cognitive and linguistic skills.

The panel will discuss and reflect with the applicants on the results of the previous parts of the examination and will examine their individual educational potential as well as their objectives and suitability for the course.

Sample questions for the colloquium are available here.
 

Proficiency in German:
Applicants whose native language is not German also have to prove their proficiency in German. They need to prove that they have at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, at the latest upon enrolment.

Applicants under the age of 15:

The 1st round of the entrance examination is done by sending in an application video. Important information for a correct recording of your application video can be found here.

The application video includes:

• Introduction + artistic presentation

Introduction

In the introduction (max. 2 minutes), speak freely in either German or English and introduce yourself directly before you start playing. Please include your motivation for studying and additional information on your written application.

Directly after the introduction, you will start your artistic presentation (without editing).

Artistic presentation

The presentation of your artistic programme takes place directly after the introduction (without editing!). You choose the programme in your own order. The specified 1st round examination programme must be recorded (without breaks/cuts) in full length.

1st round:

Examination programme:
A programme of 15—20 minutes, consisting of pieces from various stylistic eras, taking into consideration the following minimum requirements:

• A piece composed before 1800
• An original piece using the melody bass manual
• Another original piece or a transcription with a virtuoso nature

The choice of technical equipment is up to you, since it is in your own interest that sound and image quality are as representative as possible.

You will be informed via e-mail about the (1st round) result of your video application. An optional invitation for the on-site audition of the 2nd round (Place: Johannesgasse 4a, 1010 Wien) will be sent to selected applicants.

2. round (optional on-site audition)

Same programme as in the 1st round (the jury chooses program excerpts at the audition).

Applicants over 15 years:

The application process for applicants over 15 years of age is identical to the application process for the Bachelor's programme.