Jazz-Drums

Entrance exams for the start of studies in winter semester 2025/26

Application deadline: Wed, 12.03.2025

Tue, 01.04.2025, starting at 10.00
Room 4.09 (Bräunerstraße 5, 4th floor, 1010 Vienna)

ONLY for BA applicants: Theory exam
Tue, 01.04.2025, 09.00 - 10.00
Room K.10 (Bräunerstraße 5, 4th floor, 1010 Vienna)

ONLY for IGP applicants: Educational practical part of exam incl. colloquium 
Wed, 30.04.2025
location tba

This entrance exam will take place on site in Vienna. Please make all organisational preparations (flight bookings, visa etc.) in time to participate.

Programme for the entrance exam

Bachelor's Programme

The entrance examination is completed as part of an overall board examination and is used to check the aptitude of the course applicant in terms of their knowledge of jazz theory, composition and improvisation talent, instrumental skills, musical ear. 

The entrance examination is a board examination and takes place with professional accompaniment: 
Jazz bass: with piano & drums 
Jazz guitar, saxophone, trumpet, trombone: with piano, bass & drums 
Jazz piano: with bass & drums 
Jazz drums: with piano & bass 
Jazz voice: with piano in the 1st round and with piano, bass & drums in the 2nd round 

You are not able to bring your own accompanists for reasons of equality. 

The entrance examination includes the following sections: 
Interview about study motivation 
Basic command of the selected instrument: 
• Playing of a jazz blues (with drum solo). Speed at least 150 BPM 
• Two jazz standards should be prepared (with drum solo) 
• Sight-reading: Swing with comping character and an easy big band arrangement 

Knowledge of music theory: 
Written, general music theory, simple knowledge of jazz theory 

Aural test: 
Written, rhythm dictation, evidence of a good, relative aural skills 

Master's Programme

The condition for admission to the Master’s degree is a completed Bachelor’s degree in the relevant branch of study or an equivalent qualification from a recognised Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational facility, evidence of adequate German proficiency in non-native applicants, successfully passing the entrance examination and there being a place available on the course. 
The entrance examination is completed as part of an overall board examination and is used to check the aptitude of the course applicant in terms of their instrumental / vocal skills, musical talent, musical ear, knowledge of music theory. 

An interview about your study motivation is also part of the exam. 

Entrance examination

The entrance examination is a board examination; the candidate plays with their own band and the exam includes the following areas: 

• Play a notated jazz drum solo (approx. two pages, own composition or transcription, three copies for the jury) 
• Performance with own band: a repertoire of 20 pieces from a variety of styles should be prepared and must be played by heart by the candidate. Arrangements with drum feature (quartet, eight-piece band, solo with a chorus) 

Bachelor's Programme IGP

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.

Certificate of Performance

 

The entrance examination is done by sending in corresponding application videos.  
Important information for a correct recording of your application videos 
can be found here.  

The admission exam serves to determine applicants’: 

    a) motivation for undertaking the programme of study
    b) artistic proficiency (corresponding to Master’s level entry)
    c) artistic and personal suitability
The admission process is split into three parts – applicants must be successful in Part 1 in order to progress to the next stage.

1. Submission of a short biography (including language skills), covering letter, repertoire list and an audition programme:
•   Short biography: applicants should provide a written overview of the qualifications they have gained so far, their (language) skills, and the areas their activities have focused on.
•   Covering letter: applicants should describe their personal expectations of the programme and what they are looking to get out of it. Applicants should also state their current artistic activities and skills and those they are aiming to acquire.
•   Audition programme for Part 2: a programme for the artistic presentation that makes up Part 2 (corresponding to Master’s level entry).

2. Artistic presentation:
In the artistic presentation, applicants should demonstrate their instrumental proficiency and level of artistry. The programme should be put together by the applicant her/himself and should give as strong an impression as possible of her/his artistic qualifications. Instrumental proficiency should be at least that needed for Master’s level entry.

3. Colloquium:
Together with the applicant, a panel will discuss and reflect on the results of Parts 1 and 2 of the admission exam and examine the applicant’s individual and artistic potential as well as her/his personal goals and suitability for the programme.

Note: An appointment for an on-site entrance examination may also be arranged  
as an option after arrangement with the head of the study programme

Information required for all applicants

Schedule might be possibly altered even in the short term! Regarding that please look up this section of the website regularly. Thank you.

Applications for studying at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna can be submitted online at anytime; they will be reserved for the next admission period. Applications submitted after the application deadline can no longer be considered for the subsequent audition date.

The application for the entrance examination is done via the application mask in MUKonline. All necessary steps for the application for the entrance exam are listed here.