Jazz-Drums

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 

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) 

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.