Pre-College Salzburg

• Bass tuba
• Bassoon
• Clarinet
• Composition
• Double bass
• Flute
• Guitar
• Harp
• Harpsichord
• Horn
• Oboe
• Organ
• Percussion
• Piano
• Recorder
• Saxophone
• Trombone
• Trumpet
• Viola
• Violin
• Violoncello
• Voice

In addition to the lessons in the principal study, the following compulsory subsidiary subjects must be taken:

from 12 years of age: Chamber music (if the principal study is an instrument)

from 15 years: music theory (fortnightly on Saturdays)

from 16 years of age: compulsory piano (except for principal study piano students)

from 16 years of age: history of vocal literature (only for principle study voice, fortnightly on Saturdays)

Students with voice as their principal study can also take the following electives from 16 years of age:

• introduction to gymnastics/conditioning
• introduction to stage dance
• introduction to acting
• introduction to opera chorus
• introduction to breath training and body work

Aims

The aim of the Pre-College programme is to identify talented young people at an early stage and to support them in the best possible way in the principal study itself, but also by providing theoretical context and a musical environment. A further purpose of pre-college education is to prepare students for studies at music college or a university of performing arts.

The Pre-College programme includes lessons in the principal study, chamber music (from age 12), music theory (from age 15) and compulsory piano (from age 16, with the exception of principal study pianists). Upon entering the Pre-College programme, all courses in the curriculum must be taken on a compulsory basis (dependent upon the student's age).

Age of entry and length of training

No minimum age is required for admission to the Pre-College programme.
Recommendations for entry age are:

• Instrumental studies: from 12 years of age
• Composition: from 16 years of age
• Voice: from the last year of school/vocational training

For minors, a declaration of consent from the legal guardian is required for enrolment.

The length of a student's studies at the Pre-College Salzburg is determined by their age, with instrumental and composition students being required to complete their studies by the age of 18. For those in high school education, (e.g. with the goal of Matura, Abitur) an extension until the age of 19 can be granted upon request. The cut-off date for the age limit is 1st October of the respective academic year.
For students whose principal study is voice, pre-college studies must be completed by the age of 22 at the latest.

Duration of Studies

In the Pre-College Instrumental and Composition programmes, no maximum number of semesters is specified.

The duration of study in the Pre-College Vocal programme is two semesters, or four semesters in justified exceptional cases (approval must be sought). Exceptions require the express consent of the examinations committee  as well as the approval of the rectorate.

Personal attendance requirement

Teaching in the principal study takes place weekly; Chamber Music classes (from age 12) and Compulsory Piano lessons (from age 16, with the exception of principal study pianists) are arranged directly with the respective teachers. Music theory classes (ages 15 and up) are currently held every other Saturday. Students at the Pre-College are required to attend classes on site and to be present in Salzburg accordingly. Online teaching is not provided.

Students in the  Pre-College programme are automatically assigned the status of "external student" at the Mozarteum University.

In order to be admitted to the Pre-College programme, students must first prove their aptitude by passing an entrance examination. This will be conducted in front of a panel made up of teachers from the Pre-College Salzburg and teachers of the university programmes.

Structure of the admissions examination

The following partial examinations make up the admissions examination.

A - Determination of artistic aptitude in the principal study

for an instrument:

• performance of several works from different stylistic periods
• The audition panel will select extracts from the programme given in the application amounting to a playing time of approx. 10 minutes

for composition:

• presentation of the student's own compositions and interview. The applicant will present their own works (e.g. compositions in the form of sketches, scores, recordings, etc.). This will be followed by an interview with the admissions panel.
• The portfolio containing the applicant's works will be brought to the admissions examination by the applicant. Links to the works can also be provided in advance via the online form at the time of registration.

for voice:

• performacne of four songs or arias from at least two different stylistic periods
• In the first round, a piece chosen by the candidate and possibly a piece chosen by the audition panel must be performed.
• If the candidate is successful in passing the first round, they will be invited back to perform further works.

B - Music Theory & Aural Skills (general musical aptitude)

All tasks are set according to the age of the applicants, with older applicants being assigned more challenging tasks. The examination is oral. The following areas will be covered by the examination:

• Rhythm: clapping given rhythms
• singing and, depending on age, naming intervals, triads and their inversions, and dominant seventh chords and their inversions
• Listening: questions such as, "One note in the two chords played in succession has changed. Which one and in which direction? (e.g. "the middle note was lower in the second chord" - major to minor)
• Sight-singing of a simple song/folksong
• Repeating a simple melody played on the piano on their own instrument/voice
• Transposing a simple melody on the piano or on their own instrument/voice
• Continuing a melody on the piano or on the own instrument/voice and bringing it to a conclusive end
• free improvisation on the piano or on the own instrument (tonal, atonal, classical, jazzy, etc. as desired)
• for vocal/instrumental candidates: answer musicology questions based on works prepared for the audition in the principal study (partial examination A), e.g. the meaning of the tempo indications/movement designations, styles (periods), forms (sonata form, rondo, invention, prelude, fugue etc.), determination of keys, knowing some composers of the respective periods of the works prepared on the instrument, etc.
• for composition: answering musicological questions on the basis of the candidate's compositions presented in partial examination A, such as questions on notation, playing techniques used, keys, musical influences, knowing some composers of the 20th/21st century, etc.

The sheet music of the works prepared for Part A and, if applicable, the student's own instrument (except keyboard instruments and harp) must be brought to the theory examination!

C - German language skills

• The language level required: depends on the age of the student (as of 1st October)
  up to 12 years: no proof of German skills required
  12-14 years: A1
  from 15 years: A2
  (Common European Framework of Reference CEFR 2001)
• Information on the recognised certificates can be found HERE

Timeline

Audition dates can be found at the separate point "Audition dates".

• Online registration for an audition during the application period via the application platform Muvac
• after processing your online application: invitation to the on-site audition (the invitation is sent via Muvac)
• in Muvac: acceptance or rejection of participation in the admission exam; if necessary: information on the examination programme for the audition in the main subject (ZKF)
• participation in the on-site audition
• upon passing the audition and obtaining a place: invitation to enrolment to the degree programme
• personal enrolment during the general admission period

Course fees

A course fee and the students' union (ÖH) fee must be paid each semester for participation in the Pre-College Salzburg programme. The course fees amount to Euro 700,- per semester.