Bachelor's Programme Electrical Engineering and Audio Engineering

Entrance Exam

The written entrance exam lasts for ca. 140 minutes, takes place in German and contains 4 parts:

1. Written aural test: recognition of scale types (major/minor), triads
2. Orientation Questionary Mathematics and und Physics
3. Written music theory test
4. Written aural test: Seashore text, using headphones

 

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SEASHORE TEST  (length: about 40 min)

Pitch:
This test determines the ability to distinguish between pitches. Two tones are played, one shortly after the other. The second tone is either higher or lower than the first tone. On the answer sheet, one writes H if the second tone is higher than the first tone, or L if the second tone is lower than the first tone.

Loudness:
This test determines the ability to distinguish between the volume of tones. Two tones are played, one shortly after the other, with differences in volume. On the answer sheet, one writes L if the second tone is louder than the first tone, or S if the second tone is softer than the first tone.

Rhythm:
This test determines the ability to distinguish between rhythms. Two rhythmic sequences are played, one shortly after the other. The second sequence has either the same rhythm as the first, or it is different. If the rhythmic sequences are the same, one writes S, and if they are different, one writes D.

Tone Duration:
This test determines the ability to distinguish between tone lengths. Two tones are played, one after the other. If the second tone is longer than the first tone, one writes L. If the second tone is shorter than the first tone, one writes S.

Klangfarbe (Tone Quality):
This test determines the ability to distinguish between Klangfarbe/tone quality. Two tones are played, one after the other, with either the same or different tone qualities. If the tones have the same quality/colour, one writes S on the answer sheet, and if the second tone is different in tone quality, one writes D.

Tonal (Melodic) Memory:
This test determines the ability to remember melodies. In each example, one hears a melody that is played twice. Each time that the second melody is played, a note has been changed. One must identify which note has been changed, the first note, the second, note, the third note, etc., and mark this particular numbered note on the answer sheet.

Test example Seashore-Test

Further information on the origin of this test can be found under http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1736.htm

 

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ORIENTATION QUESTIONNAIRE IN MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS  (length: about 20 min)

The use of a pocket calculator is not allowed!

• Example
   
• Solution
   
• Skript for the scientific orientation sheet

 

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AURAL TEST  (length: about 40 min)

• Three music examples will be played and you must indicate whether they are in the MAJOR or MINOR mode, in duple or triple meter, and with or without an upbeat (pickup).
• Melodic dictation with a given rhythm.
• Rhythmic dictation with a given pitch progression.
• Dreiklangs-Erkennung: DUR - MOLL - VERMINDERT - ÜBERMÄSSIGRecognition of triads: MAJOR – MINOR – DIMINISHED – AUGMENTED
• Recognition of instruments in two music examples.
• You must find the mistakes that have been put into the printed notation of a music example.

Practice Example

 

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MUSIC THEORY TEST (length: about 40 min)

• Forming and/or analyzing a series of intervals.
• Forming a scale (MAJOR/MINOR) with the scalar triads.
• Scale analysis and formation (MAJOR/MINOR/PENTATONIC/WHOLE TONE SCALE).
• Rhythmic transfer from note stems with flags to note stems with beams, using a given meter/time signature.
• Correcting the mistakes in a given rhythmic example.
• Explaining music theory technical terms.
• Forming inversions of triads.
• Analyzing cadences (FUNCTIONS/DEGREES/CHORD SYMBOLS)

Practice  Examplefile: musiktheorietest.pdf

 

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READING LIST FOR THE AURAL AND MUSIC THEORY TESTS

Kurt Johnen "Allgemeine Musiklehre" (Reclam 7352)
Imogen Holst "Das ABC der Musik" (Reclam 8806)
Malte Korff "Kleines Wörterbuch der Musik" (Reclam 9770)
Hermann Grabner "Allgemeine Musiklehre" (Bärenreiter)
Salmen/Schneider "Der musikalische Satz" (ED.Helbling)
Wieland Ziegenrücker "Allgemeine Musiklehre" (Schott)