Admission requirements for BA studies - Classical Singing

 

 

I. MAIN SUBJECT

 

1. General admission requirements:

 

- Voice qualities suitable for training.

- Musical talent - good aural skills, rhythm, etc.

- Performing skills - acting, formation of melodies, etc.

 

2.

 

- One old Italian baroque song.

- One Viennese classical song.

- Two romantic songs.

- Two Hungarian songs - one Kodály folksong arrangement and one art song.

 - One art song or aria at the choice of the candidate.

 

II. COMPULSORY SUBJECTS

 

A. SOLFEGE, MUSIC THEORY

 

General requirements: in-depth understanding of the theory of classical harmony (diatonic and chromatic triads and seventh-chords). Writing and playing of four-part harmonic progressions in closed position with appropriate voice-leading (see rules of keyboard harmony); knowledge of Baroque and Viennese classical forms and genres.

 

Written examination

 

1. Dictation of a short chorale excerpt by J. S. Bach. Expectations: notation of the outer parts (soprano and bass); indication of the harmonic progression with figures above or below the bass line (figured bass)

2. Writing out, in close voicing, of a four-part harmonic progression (Roman and Arabic numerals of keyboard harmony are used)

3. Dictation of a tonal two-part musical excerpt.

4. Dictation of an atonal twentieth-century musical excerpt.

5. Dictation of a two- three- and four-part harmonic progression series (ca. 10 intervals, triads or seventh chords).

6. Dictation of the rhythm of an atonal musical excerpt (ca. 6 measures). 

 

Oral examination

 

1. Playing (on the keyboard) of four-part harmonic progressions in closed position with appropriate voice-leading.

2. Assessment of the applicant’s knowledge of form on the basis of a detailed formal analysis of the musical pieces performed at the instrumental audition. Extra copies of the scores have to be provided by the applicant.

3. Sight-singing of a tonal melody in unison.

4. Recognition and singing of intervals, triads and seventh-chords on a given pitch.

 

B. PIANO AS COMPULSORY SUBJECT

 

1. Bach: a short prelude of higher difficulty level or a two-part invention.

2. A movement from a classical sonata, or a sonatina movement of the same difficulty level.

3. Bartók: one piece from ”Microcosmos III” or from the 2nd edition of ”For Children”.

4. A solo piece of the above difficulty level.

 

C. FOLK MUSIC

 

Informal conversation about the folk music of the candidate's country.

 

 

  
The most important class, however, for me and for hundreds of other Hungarian musicians, was the chamber-music class. From about the age of fourteen, and until graduation from the Academy, all instrumentalists except the heavy-brass players and percussionists had to participate in this course. Presiding over it for many years was the composer Leó Weiner, who thus exercised an enormous influence on three generations of Hungarian musicians. (Sir Georg Solti)