The goal of the program is to help students become independent artists and the introduction to potential professional fields. The study program takes place in one of two concentrations:
- Focus on Instrumental Music
- Focus on Electronic Music and Technology.
In both concentrations, the starting point is the basic teaching of compositional craft and an introduction to artistic issues. The program provides an overview of contemporary and historical compositional techniques and processes. We attach a particular importance to reflecting on the associated aesthetic attitudes and relating these to the current situation of contemporary music. Instrumental music and the use of technological and electronic means are treated with different emphasis in both majors.
Reflection, theory and interdisciplinary practice
Through the analysis of a wide variety of works, their diverse stylistic criteria become tangible and comprehensible. This enables an exemplary orientation for one's own composing. In addition to aesthetic reflection, the intensive practical examination of instrumental, vocal and electronic sound production is a central subject of the course. The curriculum offers room for projects in which artistic work in complex contexts is learned in an exemplary manner. Here, the student's own artistic work is also linked to other disciplines, such as theater, film, dance, visual arts, etc. Basic experience in the field of music education is also part of the course.
Individual artistic profile formation
On the one hand, basic knowledge is acquired during the course of study, which is a prerequisite for working as a composer; at the same time, however, the course of study also offers the space for individual focus, which is key to enabling the development of an independent artistic personality. Successful completion of the program qualifies students for the professional field of composing and arranging in the liberal and applied arts. The aim is to create opportunities for individual artistic profiles in the diversity of professional perspectives (interdisciplinary, technological, instrumental, etc.).
*You will receive details of your aptitude test dates with your invitation approx. 3 to 4 weeks before your aptitude test appointment.
The prerequisite for admission to the Bachelor's degree program in Composition is proof of the university entrance qualification (Abitur) according to § 54 para. 2 of the Hessian Higher Education Act of December 14, 2009 in the version of December 21, 2010. A missing university entrance qualification can be replaced by an outstanding artistic talent (at least 19 out of a possible 25 points in the aptitude test) according to § 54 para. 4 sentence 3 HHG.
Sufficient oral and written knowledge of the German language is required for admission to the Bachelor's degree program in composition. Admission to the bachelor's degree program in composition requires the successful completion of an aptitude test.
- current passport photo (the following formats are accepted: GIF, JPEG, JPG or PNG)
- Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae in tabular form (up to the year of application)
- School leaving certificate (if not yet available, the last school certificate is sufficient for the time being), in case of foreign certificates a certified translation in German or English is required*
- If applying for a Master's degree: Bachelor's certificate or equivalent, "Transcript of Records", if applying for a concert exam: Master's certificate or equivalent, "Transcript of Records "*
- For applicants from the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, certificate of the Academic Evaluation Service (APS) (PR China // Vietnam)
- Proof of language skills according to the requirements of the degree programmes (see below, Language certificates)
- Please note that you have to submit additional documents in the different study programmes. Please inform yourself about this on the website of the respective study program for which you are applying under "aptitude test". Among other things, letter of motivation, assignments, phoniatric report (voice)...
*If you do not have all final certificates at the time of application, please submit the most recent certificates and supporting documents in advance. Submit the final documents without being asked and in good time before the start of your studies. If you have any questions, please contact us immediately.
Please fill out the online application completely and upload all requested documents. After you have submitted your online application with a final mouse click, you will receive an email from us confirming the receipt of your application.
After the application deadline, you will receive an invoice from us for an administrative fee of 50 Euro. Please transfer the fee to the account of the HfMDK stating your invoice number and name within the mentioned payment deadline. Only when the administrative fee has been credited to the university's account is your application complete and can be processed.
The application fee is charged per applicant. If you apply for two courses or subjects, no further fee is due. The fee will be due again if you reapply at a later date (new round of applications).
A refund of the application fee is excluded - this also applies if the application is withdrawn.
Here you will find a list of required German language skills for all degree programs. Please check which of these requirements apply to your degree program.
With the application for the aptitude test at least three scores of own compositions (if possible in different instrumentations) have to be submitted.
After reviewing the scores, the jury of experts will decide on the invitation to the aptitude test on the basis of originality, technical competence and the contemporary aesthetic approach of the submitted compositions.
In an interview, questions about motivation, previous training, development prospects and musical-artistic content are discussed. In particular:
- Questions about the submitted compositions
- Questions about music history, composers, styles, composition techniques, etc.
In a written exam (duration approx. 90 minutes), tasks from an excerpt or all of the following topics are to be worked on:
- Determining intervals, keys and time signatures
- Forming the overtone/partial tone series up to the 16th partial tone
- Determining and forming chords and chord progressions
- Transposing a given melody for a transposing orchestral instrument
- Commenting on a given score excerpt, taking into account instrumentation, timbre, stylistic/historical classification, form, compositional technique, character.
- In a written test lasting about 60 minutes, the applicant must demonstrate the ability to recognize elementary rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, tonal and formal relationships by hearing (cf. sample test)
- The requirements of the written test are supplemented by an oral-practical test of up to 10 minutes duration.
Preparation of three instrumental pieces of medium difficulty in different styles (one contemporary, one from the Viennese Classical period), performed in excerpts as determined by the examination committee. The choice of instrument is optional. Applicants must bring the instrument to be performed themselves, with the exception of the piano.
In the main subject "Electronic Composition" there is the possibility to choose "Electronic Performance" as the main instrument. In this case, instruments can be computers, keyboards/synthesizers, or electronic devices in general, which are presented performatively by the applicant. Also here
the performance of different styles is required, which in this case can also refer to the sound production or the formal design (improvisation, composition, algorithmic procedures).
The instrumental audition is intended to test the ability to create artistic composition.
Für die Bachelorstudiengänge Künstlerische Ausbildung Musik, Kirchenmusik, Komposition und Gesang.
Für die Bachelorstudiengänge Künstlerische Ausbildung Musik, Kirchenmusik, Komposition und Gesang.
Für die Bachelorstudiengänge Künstlerische Ausbildung Musik, Kirchenmusik, Komposition und Gesang.
Für die Bachelorstudiengänge Künstlerische Ausbildung Musik (Instrumentalfächer), Gesang und Komposition.
Für die Bachelorstudiengänge Künstlerische Ausbildung Musik (Instrumentalfächer), Gesang und Komposition.
Evaluation of the aptitude test
The test is passed if each part of the examination is assessed with at least 13 points.
Admission can also be granted if the colloquium is evaluated with at least 13 points and the overall grade calculated from the following ratios is at least 13 points:
- Colloquium: 50%
- Music theory: 20%
- Listening skills: 15%
- Instrumental audition: 15%
In this case, enrollment is subject to reservation according to § 54, paragraph 4, sentence 2 HHG. The reservation is settled if the compulsory subject examinations, which were assessed with less than 13 points, are made up for within the first two semesters after matriculation and are successfully completed (at least 13 points). For parts of the examination that have not yet been passed, there is no entitlement to tuition after admission.
[Nicht-amtliche Lesefassung. Stand: 18.12.2023]
The Study and Examination Regulations (SPO) set out the framework conditions and regulations for your studies. They apply together with the General Regulations (for Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes) or the SPoL (for teacher training degree programmes). All versions of the SPO for your degree programme (including earlier versions for students of previous academic years) can be found at Examinations.
Stand: 27.05.2019
[106/2022, 06.12.2021]