Entry requirements - Undergraduate
Entry requirements for Undergraduate Studies
General Admission Requirements:
Diploma (Graduation Certificate) and Official transcript from high school you attended. Professionally certified English translations of each transcript (where applicable) must be included.
1. Theoretical Examinations
All candidates applying for the BMSM (with the exception of the musicology applicants) are required to pass theoretical and ear training examinations.
The examinations include reading, sight singing, and writing in treble and bass clefs. Skilled and fluent responses are required.
1.1 Written examination in Ear Training
The following should be identified and written in the treble and bass clef:
Melodic and harmonic intervals; triads and their inversions; all seventh-chords and their inversions; identification of all standard time signatures; one- and two-part melodic dictation; rhythmic dictation; harmonic dictation.
1.2 Aural Examination in Ear Training
a) Sight singing of a given piece with modulations;
b) Audial memory (the ability to memorize and sing the following):
Short rhythmic and melodic phrases; intervals; triads and their inversions; seventh-chords and their inversions; sight singing of scales and modes.
1.3 Written Examination in Theory
a) Scales – construction and identification of all scales;
b) Modes – construction and identification of all medieval church modes;
c) Intervals – construction and identification of intervals on any given note;
d) Triads – construction and identification of all triads and their inversions;
e) Seventh-chords – construction and identification of all seventh-chords and their inversions;
f) Transpositions;
g) Continuation of a given melody;
h) Rhythmic values: standard and compound;
i) Harmonization – of a given soprano and bass, using all chords and triads on every degree;
j) Realization of simple harmonic progressions according to a given sequence of degrees;
k) Analysis – of a short piece according to guiding questions;
l) Basic Musical Terminology – definitions and explanations of common terms and graphic symbols.
1.4 Listening Examination (music literature) – written:
The applicant will be required to recognize ten pieces from a given list and refer to:
the name of the piece/composer, style, period, instrumentation, form and texture, distinguished elements, and historical background.
2. Keyboard Proficiency Exam
All candidates whose major instrument is not the piano must prepare three works from a given list:
- J.S. Bach – Two/three part Invention;
- An easy sonata movement by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven;
- A 19th-/20th-century work of the applicant’s choice.
Students who do not pass the piano placement examination before commencing their studies at the BMSM are required to take the test by the end of their first year.
3. Performance Studies – Audition Repertoire
4. Composition and Conducting Studies – Entrance Requirements
(Studies in the Composition and Conducting tracks are held in Hebrew only)
Composition
Applicants in composition who have successfully passed the entrance examination in theory will be invited for an individual interview. The objective of the interview is to become acquainted with the ability, background, and musical experience of the applicant in the field of composition.
The requirements of the interview are:
a) A performance of one or more works on the piano and/or another instrument of the applicant’s choice;
b) A discussion of three works chosen by the applicant from a given list: a classical work, a contemporary work, and a work of the applicant’s personal choice. The discussion will focus on the structure, style, and insight into the work;
c) Applicants will hand in one of their own compositions at the school’s offices (score is required; recording is optional) up to ten days before the interview. The composition should be instrumental (chamber, orchestral, or solo).
Orchestral Conducting
Applicants in orchestral conducting who have successfully passed the entrance examination in theory will be invited for an individual interview. The objective of the interview is to become acquainted with the ability, background, and musical experience of the applicant in the field of orchestra conducting.
The requirements of the interview are:
a) Conducting the first movement of Symphony no. 1 by Beethoven;
b) Score reading display;
c) A discussion of two works from a given list. The discussion should focus on the composer and his time, as well as the structure and the style of the work.
Candidates should be able to accompany their explanations with short demonstrations on the piano.
Choral Conducting
Applicants in choral conducting who have successfully passed the entrance examination in theory will be invited for an individual interview. The objective of the interview is to become acquainted with the ability, background, and musical experience of the applicant in the field of choral conducting and choral singing.
The requirements of the interview are:
a) Performance of three choral works from a given list on the piano and singing of all parts using proper pronunciation and punctuation;
b) A discussion of the works performed. The discussion will focus on the understanding of the text, the structure, and the style of the work.
5. Musicology Studies Entrance Requirements
(Musicology Studies are held in Hebrew only)
The BMSM offers two study tracks in musicology. Candidates will be assigned to one or the other according to their qualifications. All candidates will be invited for a personal interview, which will decide on the suitable track for each applicant, according to his/her qualifications.
During the interview, applicants will be required to discuss two musical works of their choice, focusing on: the composer and his time, form and style of the work. Candidates may present their own instrumental experience and perform a work of their choice.
Candidates with a considerable level of musical performance/composition skills will be given the opportunity to take the entrance examination for the relevant performance track in order to study in a joint Musicology and Performance program.
Candidates with high learning abilities, who have not yet acquired enough knowledge of music language and theory but are found suitable for studies in the musicology track, will be referred to BMSM preparatory summer course.
6. BMSM Preparatory Summer Course
(Course is held in Hebrew only)
The course takes place during the months of August and September. Regular attendance and successful accomplishment of all the courses’ exercises and other given tasks are required.
The admissions committee of the school will decide the academic future of students failing the exam at the end of the course. The preparatory course entails a separate tuition fee.
"Special Status" for young musicians
Mandatory military service for all men and women at the age of 18 presents a particular challenge to young musicians in Israel. In order to make academic-level performance studies accessible primarily to young musicians prior to and during military service in the IDF on the status of "Outstanding Musician", TAU and the School of Music have established a specialized Special Status admission track on the basis of musical proficiency alone.
The expectation is that the student will fulfill TAU's general academic requirements (psychometric exams, matriculation certificate, Hebrew and English competence) during the initial stages of study.
Under Special Status, students are generally limited to practical performance courses, and do not participate in theoretical courses until full admission to studies is achieved. The BMSM administration monitors the fulfillment of TAU's academic requirements in reference to each student; those who are unable to fulfill the requirements in a reasonable period of time are obliged to discontinue their studies.
In any given academic year, about 10 percent of BMSM's students study under Special Status. This track, while filling the crucial need for continuity in performance studies for talented young musicians, has a direct influence on the student's study period: typically, students who begin performance studies during military service find it necessary to extend their studies for up to two years beyond the traditional four-year duration, in order to fulfill course requirements in theoretical and skills-oriented courses after completion of military service. Hence, the BMSM allows students who began their studies parallel to military service to extend studies, including individual instruction, as necessary.
