Step 3: Theory Exam & Piano Supplementary Subject Exam
Theory Exam
For admission to a bachelor's degree in music (KBA + PBA), a positive completion of the theory exam is mandatory in the third round of the entrance exam.
Candidates are required to demonstrate a solid grasp of GENERAL music theory and ELEMENTARY EAR TRAINING (e.g. recognizing major and minor triads and their inversions, writing down simple melody and rhythm dictations, completing musical phrases, performing simple sight-singing tasks, etc.). For the JIM institute, a modified theory exam with a different content weighting must be taken.
Recommended Learning Materials
- Ziegenrücker: Allgemeine Musiklehre
- Bloch: allgemeine Musikkunde
- dtv-Atlas zur Musik, Bd. 1
- Kühn: Gehörbildung im Selbstunterricht
Downloads
Theorietest
Für die Aufnahme in ein Bachlorstudium Musik (KBA+PBA) ist in der dritten Runde der Aufnahmeprüfung die positive Absolvierung des Theorietests zwingend erforderlich.
Gefordert wird die Beherrschung der ALLGEMEINEN Musiklehre und der ELEMENTAREN GEHÖRBILDUNG (z.B. Erkennen von Dur- und Moll-Dreiklängen und ihren Umkehrungen, Niederschreiben einfacher Melodie- und Rhythmusdiktate, Ergänzen von musikalischen Phrasen, Treffen einfacher Blattsingaufgaben usw.). Für das Institut JIM ist ein modifizierter Theorietest mit anderer inhaltlicher Gewichtung zu absolvieren.
Empfohlene Lernbehelfe
- Ziegenrücker: Allgemeine Musiklehre
- Bloch: allgemeine Musikkunde
- dtv-Atlas zur Musik, Bd. 1
- Kühn: Gehörbildung im Selbstunterricht
Downloads
Recognition options
Information on possible recognition of prior learning can be found here.
Dates 2026
| Institute | Date |
| Composition, Conducting and Computer Music | 21/22 May |
| Brass Instruments and Percussion | 21/22 May |
| Woodwind Instruments | 21/22 May |
| String Instruments: string and plucked instruments + Styrian Harmonica | 21/22 May |
| Early Music and Historical Performance Practice | 21/22 May |
| Jazz and Improvised Music | |
| Music Education (Elemental Music Education) | |
| Voice and Music Theatre | |
| Keyboard Instruments | 21/22 May |
JIM preparatory course
For those interested in studying at the Institute for Jazz and Improvised Music, the Puchenau Music School offers a specially tailored preparatory course for the theory exam.
Contact: auditionclasstyrmusikschulepuchenaurat
Piano Supplementary Subject Exam
After passing the artistic audition, candidates for Bachelor's programmes in the pedagogical field (PBA degree programmes) and for Bachelor's programmes in jazz in the artistic field (KBA) must pass the piano supplementary subject exam in the third round in addition to the theory exam. This serves as proof of basic knowledge of the piano and is mandatory.
Exceptions
The piano supplementary subject exam is not required
- for applicants for PBA degree programmes who have chosen Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, Accordion, Styrian Harmonica or Guitar as their central artistic subject.
- for applicants for the PBA Elemental Music Education.
- in the area of Jazz for applicants for the KBA JIM Piano and KBA JIM Guitar.
Contents
For the piano supplementary subject exam, the following must be prepared:
- A performance piece equivalent in difficulty to:
- J.S. Bach: Little Preludes
- J. Haydn: Early Sonatas Hob.: XVll
- R. Schumann: Album for the Young from No. 9
- B. Bartok: Mikrokosmos III
- Cadences (I-IV-V-I) in all major and minor keys or prepared accompaniment of a song with transposition in 4 keys
For the supplementary subject piano for Jazz and Improvised Music, the following must be prepared:
- A simple piece from the jazz/pop repertoire (e.g. blues, simple standard, pop song – also possible as an accompaniment) OR a classical performance piece equivalent in difficulty to:
- J.S. Bach: Little Preludes
- J. Haydn: Early Sonatas Hob.: XVll
- R. Schumann: Album for the Young from No. 9
- B. Bartok: Mikrokosmos III
- Jazz Cadence (II-V-I connections) in major, all keys, at least 3-part (i.e. root note & function tones)
Recognition options
Information on possible recognition of prior learning can be found here.
Dates 2026
| Institute | Date |
| Composition, Conducting and Computer Music | not relevant |
| Brass Instruments and Percussion | 21 May |
| Woodwind Instruments | 21 May |
| String Instruments: string and plucked instruments | 21 May |
| Early Music and Historical Performance Practice | not relevant |
| Jazz and Improvised Music | |
| Music Education (Elemental Music Education) | not relevant |
| Voice and Music Theatre | |
| Keyboard Instruments | not relevant |
Go back to Step 2: On-Site Audition