Singing
Unfortunately, the overview is only available in German so far. Please consider the panel "Auf einen Blick" here.
The study programme leading to a professional career in opera and concert singing presumes intensive work in the fields of voice training, stage practice and role study. If the student goes on to take up a career as a professional singer, looking after the voice with care and flexibility is an absolute must. Singers should be able to use the voice for up to six hours a day in different roles or genres without any signs of fatigue. Detmold University of Music lays a secure foundation for all this in one-to-one tuition, class evenings and stage performances. Rule number one is that singing requires the responsible handling of one’s own body. The training involves the whole human personality with its pre-established individual physiology and psychology. During their period of study, students can profit from the professional conditions available in a multidisciplinary theatre, as Detmold University of Music has a working partnership with Landestheater Detmold. Over the course of a semester students can participate in the summer production by rehearsing a work from the opera repertoire. While Detmold University of Music provides the stage direction and orchestra, the Landestheater is responsible for managing technology, logistics and costumes. Another aspect of our working partnership with Landestheater Detmold is the opera studio. The studio enables singers in the postgraduate Music Theatre programme to become familiar with the everyday life of the theatre over an extended period of time and to broaden their repertoire. The students in this programme have a two-year contract with the theatre company. In the field of the art song, the award-winning FORUM Lied is now a well-established series. It is held regularly at the Theater Gütersloh under a different title each time. As part of this forum, students and teachers of Detmold University of Music have already recorded three CDs of Carl Heinrich Reinecke’s settings of fairy-tales for the cpo label.
Lied interpretation
The Master’s degree course in Lied Interpretationdeals with the art song from the classical period up to the present day and is taken by students from the various singing and piano programmes. One of its main focuses is the relationship between the written word and its musical setting. Detmold University of Music is linked with a regional network of concert organisers, which means that the Lied duos have opportunities to present their evening Lieder recitals outside HfM as well. This opportunity is especially valuable when preparing for Lied competitions. Tuition in French and in the Slavic languages also forms part of the Master’s degree programme, as do lyric seminars and master classes with eminent exponents of Lied interpretation. The aim of the study programme is to provide students with the skills to put together their own creative Lied programmes and acquire their own concert bookings. Outstandingly gifted Lied accompanists also have the option of taking a concert examination in Lied interpretation.
Unfortunately, official documents are only available in German so far. Please consider the panel "Studiengangsdokumente" here.
Winter semester
Bachelor/ Master/ Concert exam: 15.02. - 15.03.
Summer semester
Bachelor/Master/Concert exam: 01.10. - 01.11.
Please apply to the Detmold University of Music via the online platform muvac.
- First of all, create your muvac candidate profile with as detailed information as possible.
- Then select the degree program you are interested in amongst the vacancies directly in muvac under Institutions – Hochschule für Musik Detmold. It is important that you upload your complete application documents and your video for the pre-selection (if required for your degree program). Check beforehand that your video meets all the requirements.
- A processing fee of 50.00 Euros will be charged for the application. Please note: a refund is not possible.
Important: Please check in your e-mails afterwards that you have received a confirmation e-mail. You will be informed about the status of your application via muvac.
The probable dates of the aptitude tests can be found here.
The following requirements must be met for the chosen study programme:
- evidence of the higher education entrance qualification
- successful completion of the aptitude test
- evidence of knowledge of German
- evidence of health insurance
- evidence of payment of the semester fee
| Preliminary round | Video recording: max. 15 minutes. At least two works from different musical periods and musical types. One of these to be sung in the German language. A short personal presentation about your biography and your professional goals. The recording should be live and unedited. |
| Audition | 1st round:
2nd round:
|
Requirements for compulsory subjects
- Compulsory subject piano:Performance of two easy piano pieces from different musical periods, e.g. J. S. Bach: Kleine Präludien; classical sonatinas; Schumann: Album für die Jugend; Bartók: Microcosmos III/IV.
- Music Theory:Demonstration of a command of "General Music Theory", basic knowledge of harmony. Written test of 60 minutes duration: notation, beat/rhythm, intervals, scales (incl. church modes), chord structure. Continuation of a given melody; elementary 2-part linear and 4-part homophonic song setting; (supplementary oral examination if necessary). Example
- Aural Skills: Examination of giftedness and previous education. Written test of about 60 minutes duration: time signatures, rhythmisation of a tone sequence, interval and chord dictation, simple 2-part movement, melodic memory task, recognition of rhythmic and melodic errors. Supplementary oral examination: Tapping simple rhythms, singing intervals and chords, re-singing a melody, re-singing a lower voice, sight-singing a simple melody.Example (additional test for singers)
To prepare for the aptitude test in the subjects music theory and ear training, you can use our newly developed tutorials and exercises:
1. Register for free on detmoldmusictools.de
2. Select the course 003 aptitude test at HfM Detmold or use the following link: https://detmoldmusictools.de/index.php?cmd=courseManager&mod=course&action=show&courseId=362
The Deutsche Tonkünstlerverband offers preparatory courses in music theory and ear training for the aptitude test in Detmold.
The following requirements must be met for the chosen study programme:
- artistic or educational Bachelor's degree or diploma, final university examination if applicable, church music if applicable
- successful completion of the aptitude test
- aptitude test for specific electives if applicable
- evidence of knowledge of German
- evidence of health insurance
- evidence of payment of the semester fee
| Preliminary round | Video recording: max. 20 minutes, recorded in acoustically adequate rooms.
|
| Audition | 1st round:
2nd round:
|
The following requirements must be met for the chosen study programme:
- artistic or educational Bachelor's degree or diploma, final university examination if applicable, church music if applicable
- successful completion of the aptitude test
- aptitude test for specific electives if applicable
- evidence of knowledge of German
- evidence of health insurance
- evidence of payment of the semester fee
| Preliminary round | Video recording:
|
| Audition |
|
The following requirements must be met for the chosen study programme:
- successful completion of a Bachelor’s or Master's degree in artistic instrumental studies or singing or an equivalent diploma
- successful completion of the aptitude test
- evidence of health insurance
- evidence of payment of the semester fee
| Preliminary round | A video programme of minimum 30 minutes should be sent in advance for a pre-selection of applicants. |
| Audition | The 1st audition round consists of an artistic presentation by the applicant or the string quartet or piano trio in front of an expert commission. For this presentation, the expert commission selects circa 20 minutes from the 60-minute programme proposal. The expert commission decides on whether the applicant proceeds to the 2nd round. |
The following requirements must be met for the chosen study programme:
- artistic or educational degree or diploma in singing
- successful completion of the aptitude test
- evidence of health insurance
- evidence of payment of the semester fee
The aptitude test for the postgraduate programme Music Theatre/Opera Studio consists of a performance in the artistic main subject. Two to three arias from different stylistic periods must be performed, one of which must be in German. The performance will last up to 20 minutes.
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Please visit us during our opening hours or write a mail to the following address:
contact