Admission Requirements for the String Instruments Division

Admission Requirements for the String Instruments Division

Written Exam

  1. Note writing (pitch and duration) in treble and bass clefs. 
  2. Identifying and writing various ascending and descending intervals (perfect, major, minor, augmented and diminished); identifying and writing interval inversions; classification of intervals into consonances and dissonances within an octave.
  3. Mastering the circle of fifths. 
  4. One-part dictations in major or minor modes (in scales with no more than 4 flats or sharps).
  5. Identifying and writing numerous meters and rhythmic patterns.
  6. Identifying and writing triads (major, minor, augmented and diminished), and dominant seventh chords, in all types of inversions.
  7. Transposing a given melody.
  8. Explaining basic music terms (dynamics, tempo, articulation, form, texture, genre etc.)

Oral exam

  1.  Singing and identifying the following patterns:
    • Ascending and descending melodic intervals within an octave.
    • Triads and dominant seventh chords in all inversions.
    • Major and minor scales (including natural harmonic and melodic minor scales).
  2. Sight singing a diatonic melody.
  3. Basic familiarity with the keyboard.
  4. Rhythmic aspects:  Identifying and writing rhythmic patterns which include division and sub-division of the beat, triplets, rests and ties, in basic, duple and triple meters (2/8, 2/4, 3/8, 3/4), as well as in compound meters (4/4 and 6/8). 

Instrument examination – minimum requirements

The applicant is required to arrange accompaniment for the exam. 

Violin

  1. Two contrasting movements from the J. S.  Bach solo sonatas or partitas (or Chaconne). Or alternatively a piece or two movements from other sonatas/suites from the Baroque period. 
  2. One etude or caprice (by Kreutzer, Rode, Gaviniès, Vieuxtemps, Paganini, Wieniawski etc.). Or a virtuosic piece of a similar level of difficulty. 
  3. A first mouvement or the second and third from a major violin concerto. Or the first or two other movements from a solo or violin and piano sonata (classical to post-romantic period). 
  4. A work written after 1950 (mandatory for Master-degree admissions only). 

The program should be of approximately 30 minutes and shall not necessarily be heard entirely by the members of the jury.

 

Viola

1. Two contrasting movements from a  Suite or Sonata by JS Bach or a  Sonata of the Baroque era written by another composer.

2. A Viola Concerto  - First or third movement

3.An Israeli piece for Viola or any other  contemporary piece for Viola

 

Cello

  1. Two movements from one of the J. S. Bach solo suites
  2. Cello concerto - first or third movement. Minimum difficulty level: Haydn C major, Saint Saens etc.
  3. A piece of your choice

 

Contrabass

  1. Mastery of positions according to Simandle’s book (part 1).
  2. Sonata from the Baroque period:Vivaldi, Marcello etc.
  3. One movement of a concerto by Capucci, Dietersdorf, etc.

 

Harp

  1. Two etudes by Bosca, Dicci, etc.
  2. A work such as Grandjany’s “French Songs”, or a work of a similar degree of difficulty.

 

Mandolin

  1. A movement from a violin or cello partita by J. S. Bach
  2. A movement from a Baroque concerto for mandolin or violin
  3. A movement from a classical piano and violin sonata by Mozart or Beethoven
  4. An Israeli piece for solo violin or mandolin

 

 

Classic guitar

  1. Major and minor scales.
  2. 2.One of the Sor etudes arranged by Segovia.
  3. Two movements of a work from the Renaissance period, such as the lute pieces by Galileo, the suite by Robert de Visee, etc.
  4. 4.Two movements from the suites for cello or lute by Bach.
  5. Spanish work such as:Torino, Albeniz.
  6. Modern work:Tansman, Poulenc etc.

 

Baroque violin

  1. Two movements from a sonata by Handel or Corelli, or other sonata from the Baroque period.
  2. Two movements from a sonata by J.S. Bach (solo or with basso continuo).
  3. Free choice of work.

 

Viola d’amore

  1. Two movements from a sonata by Stamitz, Benda, or a work of a similar degree of difficulty.
  2. Two movements from a Vivaldi concerto or a work of a similar degree of difficulty.
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