Quicklinks
Bachelor of Music Design
On the basis of musical and artistic training, music designers shape the sounds of the future. Technologically innovative, musically demanding, and in interdisciplinary teamwork: Music designers create sound worlds for films, games, rooms, and products; they develop new concert formats; and they stand together on stage with traditional musicians.
You're welcome to visit us on our instagram account!
How do you awaken emotions with music? When do we feel that a sound is warm, when does it feel cold? Music Design is concerned with music and sound and their potential for impact in the context of digital media. There are hardly any boundaries: from experimental to pop music, from film music to jazz, from electronic to traditional orchestral music, from innovative sound design, new sounds, or creative work with language.
Is your curiosity piqued? Get to know our projects!
Projects and activities
Application process
- Information from the University concerning the application process: hfm-trossingen.de/en/application
- Relevant regulations in the enrollment bylaws (in German): Enrollment bylaws (from page 21)
The application process for the Music Design programme begins annually on February 1st with the publication of the application tasks to be completed. These tasks represent a mandatory part of the application portfolio and will be expanded through a wide range of your own work.
April 1st is the annual application deadline (postmark date applies). The application must be completed in the Hochschulportal (application portal) and the application porfolio must be brought to the post office by the end of the day. The application portal is open from March 1st to April 1st each year.
Furthermore, the following documents must be attached (in addition to the regular required documents such as the application form, diplomas, etc.):
a) A chronological list of your previous musical development with information about self-taught knowledge and guided instruction (instrumental practice, composition, audio/technical work, producing, ensemble activities, etc.) and if applicable published papers, competition success, etc.
b) Development of two application tasks, which are made available to download two months before the close of the application period.
c) A diverse, stylistically broad if possible spectrum of your own work. It is possible to include composed or improvised pieces, sound designs, collages, songs, film or video game scoring, audio-visual works, radio dramas, sound installations, and other formats. Maximum number of works: 5.
d) For b) and c) the following applies:
-The choice of style and form is up to the applicant
-Accepted formats: mp3 (at least 160 kbps), WAV, AIFF, MP4, MOV.
-Score, if available
-A description of all submitted audio files on 1/2 DIN A4 page in 12-point type each. The descriptions contain: the year of origin (only for c). On what idea/concept is the composition established? Were the sounds used recorded by you, or did they come from a sound library? What was acoustically played/sung by you or were software instruments used (if yes, which ones)? What methods of digital sound creation were used and why? If other people participated in the audio file: list all those involved, as well as their respective part in the overall work.
e) Provide all documents and media mentioned on this list on a USB stick (maximum data size: 1 GB). Further necessary documents (diplomas, CV, etc) are to be attached to the application in paper form, in accordance with the requirements applicable to all degree forms.
PLEASE NOTE!
In case you need to fill in a link for the “1st digital phase” in the Hochschulportal, leave the box blank (if possible) or fill in a placeholder/replacement (e.g. hfm-trossingen.de). The components for your application portfolio listed above don't have to be provided through a share link to Dropbox, GoolgeDrive, OneDrive or the like but on a USB stick - see e).
After the application deadline, the examination committee will view the received application portfolios. They will decide which applicants have shown talent and aptitude for the program and will be invited to the second phase.
The second phase of the entrance examination for the Music Design programme consists of four parts and takes place at the Trossingen University of Music. Admitted to the second phase are those applicants who get a concrete invitation. Save the date: In 2025 the entrance examinations in Trossingen are expected to take place on May 20th/21st.
Live-presentation/performance of a piece you composed yourself (duration: 2-4 minutes)
(Piece of music or sound, sound-performance)
Admitted instruments: laptop with live elecronics, piano/keyboard, voice, music instruments of all kind, sounding objects; stylistically open. It does not meet the requirements to play back a prepared sequence arrangement or to start playing or modulating preproduced material. The creative achievement has to be discernible, has to be explained and if wanted reproduced by the applicant.
Presentation of a Sound Sample (duration: 2-4 minutes)
… which has to be invented and developed by yourself on a given theme (poem, picture, movie, etc.) within the time frame of 2.5 hours. Admitted media: musical instrument, laptop, body sounds, live-performance, voice, sounding objects, remix, etc.
Colloquium (duration: approximately 5 minutes)
Questions about your application, further questions about submitted audio files, discussion about a performed piece, etc. may be part of the colloquium.
Aural Skills and Knowledge of Music Theory (duration: approximately 5 minutes)
Applicants have the possibility to choose either jazz/pop-oriented tasks or "classically"-oriented tasks. Examination tasks may include: Single-voice melodies are either notated, sung back, or performed back on an instrument of choice. Listening to simple chords: number of notes (dyads, triads, tetrads), intervals, differenciating between major and minor chords. Rhythms played by the committee are either notated, clapped, or spoken back. A melody will be created independently to a given chord progression (either sung or performed on an instrument).
Important: All individual parts of the examination must be passed. The parts are weighted equally and the average points the applicant achieved form the admission score. If one of the examination parts is not passed, the whole entrance examination is failed.
The acceptance or rejection will be given a few weeks after the entrance examination by the examination office of the Trossingen University of Music. Up to fifteen students are accepted to the Music Design programme per year.
Study Regulations for Music Design
At the center of the Music Design programme is the Music Design LAB with the following subjects: Composition, sound design, and soundalikes. Other important subject matters: Music theory, instrumentation, audio technology, information technology, choir/ensemble, musicology, and music pedagogy. However, the programme also supports independent interests and projects: here, the focus is on the curiosity to connect musical aspects with different contents.
BA-V-20-1B (in German)
Since 2020, there is also the possibility to choose an artistic-pedagogical profile. Instead of elective module points, students will take pedagogical course offerings, which will prepare them for new career fields. With this additional qualification, it will also be possible to study further pedagogical programmes (e.g. Master). Music Design students must decide on this profile by the third semester. To help the students decide, pedagogical basics and the participation in an artistic-pedagogical project are part of the first and second semesters.
BA-V-20-1A (in German)
FAQ
When can I apply?
The start of study for the Music Design programme is exclusively in the winter semester. The application deadline is April 15th for the following winter semester.
What type of degree is it?
Music Design concludes with an accredited "Bachelor of Music" (B.Mus or BM), which is only given by artistic music conservatories (Musikhochschulen, in German). A maximum of 15 students are accepted each year.
How long is the typical length of study?
8 semesters/4 years
How many places are there?
Up to 15 per year.
Where do I study Music Design?
At the Trossingen University of Music and at Furtwangen University. The majority of the classes take place in Trossingen.
Is there an age limit?
No.
Do I have to be able to read music?
What counts is musical talent - definitely in an unconventional way. Reading music is not mandatory for the aptitude examination.
Do I need an Abitur (A-Levels or equivalent) to be able to study Music Design?
Applicants without a general higher education entrance qualification can also be admitted to the programme if they have particular artistic aptitude and sufficient general education, which is examined separately in a so-called aptitude test.
How much is the tuition?
EU citizens taking Music Design as their first degree do not have to pay any tuition fees. However, administrative fees and the student union contribution will be charged each semester.
More information regarding tuition
As a Music Design student, can I apply for Bafög?
(Bafög, or Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz - Federal Education Funding Act is a German state-funded programme to support students in need during their studies. It is not available to those living in Germany on a student visa)
Yes, the degree entitles you to funding through Bafög.
Head of degree programme
Prof. Florian Käppler
music design
Kurz-Infos zum Studium
| Regelstudienzeit: | 8 Semester |
| Studienbeginn: | Winter- und Sommersemester (Musikdesign nur WS) |
| Bewerbungszeitraum: | WS: 01.03.-01.04. SS: 01.10.-01.11. |