Musicology preparatory cycle - Cycle Préparatoire

Musicology preparatory cycle

Preparatory Cycle

3 years

3 years

Each discipline is validated if the student obtains a Certificate with a grade of Assez Bien, Bien or Très Bien.

The three "internal gateways" for Conservatoire students :

Internal gateway for the Theoretical and Applied Analysis class

Conservatoire students who have obtained the Analysis B certificate with a distinction of "Bien" or "Très Bien" may enter the Theoretical and Applied Analysis class without taking the competitive examination, subject to availability.

Internal transfer to the History of Music and Musical Culture class

Conservatoire students who have obtained both :

• a certificate in music history with distinction (History of music: chronological and synthetic study, History of music: study of interpretation, History of music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance) ;
• a methodology course with a grade of 'Bien' or 'Très Bien' (Practical methodology of research and mediation or Methodology and theories of musicology),

may enter the Music History and Music Culture Professions classes without taking the competitive entrance exam, subject to availability.

Internal transfer to the Aesthetics class

Conservatoire students who have obtained :

• a prize in Theoretical and Applied Analysis or a certificate in Musical Analysis B with Honours or First Class Honours
• two Certificates with Honours or First Class Honours in a choice of three subject areas (History of music - chronological and synthetic study, History of music - study of interpretation, Methodology and theories of musicology),

may enter the Aesthetics class without sitting the competitive entrance exam, subject to availability.

For the three internal gateways mentioned above, applications must be made before 31 January of the academic year with a view to possible entry in September of the following academic year. If the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, the following criteria will be used to decide between applications:

• the student's age (if the student's age exceeds the age limit for the entrance exam, entry is automatic, subject to meeting the other requirements of the passerelle) ;
• the honours and grades obtained in the subjects making up the bridges concerned.

Any entry into a main subject class - including internal entry (without an entrance examination) - is equivalent to entry into the higher musicology cycle.

Development of theoretical and practical musical knowledge in musical analysis, music history and methodology.

This course is aimed at students from Conservatoires (CRR, CRD, etc.), preparatory classes and universities who wish to perfect or complete their training in order to sit the entrance exam for the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in the Advanced Musicology Cycle or to enter the Advanced Musicology Cycle internally in one of the classes in this course (Theoretical and Applied Analysis, Aesthetics, History of Music, Professions in Musical Culture).

This one- or two-year course (with a third year granted on the advice of the teaching staff) is organised around three disciplines: Musical Analysis, History of Music and Methodology:

- Analysis B (with a possible upgrade to Analysis A2)

- History of music - Chronological and synthetic study of the major periods

- History of music-Study of interpretation

- History of medieval and Renaissance music

- Practical methodology of research and mediation

- Methodology and theories of musicology

For details of the content of each of these disciplines and the course of study, see the study pathways for each discipline.

A request for validation of prior learning (to be made at the pedagogical meeting) is possible in order to benefit from an exemption in one of these disciplines (except Analyse B).

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

The preparatory musicology cycle is open to candidates who have been admitted to the preparatory cycle entrance examination or who have passed the eliminatory and eligibility tests for the advanced musicology cycle but who have failed the admission tests for the advanced musicology cycle.
Admission to the advanced musicology cycle automatically closes the preparatory musicology cycle.

Successful candidates who are not nationals of French-speaking countries must present, before 30 June preceding their first enrolment at the Conservatoire, a certificate issued by a body approved by the French government attesting to a level of French at least equal to B1 on the Council of Europe's scale of common reference levels.