NEED HELP---Studying Music in Germany

[kiwi_bd]

Hi everybody, this is Bernard. Let me tell you guys more about my background before i go on. I am now a form 5 student in Hong Kong. I have just finished the HKCEE...which is the O Level examination in Hong Kong. Piano is my major instrument and flute is my second instrument. Recently, I have decided to study music in a conservatory or music university in the future. I am particularly interested in studying music in Germany since i know the school fee is a lot lower than that of UK and US, though i basically cannot speak any German---and this is the problem.
I am planning to skip A-Level in Hong Kong and come to study in the Konservatorium. The reason for me to do this is because i am pretty sure that i would have totally NO TIME to practise the piano if i do the A-level exam in hong kong, which is widely-considered as one of the most diffcult matriculation examinations in the world.
Secondly, I know that it is impossible for me to compete with other pianists if i don't start taking my piano study seriously and practise 8 hours every day.
Thirdly, that's impossible for me to get level 3 in the TestDaf german proficiency examination without staying in Germany for a period of time.
I have heard that there are bascially two kinds of music institutions in Germany-----1. Musik Hochschule, which is incrediblely difficult to get in. 2. Konservatorium, which is relatively easier to get in.
Therefore, i am wondering whether i should get into the Konservatorium in Germany in the coming school year...perhaps to do the Pre-college programme or the diploma programme in Konservatorium. Then after one or two years, i might be admitted into the Musik Hochschule.
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So these are my questions:
1. Is A-Level or Abitur a prerequisite for getting admitted to the Musik Hochschule if i am already doing the diplom programme or pre-college programme in Konservatorium?? If yes, my plan has to be totally abolished!
2. Is that possible for a student studying in Konservatorium be admitted into the Musik Hochschule?
3. Should I try doing the German Abitur rather than doing the pre-college programme of Konservatorium though i cannot even speak a German word?
4. Or should i stop thinking about coming to germany and concentrate on the crazy HK A-Level??
YOUR HELP WOULD BE HIGHLY-APPRECIATED!!!

[kiwi_bd]

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[oxy60]

Studying anything in a language that isn't your own will be VERY difficult. To get a reasonable command of any language will take a tremendous amount of time. You should be able to read a popular newspaper in that language as a minimum skill level. Good luck!

[birba]

Not that this has anything to do with Kiwi's questions, but the title of the thread brought to mind that fascinating eavesdropping-on-the-past book by Amy Fay, Music Study in Germany. 

[kiwi_bd]

thank you for your replies!!!
Anymore concrete suggestions and opinions?? 
Has anyone here been to Germany to study music?

[twiltot]

you can communicate english, but you have to play very very good, because they're free schools, they want very good playing and hard pieces, etudes.

[kiwi_bd]

you can communicate english, but you have to play very very good, because they're free schools, they want very good playing and hard pieces, etudes.

thanks twiltot...
i do believe that the require candidates to play at an extremely high standard....
that's the main reason why i am not applying to Musik Hochschule now because i know those students...especially those studying KA, are insanely great player
So....you seem to be studying music in germany right now!
Would you mind giving me some advices?
I mean...is that possible for me to be admitted into musik hochschule when i am still doing the degree in Konservatorium? Or Abitur is a must for getting into Musik Hochschule?
I am looking forward to seeing your reply!! Thanks

[twiltot]

thanks twiltot...
i do believe that the require candidates to play at an extremely high standard....
that's the main reason why i am not applying to Musik Hochschule now because i know those students...especially those studying KA, are insanely great player
So....you seem to be studying music in germany right now!
Would you mind giving me some advices?
I mean...is that possible for me to be admitted into musik hochschule when i am still doing the degree in Konservatorium? Or Abitur is a must for getting into Musik Hochschule?
I am looking forward to seeing your reply!! Thanks

Hey! well, i'm just wondering if you could tell me what you're studying now?

[kiwi_bd]

Hey! well, i'm just wondering if you could tell me what you're studying now?

what i'm studying now?? I'm studying form 5 in HK....
or do you mean studying what pieces?
I am currently doing:
Bach Partita no. 2
Mozart Rondo in A minor K 511
Schumann piano sonata no. 2 in G minor
Schumann piano concerto
Liszt Concert Etude no. 3 Un Sospiro

I know these are not difficult enough to get into the Musik Hochschule
That's why i am planning to get into the Konservatorium to study for a few years before i try the Musik Hochschule

[twiltot]

what i'm studying now?? I'm studying form 5 in HK....
or do you mean studying what pieces?
I am currently doing:
Bach Partita no. 2
Mozart Rondo in A minor K 511
Schumann piano sonata no. 2 in G minor
Schumann piano concerto
Liszt Concert Etude no. 3 Un Sospiro

I know these are not difficult enough to get into the Musik Hochschule
That's why i am planning to get into the Konservatorium to study for a few years before i try the Musik Hochschule





yes if you can play them good you can definately make it!

[kiwi_bd]

yes if you can play them good you can definately make it!

really?? Thank you for your reply! This is such a great relief to me!  
i thought they require crazy repertoire like Mazeppa etude or Liszt Sonata...or perhaps Scariabin or Prokofiev piano sonata @@
You must be a music student in Germany =]
Maybe my friend in Germany was exaggerating the things...
so do you think it is not necessary for me to increase the difficulty for the pieces which i am going to play in the audition?
Another thing, is that possible for me to get into the Musik Hochschule without Abitur? Am I allowed to apply the degree programmes of Musik Hochschule while doing the "diplom" in the Konservatorium without Abitur?
Thanks a lot!! Waiting for your reply!
p.s. I am now in germany for a 10-day-long trip

[twiltot]

really?? Thank you for your reply! This is such a great relief to me!  
i thought they require crazy repertoire like Mazeppa etude or Liszt Sonata...or perhaps Scariabin or Prokofiev piano sonata @@
You must be a music student in Germany =]
Maybe my friend in Germany was exaggerating the things...
so do you think it is not necessary for me to increase the difficulty for the pieces which i am going to play in the audition?
Another thing, is that possible for me to get into the Musik Hochschule without Abitur? Am I allowed to apply the degree programmes of Musik Hochschule while doing the "diplom" in the Konservatorium without Abitur?



well, when I played liszt sonata, volodos turkish march, bach prelude and fuga book 1 no 8, mozart sonata k.332...........................
Thanks a lot!! Waiting for your reply!
p.s. I am now in germany for a 10-day-long trip

[kiwi_bd]

liszt sonata, volodos turkish march....

wow! That is a little bit insane!!! Liszt sonata and volodos turkish march!!
It is such a long programme....the liszt sonata already account for 2x-30 mins!
Did you play all of them? Or you've just prepared a part of each piece....such as 1st movement of the mozart piano sonata and a section of the Liszt Sonata?

[twiltot]

I've played the first mvt of mozart and volodos(complete) in the first elimination(40 people). In 2. elimination(10 people) bach and liszt(complete)      2 people won the exam           me and a chinese girl !

[kiwi_bd]

I've played the first mvt of mozart and volodos(complete) in the first elimination(40 people). In 2. elimination(10 people) bach and liszt(complete)      2 people won the exam           me and a chinese girl !

wow!! You are the only two pianist admitted!!! You must be a great pianist!!!
it seems that they examine candidates only by their performance skills from your describtion
how about the ear-training and theory?? I have heard from others that the ear-training and theory exam in germany are super difficult!
Could you tell me what you did in the ear-training and thoery exam?
by the way, which musikhochschule are you now studying at?

[kiwi_bd]

wow!! You are the only two pianists admitted!!! You must be a great pianist!!!
it seems that they examine candidates only by their performance skills from your describtion
how about the ear-training and theory?? I have heard from others that the ear-training and theory exam in germany are super difficult!
Could you tell me what you did in the ear-training and thoery exam?
by the way, which musikhochschule are you now studying at?