Formación Musical admission test at El Bosque: what it's like and how to prepare
At El Bosque, admission to Formación Musical combines an aptitude test, a computer-based theory and ear test, your instrument and an interview. Repertoire ranges from classical piano to blues and DJing.
To enter Formación Musical at Universidad El Bosque in Bogotá, you take an aptitude test, a computer-based theory and aural skills test, an instrument audition (or voice audition), and an interview, all on the same day. On the program's official preparation website, the university explains that the result is determined by the average of the three tests.
The program offers specializations in performance, singer-songwriter studies, composition and arranging, and production. Its instrument audition reflects that range: there are requirements for classical piano, but also electric guitar, drums, popular singing and electronic instruments. Here we explain each part and how to prepare.
In short
- 2027-1 admissions: applications open since August 21, 2026, subject to available places; remaining exam dates run from October 26 to December 16, 2026, and classes begin on February 1, 2027.
- El Bosque's Formación Musical program awards the Maestro en Música degree, lasts 9 semesters according to the program page we reviewed, and admits students every semester.
- The assessment has four parts: aptitude, theory and aural skills, instrument, and an interview, all on the same day. According to the preparation website, the result is the average of the three tests.
- The aptitude test assesses rhythm, pitch, harmonic awareness and rhythmic-melodic awareness through clapping and vocal repetition.
- The theory and aural skills test is a digital questionnaire taken in a computer lab; applicants must bring wired headphones and are advised to practice with the EarMaster app.
- If you are outside Bogotá, you can submit the aptitude and instrument tests by video.
What Formación Musical at El Bosque is like
| Aspect | Published information |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Maestro en Música |
| Duration | 9 semesters, 144 credits |
| Lesson format | In person, in Bogotá, Monday through Friday |
| Admissions | Every semester |
| Specializations | Instrumental performance, singer-songwriter studies, composition and arranging, and production; you can take two specializations or combine one with a minor in music pedagogy or Music Business |
Alongside performance, its specializations give plenty of space to popular music, songwriting and production. If you are comparing options, also see Estudios Musicales admissions at Javeriana and the Los Andes aptitude test, or explore the full overview in music degree programs in Colombia.
2027-1 admissions calendar
At El Bosque, admissions to Formación Musical take place each semester, subject to available places: there is no fixed closing date, but a list of exam dates to choose from. Here is what the official program page lists for 2027-1:
| Stage | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | August 21 | Applications close when places are filled; no deadline has been published. |
| Admission exams (aptitude, theory and aural skills, instrument and interview) | Monday, September 28; Wednesday, October 14; Monday, October 26; Wednesday, November 11; Thursday, November 26; Wednesdays, December 2, 9 and 16 | All components take place on the same day, in the time slot assigned to each date (11:00 a. m. to 1:00 p. m., 1:00 p. m. to 3:00 p. m. or 2:00 p. m. to 4:00 p. m., depending on the day). Remaining dates start on October 26. |
| Results | No date published | You will be notified by email or phone. |
| Enrollment | No date published | Contact the program. |
| Classes begin | February 1, 2027 | |
| 2027-2 | Not yet published | The program page does not list dates for the second semester of 2027. |
If you want to arrive prepared for the test, our music pre-university prep includes mock exams and auditions; see our packages and prices.
How the admissions process works
- Complete the application form, with the documents the university requires, including your Saber 11 result (or test appointment notice if you do not have the result yet).
- Schedule your test for one of the dates available on the platform.
- Check your instrument's requirements on the preparation website and prepare for all three tests.
- Take the test and attend the interview on your chosen day. Interview results are communicated by email or phone.
We found no published weights for individual tests, minimum scores or information on whether failing any component disqualifies an applicant, beyond the fact that the result is the average of the three tests. No weight is listed for Saber 11 either: it appears as a required document. Contact the program for these details.
The university also asks you to let it know your chosen instrument ahead of time and keep that day available, since all tests and the interview take place on the same day.
The aptitude test
It aims to determine whether you have the musical aptitude needed for university-level music study. It assesses how you listen and reproduce sounds, rather than theory:
| Aspect | What you do in the test | How to practice it |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythmic sense | Repeat rhythmic excerpts by clapping and using your voice. | Ask someone to clap patterns of one or two measures and repeat them on your first try; use the metronome to establish a steady beat. |
| Pitch accuracy | Repeat notes and melodic excerpts with your voice. | Sing individual notes and short phrases after hearing them once, without support. |
| Harmonic awareness | Hear simultaneous notes and sing them back one after another. | Play two or three notes at once and sing each separately, from lowest to highest. |
| Rhythmic-melodic awareness | Listen to short melodies and sing them back. | Imitate increasingly long phrases with their exact rhythm. |
Everything is sung or clapped, so get comfortable using your voice even if you play another instrument. If you learned by ear, this part works in your favor.
The theory and aural skills test (on a computer)
The program page calls it a virtual theory test, but according to the preparation website it is a digital questionnaire you answer in one of the program's computer labs. It covers basic theoretical concepts and aural recognition of simple musical structures. Bring wired headphones with a plug; the university recommends downloading EarMaster, the app used on test day, to get familiar with it.
- Review basic music theory: notes in treble and bass clef, note values, time signatures, major and minor scales, intervals and triads.
- Practice recognizing intervals, major and minor chords, and simple rhythmic patterns by ear; you can use our ear training tool.
- Use the recommended app before test day so you do not waste time figuring out the interface.
The instrument audition: from Bach to blues
The preparation site publishes requirements for around twenty instruments, including popular and classical singing, classical and electric guitar, electric bass, drums, classical and jazz or popular piano, electronic instruments or DJing, wind and string instruments, Latin and symphonic percussion, and accordion. For university admission, if you sing, your instrument is your voice. Some examples:
| Instrument | What was required |
|---|---|
| Classical piano | Two-octave major and minor scales with arpeggios, an étude from Czerny Op. 299 or equivalent, a two-part invention or a prelude from Bach's El clave bien temperado, a Classical-period piece (Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven), and a piece of your choice. |
| Electric guitar | Two-octave major and pentatonic scales, a minor blues and a major blues with melody, accompaniment and one solo chorus, and a bossa nova accompaniment. |
| Popular singing | Three songs: one in English (rock, pop, soul or R&B), one Latin American (bolero, son, pasillo, bambuco, bossa nova…) and a jazz standard; you can accompany yourself, bring an accompanist or use a backing track. |
If your instrument is not listed, the website says to email music admissions for the requirements. To choose and learn your pieces in good time, follow how to choose repertoire for an admissions audition.
The interview and remote option
The interview takes place on test day. Be ready to discuss your musical background, why the program interests you, and which specialization appeals to you; see the music admissions interview for help.
If you are outside Bogotá and cannot travel, you can take the test remotely by submitting two videos:
- Aptitude: a song of your choice, sung a cappella while keeping the beat by clapping or snapping, lasting between 45 seconds and a minute and a half (you may give yourself a starting note or chord).
- Instrument: the material specified in your instrument's guide.
- Rules: use a fixed camera that shows you and your instrument, with no video or audio editing. At the start, state your name, instrument, whether you have formal or informal training, and how long you have been playing, then announce what you will play in order.
Upload the videos to YouTube and send the links to the email addresses listed on the preparation website. Record several complete takes before choosing your final one.
How to prepare for El Bosque admissions
| Time before the test | Instrument | Aptitude and theory |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | Choose and begin learning your instrument's repertoire. | Basic music theory and 10 minutes a day of rhythmic and melodic imitation. |
| 2 months | Full repertoire, with daily scales and technique practice. | Aural recognition of intervals and chords; practice with the recommended app. |
| Final month | Play the entire program for other people or record it. | Mock aptitude tests with someone who gives you unfamiliar exercises. |
El Bosque also offers a one-semester Preparatorio Básico that, according to the page we reviewed, does not require a selection interview. If that route interests you, compare options in what is a pre-university music course and how do you choose one?.
At Gissi, you can prepare ear training, music theory and your instrument with teachers, through online or in-home lessons in Bogotá. Learn how in preparation for music entrance exams. To organize the whole process, see how to prepare for a music entrance exam, and for reading practice, rhythmic and melodic reading for the entrance exam.
Frequently asked questions
How many semesters does Formación Musical at El Bosque last?
According to the official program page we reviewed in 2026, 9 semesters and 144 credits, leading to the Maestro en Música degree. Check the current page, since curricula are updated.
Is El Bosque's theory test online?
It is called a virtual theory test, but according to the preparation website it is a digital questionnaire taken in a program computer lab, using wired headphones and the EarMaster app.
Can I take the test if I do not live in Bogotá?
Yes. The preparation website allows you to submit the aptitude test (an a cappella song while keeping the beat) and instrument audition by video, without editing and following its recording instructions.
Can I apply with popular music or electronic instruments?
Yes. The program publishes requirements for electric guitar, electric bass, drums, jazz or popular piano, popular singing, Latin percussion, and electronic instruments or DJ, among others.
How is admission decided?
According to the preparation website, it is based on the average of the aptitude, instrument, and theory and aural skills tests; the interview takes place the same day. We found no published weightings or minimum scores, so ask the program about them.
Sources
We checked the facts in this article against these sources on October 23, 2026.
- Universidad El Bosque: undergraduate program in Music Training (Maestro en Música degree, 9 semesters, admissions dates)
- Universidad El Bosque, Formación Musical: music entrance exam website
- Universidad El Bosque, Formación Musical: aptitude test guide
- Universidad El Bosque, Formación Musical: music theory and aural skills exam guide
- Universidad El Bosque, Formación Musical: online entrance exam rules
- Universidad El Bosque: Basic Music Preparatory Program