What is a music university prep course, and how do you choose one?
A music university prep course gets you ready for the program's specific entrance test, but it doesn't award a degree or guarantee you a place. We explain what it includes and how to choose one.
A music university preparation course is a non-degree extension or continuing education course that prepares you for the entrance exam specific to music degrees: theory, solfège, dictation, basic harmony, supplementary piano and your instrument. Universities, private academies and private teachers offer these courses.
It helps you arrive at the exam with the skills and familiarity with the format you will need, but does not replace the exam or guarantee a place. Here we explain what it includes, how long it lasts and how to choose among the options.
In short
- It is extension or continuing education: it does not award a degree or count as a semester of the degree program.
- It usually includes theory, solfège, dictation, basic harmony, piano or keyboard and your main instrument.
- Several universities offer their own courses (Nacional, ASAB, Javeriana, El Bosque, Antioquia, EAFIT, among others), with different requirements and lengths.
- No preparation course guarantees a place: admission is decided through each university's official exam.
- Choose based on the programs you are applying to, your starting level and the time left before the exam.
What exactly is a music university preparation course?
It goes by many names: pre-university prep, preparatory program, preparatory cycle, pre-university certificate course, or open course. In every case, it is non-degree training: it prepares you for the program-specific entrance test but is not part of the degree program. Universidad de Antioquia, for example, explicitly states that its music preparatory program does not award a degree or grant automatic admission to an undergraduate program.
Why do they exist? Because although the legal requirements for entering a degree program are completing high school and taking Saber 11, music exams assume prior preparation. Universidad Nacional states that applicants should have extensive musical preparation, while Pedagógica expects prior training and a defined main instrument. If you did not attend a school with a music focus or a music school, a preparation course fills that gap.
Watch out for a common mix-up: a music university preparation course is not a preicfes course. A preicfes course prepares you for Saber 11; a music preparation course prepares you for the degree's specific entrance exam, which assesses your ear, music reading and instrument skills.
What you study in a preparation course
Content varies, but almost every program centers on what entrance exams assess:
| Area | What you work on | Exam component it prepares you for |
|---|---|---|
| Music fundamentals or theory | Scales, key signatures, intervals, chords, time signatures | Written theory exam |
| Sight-singing | Rhythmic reading, sung melodic reading and sight-reading | Reading before an exam panel |
| Ear training | Rhythmic, melodic, interval and chord dictation | Dictation and aptitude test |
| Basic harmony | Harmonic functions, cadences, voice leading | Harmonic analysis and harmony, in programs that require them |
| Supplementary piano or keyboard | Scales, chords, simple progressions | Support for theory, dictation and singing in tune |
| Main instrument | Technique, études and audition repertoire | Instrumental or vocal audition |
| Appreciation, choir or ensemble | Listening to different styles and periods; group practice | Musical knowledge, group intonation and interview |
Each program combines these areas in its own way. The program at El Bosque brings together music fundamentals, ear training, choral practice, keyboard and instrument; Javeriana's preparatory cycle includes solfège and ear training, aural and vocal technique, appreciation and a pop ensemble.
University preparation courses: examples and duration
These are some of the extension programs we found in our most recent review (2026). Names, levels and requirements may change, so use them as a starting point:
| University | Program | What we found |
|---|---|---|
| Nacional (Bogotá) | Programa Preparatorio, part of the conservatory's Programa de Estudios Básicos Musicales | For ages approximately 15 to 21; entry requires an aptitude and knowledge test |
| Distrital, Facultad de Artes ASAB (Bogotá) | Preparatorio de Artes Musicales (PAM) | Four semesters covering music theory, harmony, workshops, and instrument study; a university extension course |
| Javeriana (Bogotá) | UCollege, Ciclo Preparatorio en Música | Solfège and ear training, aural and vocal technique, appreciation and pop ensemble |
| El Bosque (Bogotá) | Preparatorio Básico y Preparatorio Avanzado en Música | One semester each; the advanced course is for students over 14 who can already read music |
| Pedagógica Nacional (Bogotá) | Open-enrollment extension courses | Include preparatory piano and Iniciación en Audioperceptiva Musical (preparatory) |
| Antioquia (Medellín) | Preparatorio de Música | For students over 15 or in their final years of school; up to four semesters; admission requires two qualifying tests (a program-specific test and a musical aptitude test) |
| EAFIT (Medellín) | Diplomado Preuniversitario en Música | Continuing education program with level 1 and specialization options, for young people and adults |
| Univalle (Cali) | Plan Pentagrama | Extension programs, with a pre-basic level and options for children and young people |
Courses range from one semester per level to several semesters. Academies and private lessons have no standard duration: it depends on your starting level and how much time remains before the exam. You can consult the official details, for example, for Nacional's Programa de Estudios Básicos Musicales or ASAB's Preparatorio de Artes Musicales.
University preparation course, academy or private lessons?
| Aspect | University preparation course | Private academy | Private lessons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Group classes, with a fixed timetable and academic calendar | Group or mixed format, with the academy's own schedules | Individual or small-group lessons, with an agreed schedule |
| Admission | Sometimes requires an aptitude or knowledge test | Varies by academy | No test; the teacher assesses your level in the first lessons |
| Focus | Designed around the university's own requirements; check whether it prepares you for other exams | General preparation for several universities | A plan tailored to the programs you are applying to |
| Rhythm | The group's pace and the calendar | The group's pace | Your own pace; you can increase the intensity before the exam |
| Lesson format | Depends on the program: check whether it is in person | Depends on the academy | Online or in person, depending on the teacher |
You can combine these options. It is common to take a group preparation course and add private instrument or dictation lessons, where individual attention makes the biggest difference: nothing beats a teacher sitting beside you to correct an out-of-tune leap or poor voice leading.
A preparation course does not guarantee admission
None does, even one offered by the university itself. Javeriana states this clearly about its music preparatory cycle: admission to the degree program is only through the official exam. Be wary of any course promising guaranteed admission or “connections” within a faculty.
What a good preparation course can offer:
- Familiarity with the exam format, so there are no surprises.
- Improved theory, dictation and reading skills through an organized method.
- Preparation of your repertoire with someone to give you corrections.
- Mock exams to measure your progress before the real test.
- A chance to discover whether you really want to pursue music before enrolling in a degree program lasting several years.
To organize your study month by month, with or without a preparation course, see how to prepare for a music entrance exam.
How to choose a preparation course
- Start with the exam. Decide which programs you are applying to and read their instructions. A course that does not cover harmonic dictation will not meet your needs if your program tests it.
- Ask for an assessment. A good course places you according to your actual level in theory, ear training, reading and instrument, not your age.
- Check for individual work on instrument and reading, rather than group theory classes alone.
- Ask about mock exams using the exam's actual format and time limits.
- Compare the calendars. The course should end before the exam, not afterward.
- Consider the format. Theory, solfège and dictation work well in online lessons; instrument lessons do too, with a good camera and audio.
- Get to know the teachers. Ask about their training and experience with applicants. We offer criteria in how to choose a music teacher.
If you prefer a tailored plan, at Gissi you can take music theory lessons, solfège and dictation, as well as lessons on your instrument with vetted teachers, online or at home in Bogotá. We explain how it works in music entrance exam preparation. We have no affiliation with any university and do not promise places: our job is to help you arrive better prepared.
Frequently asked questions
Does a music preparation course award a degree or credits?
No. It is extension or continuing education that does not lead to a degree or count as a semester of the degree program. If you need proof of completion, ask each institution what certificate it issues at the end.
Can I take a preparation course while I am still in school?
In many cases, yes. In the information reviewed, Universidad de Antioquia's course accepted students over 15 or in the final years of school, and El Bosque's Preparatorio Avanzado accepted students over 14 who could already read music. Check each program's minimum age.
Do I need musical knowledge to enter a preparation course?
It depends. Some require an aptitude or knowledge test for admission, such as Nacional's or Universidad de Antioquia's. Others separate a basic level from an advanced one for those who already read music, as El Bosque does.
Can I take a music preparation course online?
Yes. Theory, solfège and dictation work very well online, and instrument lessons do too with a stable connection and good audio. Still, practice in front of people in person as well, because several exams are performed before a panel.
Sources
We checked the facts in this article against these sources on October 22, 2026.
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Artes: basic music studies program
- Universidad Distrital (ASAB): preparatory program in musical arts
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana: pre-university music prep, preparatory cycle
- Universidad El Bosque: advanced music preparatory program
- Universidad de Antioquia: music department and music preparatory program
- Universidad de Antioquia: admissions guide for music programs 2026-1