What's a preschooler and how to choose him?
A preschooler of music prepares you for the specific race test but does not give title or secure the quota. We explain what includes and how to choose.
A music preschooler is an extension or continuous education course, without a title, that prepares you for the specific test of music careers: theory, solpus, dicha, basic harmony, complementary piano and instrument. It's offered by universities, private academies and particular teachers.
It serves to get to the exam with the level and format that you will be asked for, but does not replace the test or secure the quota. Here we tell you what includes, how long and how to choose between options.
To sum up
- It's extension training or continuing education: it doesn't give title or count as a semester of the race.
- It usually includes theory, solpus, dictation, basic harmony, piano or keyboard and main instrument.
- Several universities have their own (National, ASAB, Javeriana, El Bosque, Antioquia, EAFIT, among others) with different requirements and durations.
- No preschooler secures the quota: admission is decided at the official examination of each university.
- Choose from your programs, your starting level and how soon you have to run the test.
What exactly's a music preschooler
He gets many names: pre-university, preparatory, preparatory cycle, pre-university diploma or free course. It's training that doesn't lead to his title: He prepares you for his specific test but does not have a part of his career. The District University, for example, says so explicitly about his preparatory music arts.
Why does it exist? Because, while legally to get into a race we simply have to be a bachiller and have to put on the Know 11, the music tests have been prepared earlier. The National University indicates that its seekers have to have an extensive musical training and the Pedagogic expects prior training and a defined main instrument. If you did not study at a school with an emphasis on music or at a music school, the preschooler fills that void.
Eye with a common confusion: a music preschooler isn't a preicfes. The preschooler prepares Knowledge 11 and the preschooler prepares the specific race test, that that evaluating your ear, your reading and your instrument.
What's studied at a high school
The contents vary, but most programs turn around what's been evaluated in the admissions tests:
| Area | What do you work for? | Part of the test that's preparing you |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar or theory | Stages, branches, intervals, chords, compas | Written theoretical examination |
| Solfeo | Ritmic and melodic reading atoning, reading at first glance | Jury reading |
| Hearing training | Rhythmic, melodic, intervals and chord dictation | Proof and aptitude |
| Basic Harmony | Functions, cadences and conduct of voices | harmonic analysis and harmony, in programs that demand them |
| Additional Piano or Keyboard | Stairs, chords, simple progrestions | Support for theory, dictation and intonation |
| Main instrument | Hearing technique, studies and repertoire | Instrumental or vocal noise |
| Appreciation, chorus or ensemble | listening to styles and periods and group practice | Music culture, group tuning and interview |
Each program combines these areas with its own way. That of El Bosque brings together grammar, listening training, choral practice, keyboard and instrument and the preparatory cycle of Javeriana includes solphis and listening training, audio-vocal technique, appreciation and ensemble pop.
University preparations: examples and duration
Here are some extension programs we found in the most recent review (2026). Names, levels and requirements may change, so take them as a starting point:
| Universidad | Programa | What we found |
|---|---|---|
| National (Bogotá) | Preparatory Programme, as part of the Conservatory's Basic Musical Studies Programme | For ages about 15 to 21 years old and entered with an aptitude and knowledge test |
| District, ASAB School of Arts (Bogotá) | Music arts preparatory (MAP) | Four levels with grammar, harmony, integrated workshop and instrument and does not lead to a title |
| Javeriana (Bogotá) | UCollege, Music Preparatory Cycle | Solphis and hearing training, audio-vocal, appreciation and ensemble pop |
| El Bosque (Bogotá) | Basic and Advanced Preparatory in Music | One semester each, advanced for more than 14 years old and already read music |
| National pedagogical (Bogotá) | Extent free course | They include preparatory piano and initiation at Military Audioperception (preparatory) |
| Antioquia (Medellín) | Music Preparatory | For more than 15 years or students from the final grades of the school, up to four semesters and to get into them, have been shown the same two retirement tests. |
| EAFIT (Medellín) | Priest Diploma in Music | Levels 1 to 4 with individual emphasis, reading and passing and appreciation |
| Univalle (Cali) | Pentagram Plan | Extension programs with a pre-basic level and children and youth options |
The duration ranges from one semester per level to several semesters. At individual academies and classes there's no standard duration: it depends on your starting point and how much's missing for the test. See the official details, for example, of [National's Basic Music Studies Program]](https://artes.bogota.unal.edu.co/diplomados-y-cursos/programa-de-estudios-b%C3%A1sicos-musicales) or ASAB's Music Arts Preparatory.
A college high, an academy or a private class?
| Aspecto | University preparatory | Private Academy | Special classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Grupal with regular academic schedule and schedule | Group or mixed with their own schedule | Individual or small group with agreed schedule |
| Ingreso | At times with aptitude or knowledge test | That's after the academy. | Without proof, teacher diagnoses your level at first classes |
| Enfoque | Thought from his own university and check his how to conduct other tests | General training for several universities | Plan to suit the programs to which you are applying |
| Ritmo | That of the group and the schedule | That of the group | Yours, you can step up before the test. |
| Lesson format | According to program: check if you are face-to-face | According to the academy | Virtual or face-to-face, as per his teacher |
They are not exclusives. It's common to have a group preparatory and to add particular classes of instrument or dictation, that's where individual care best can be noted: nobody fixes you an untuned leap or bad conduct of voices as a teacher sitting at your side.
A preschooler doesn't secure your quota.
No one does, and even that of the same university. The Javeriana clearly says about his [preparatory cycle in music]](https://artes.javeriana.edu.co/w/preuniversitario-m%C3%BAsica): to race only goes through an official examination. He lacks any course that promise secure admission or "contacts" at a faculty.
What can give you a good preschooler:
- Know the format of the test and get there without surprises.
- To rise your level of theory, dictated and reading with an ordered method.
- To ride your repertoire with someone to fix you.
- Do simulations and measure your advance before the actual exam.
- Find out if you really want to get dedicated to music before enrolling with a race of several years.
To organize your studio monthly with or without a pre-university, check how to prepare for the music admittance test.
How to choose a preschooler
- Start with the test. Define what programs and read their instructives.A course that doesn't work harmonic dictation doesn't help if your program evaluates them.
- Call for a diagnosis. A good course puts you according to your actual level in theory, listening, reading and instrument, but not according to your age.
- Check for individual jobs and reading and instrument, but not only theoretical class as a group.
- Question for simulations with the actual format and times of the test.
- Cross the calendars. The course should be completed before the test, and not after.
- He's evaluating the modality. Theory, solphis and dictation work well in [virtual classes]](/clases-de-musica-online)The instrument also with good camera and good audio.
- He knows his servants. Ask about his training and his experience with seekers. We give you criteria at how to choose music teacher.
If you prefer a plan to suit your suit, A medio tono Can you take [music theory classes]](/clases/teoria-musical), solpseus and dictation, and classes of your instrument with teachers evaluated, virtual or at home in Bogota. We tell you how it works in [preparation for music entrance tests]](/preuniversitario-musica)We have no link with any university and we have no promise of quotas: our job is to get better prepared.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have a degree or credit from the preschooler?
No. It's extension training or continuous education that doesn't lead to a title or count as a semester of the race. If you need a constancy, ask each institution what certificate you give at the end.
Can I do a high school while I'm at high school?
In several cases, they did. In revised information, the preparatory office at the University of Antioquia received more than 15 years old or students from his final grades and the advanced preparatory office of El Bosque and more than 14 people who have been reading music. Check the minimum age of each program.
Do I have to have some music to get into a high school?
Some demand an aptitude or knowledge test to get into, as with the National or with the University of Antioquia. Others separate a basic level from an advanced level for those who have already read music, such as El Bosque.
Can we have a virtual music preschooler?
That's right. The theory, the solphis and the dictation work very well online, and the instrument also with a stable and good audio connection. That's true, it practice also with people living, because several tests are submitted before a jury.