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Our audition procedure is designed to enable us to find out about you.

Not just how good a performer or composer you are, but what sort of a person you are, and to assess whether you have the potential to be the sort of musician who will benefit from the approach that we have.

Here you will find specific information relating to your chosen area.

Please refer to the links below, in addition to information provided under the ‘Additional Notes for Auditions’ section, if applicable to your instrument/programme/department.

(For both undergraduate and postgraduate study)

 

Additional Notes for Auditions

MA Music Education and Performance (Music Education Department)

There are two stages to the application.

Stage one:

Applicants for the MA Music Education & Performance will first have their practical skills assessed via audition. Applicants should follow the audition requirements for their specific instrument/voice as detailed in the PDF documents above. Applicants may submit a recorded audition or choose to have an in-person audition at the Music Faculty (applicants may choose ‘recording’ or ‘institution’ when submitting their UCAS Conservatoires application).

If your performance audition is successful, you will be invited for an interview with the Head of Music Education. Successful applicants will be emailed with an invitation.

Stage two:

A written paper will be sent to you 24 hours before the interview, and should be completed and returned at least one hour before the interview. The written paper should take you about an hour to complete. Further information will be provided with the paper via email.

All interviews are online. Part of the interview will be spent discussing your response to the written paper, and part will be spent discussing your background in music, in addition to why you want to study music education. If you do not have a first degree and need to be assessed under the ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ (RPL) process then this will also take place in the interview.

 

Collaborative Piano Performance (Keyboard Department)

The panel prefer to hear chamber music for piano with other instruments (duos, trios, quartets etc.) and also collaboration with a singer.

If you don’t have partners we can provide an instrumentalist/singer for you; please confirm your requirement with us at least 2 weeks in advance of your audition date.

If you are applying for the collaborative piano programme you will not need to present a solo piece. You will need to prepare up to three contrasting pieces for your audition. The panel will typically hear 15-20 minutes of a much longer programme.

 

Percussion & Drum Kit/Timpani (Wind, Brass & Percussion Department)

Percussion audition requirements (PDF)

 

Jazz Performance - all programmes

For Jazz auditions, a band is provided. Applicants are asked to use the rhythm section in a quartet rather than mock Big Band setting. This band consists of the following, less the applicant’s own instrument:

  • Drum kit
  • Lead instrument (this may be a vocalist)
  • Bass (electric or acoustic)
  • Guitar or Piano

Applicants may not play to a backing track.

Jazz Vocalists: please note that microphones will not be provided. If you require a microphone, please bring your own.

Jazz Drummers should bring their own cymbals and clutch.

 

Single Reed Theatre Doubling (Wind, Brass & Percussion Department)

Entrance Audition Requirements:

  1. Present items on both saxophone and clarinet at a standard appropriate to postgraduate study, and normally show some ability on flute.
  2. Pieces performed on both instruments must have a piano accompaniment.
  3. Sight reading for both instruments.
  4. Scales for both instruments.
  5. Clarinet transposition.
  6. Interview.

 

MA Music Education

Admission to the programme is assessed through your UCAS Conservatoires application, written paper, and interview, which will include an informal assessment of your performance skills.

Academic entry requirements for this programme can be found on the programme webpage.

A written paper will be sent to you 24 hours before the interview, and should be completed and returned at least one hour before the interview. The written paper should take you about an hour to complete. Further information will be provided with the paper via email.

All interviews are online. Part of the interview will be spent discussing your response to the written paper, and part will be spent discussing your background in music, in addition to why you want to study music education. If you do not have a first degree and need to be assessed under the ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ (RPL) process then this will also take place in the interview.

 

MEd Music Education (Online only)

Admission to the programme is assessed through your UCAS Conservatoires application. There is no formal audition or interview.

Academic entry requirements for this programme can be found on the programme webpage.

 

Two oboists performing