AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

All Instruments Not Listed Below

Audition Requirements: BMus & ISP Foundation (Classical Performance)

The audition will take the following format:

DURING THE AUDITION	Applicants must prepare two contrasting pieces of your own choice, written for your principal study instruments, and lasting no longer than 15 minutes in total Applicants may be required take a short sight-reading test and/or improvisation test

Classical applicants are not expected to have prior experience of improvisation.

Piano Performance*

Piano Audition Requirements: BMus & ISP Foundation (Classical Performance)

The audition will take the following format:

DURING THE AUDITION	Applicants must prepare three pieces showing contrasting styles and techniques, written for your principal study instruments, and lasting no longer than 15 minutes in total.  At least one of these pieces should be played from memory. The panel reserve the right to only hear 10 minutes of your performance. Applicants may be required take a short sight-reading test and/or improvisation test

Percussion & Drum Kit/Timpani

BMus and Foundation

The audition will last 40 minutes. The following timetable provides detailed information about the audition process.

PRIOR TO THE AUDITION

Percussion and Drum Kit applicants must inform the faculty of the name of the work they will be presenting at least two weeks before the date of the audition. Percussion and Timpani – suggested repertoire for Timpani study: Pflichtstuck Op-5 by Hans-Jorg Bayer. Beethoven No.5 transition into 4th movement (3rd movement letter C bar324 to 4th movement 5th bar of letter B bar435). Excerpt to be played along with a recording, applicants can bring their own recording or one will be provided.

DURING THE AUDITION

Percussion & Drum Kit/Timpani Applicants must prepare two contrasting pieces of your own choice, written for your principal study instruments, and lasting no longer than 15 minutes in total Applicants may be required take a short sight-reading test and/or improvisation test Classical applicants are not expected to have prior experience of improvisation.   Percussion & Drum Kit only • One xylophone or marimba study/ performance piece of appropriate standard (unaccompanied) • One side drum study/ performance piece of appropriate standard • Some general rudiments will be heard, auxiliary percussion instruments will be tested and sight-reading will be given • Scales in all major and minor (harmonic and melodic) keys, and chromatic scales starting on any note, across the full range of the instrument • Broken chords, diminished and dominant sevenths in all major and minor keys, two octaves

Composition

BMus and Foundation

Composition auditions will take 30 minutes and take the following format:

PRIOR TO THE AUDITION	Submit a portfolio of between 3 and 6 compositions. Any styles are acceptable and unfinished works may be included. The portfolio must illustrate your ability to produce notated scores and recordings should be submitted where possible.  Your portfolio will normally be assessed by the Head of Composition and an additional relevant member of staff. Portfolios should be created online using Embark. Read more about recorded auditions. You will be automatically scheduled for an interview providing we receive your application in advance of the deadline.
DURING THE AUDITION	The audition will take the form of a discussion about your compositions, interests and ambitions. You will be asked to perform a prepared piece of 2-3 minutes of your choice in length in a style and on an instrument of your choice (including voice) and you may be asked to improvise as well.  A piano will be provided but you will need to bring any other instrument yourself.
PORTFOLIO	Your portfolio will be assessed according to: Originality of the idiom Compositional techniques Writing for instruments/voice Analysis Harmonisation
RECORDED AUDITIONS	Recorded auditions will be assessed using a portfolio as described above, but in addition you will be required to provide a spoken introduction to their work.

Jazz Performance (BMus)

The audition will last for 30 minutes. Assessment will be based upon the applicant’s ability to combine creativity with a sound technique and strong aural skills. The table below provides information about  the audition process.

In the audition

• perform two pieces – either two standards or one standard and an original composition – that best illustrate your interest and ability in areas of music that involve improvisation. Some knowledge of jazz-based improvisation should be demonstrated, but non-jazz improvisation may also be employed.
• have a short interview
• take a short sight-reading test
• improvise over changes by ear and from reading chord symbols
• repeat phrases played by a member of the audition panel (who will play the same instrument as the applicant)

Important notes

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

Jazz Drummers should not bring their own cymbals and clutch, and note the following from the Head of Jazz:

Prepare two contrasting pieces, i.e. tempo and feel. Make sure that you improvise, either 4’s, 8’s or open/free. You will have approximately 20 minutes to rehearse with a rhythm section (provided by Trinity Laban). It will be helpful if you can demonstrate some keyboard skills, i.e. II V I and recognise major 7th, minor 7th, dominant 7th chords and half-diminished chords by ear. There will be some straight forward sight-reading in a big band style (you will be accompanied by a rhythm section plus a saxophonist).

If you do not understand any of the requirements above, discuss them with your teacher.

Voice

The audition will take the following format:

In the Audition

You should prepare three items of your choice in contrasting styles and moods. Two items should be in languages foreign to you and of classical repertoire. Following a review of our auditions processes, Vocal auditions will now run in one round, and not two, for 2018 entry onwards, in line with the auditions processes of our other instruments. You will receive an email detailing your schedule for the day, which will include a warm-up time, tour, and written paper where applicable.

You may be required to take a short sight-reading test and/or improvisation test.

All Masters applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a critical commentary on a piece of prose. Please note past papers are not available.

All Instruments Not Listed Below

Audition Requirements
All Masters programmes (Classical Performance), PGD, PGAD and ISP (Advanced)

The audition will last for 30 minutes. The table below provides full information about the audition process.

DURING THE AUDITION	Applicants must play a contrasting and suitably demanding programme of no more than 20 minutes in total. Applicants will have an academic interview, centring on performance issues raised by the audition programme and academic submission. Applicants may be required to take a sight-reading and/or improvisation test.
DURING THE AUDITION DAY	All Masters applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a critical commentary on a piece of prose. Please note past papers are not available.

Piano Performance*

Postgraduate Level programmes

The audition will last for 30 minutes. The table below provides full information about the audition process.

DURING THE AUDITION

For piano auditions Applicants must prepare a contrasting and suitably demanding programme, including an Etude from memory, of no more than 45 minutes in total. The panel reserves the right to hear only 20 minutes of your programme. Applicants will have an academic interview, centring on performance issues raised by the audition programme. Applicants may be required to take a sight-reading and/or improvisation test. For piano accompaniment auditions The panel would prefer to hear chamber music for piano with other instruments (duos, trios, quartets etc.) and also piano accompanying a singer. If you don’t have partners we can provide a singer for you, please confirm your requirement with us well in advance. The panel would hear 15-20 minutes of a much longer programme. If you are applying for the piano accompaniment programme you would not need to present a solo piece. You would need to prepare up to three contrasting pieces for your audition.

DURING THE AUDITION DAY

All Masters applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a critical commentary on a piece of prose. Please note past papers are not available.

Percussion & Drum Kit/Timpani

The audition will last for 40 minutes. The following table provides detailed information about the audition process.

PRIOR TO THE AUDITION	Percussion and Drum Kit applicants must inform the faculty of the name of the work they will be presenting at least two weeks before the date of the audition. Percussion and Timpani – suggested repertoire for Timpani study: Pflichtstuck Op-5 by Hans-Jorg Bayer. Beethoven No.5 transition into 4th movement (3rd movement letter C bar324 to 4th movement 5th bar of letter B bar435). Excerpt to be played along with a recording, applicants can bring their own recording or one will be provided.
DURING THE AUDITION	Percussion & Drum Kit/Timpani Applicants must play a contrasting and suitably demanding programme of no more than 20 minutes in total. Applicants will have an academic interview, centring on performance issues raised by the audition programme and academic submission. Applicants may be required to take a sight-reading and/or improvisation test.   Percussion & Drum Kit only • One xylophone or marimba study/ performance piece of appropriate standard (unaccompanied) • One side drum study/ performance piece of appropriate standard • Some general rudiments will be heard, auxiliary percussion instruments will be tested and sight-reading will be given • Scales in all major and minor (harmonic and melodic) keys, and chromatic scales starting on any note, across the full range of the instrument • Broken chords, diminished and dominant sevenths in all major and minor keys, two octaves
DURING THE AUDITION DAY	All Masters applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a critical commentary on a piece of prose. Please note past papers are not available.

Composition

Composition auditions will take 30 minutes and take the following format:

PRIOR TO THE AUDITION	All Composition applicants are required to submit a portfolio of compositions via Embark. Read more about recorded auditions.
ON THE AUDITION DAY	The audition will take the form of a discussion of this portfolio. You will be asked to perform for 2-3 minutes on an instrument of your own choice in any style. All Masters applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a critical commentary on a piece of prose. Please note past papers are not available.
PORTFOLIO	Your portfolio will be assessed according to: – Compositional techniques – Writing for instruments/voice – Analysis – Harmonisation
RECORDED AUDITIONS	Recorded auditions will be assessed using a portfolio as described above, but in addition you will be required to provide a spoken introduction to their work along with written work for Master’s applications.

Compositions portfolios must be submitted via Embark by 9th November to be considered as an on-time application.

Jazz Performance

The audition will last for 30 minutes. Assessments will be based upon the applicants ability to combine creativity with a sound technique and strong aural skills. The table below provides information about the audition process.

DURING THE AUDITION

– Perform two pieces – either two standards or one standard and an original composition – that best illustrates your interest and ability in areas of music that involve improvisation. Some knowledge of jazz based improvisation should be demonstrated, but non-jazz improvisation may also be employed. – Have a short interview – Improvise over changes by ear and from reading chord symbols – Repeat phrases played by a member of the audition panel (who will play the same instrument as the applicant)

DURING THE AUDITION DAY

All Masters applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a critical commentary on a piece of prose. Please note past papers are not available.

Important Notes

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.

Voice

In the Audition

You should prepare three items of your choice in contrasting styles and moods. Two items should be in languages foreign to you and of classical repertoire. Following a review of our auditions processes, Vocal auditions will now run in one round, and not two, for 2018 entry onwards, in line with the auditions processes of our other instruments. You will receive an email detailing your schedule for the day, which will include a warm-up time, tour, and written paper where applicable.

You may be required to take a short sight-reading test and/or improvisation test.

All Masters applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a critical commentary on a piece of prose. Please note past papers are not available.

Single Reed Theatre Doubling

1) Entrance Audition Requirements:

i) Present items on both saxophone and clarinet at a standard appropriate to postgraduate study, and normally show some ability on flute.
ii) Pieces performed on both instruments must have a piano accompaniment.
iii) Sight reading for both instruments.
iv) Scales for both instruments.
v) Clarinet transposition.
vi) Interview.

All Masters applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a critical commentary on a piece of prose. Please note past papers are not available.

MA Music Education and Performance

These are the audition requirements for the MA Music Education and Performance.  Please make sure you are aware of the entry requirements prior to application.  

 

DURING THE AUDITION	Applicants must play a contrasting and suitably demanding programme of no more than 15 minutes in total.Applicants will have a combined practical/ academic interview centring on pedagogical issues, during which they may be required to take a sight-reading, improvisation and/or initiative test.
DURING THE AUDITION DAY	Applicants will be required to take a 30-minute written test, to include a short critical commentary on a piece of prose (describing a pedagogical concept) or on a video of a teaching activity, and the creation of practice exercises in association with a piece of previously unseen repertoire.