Contemporary Music Course

Audition

To be accepted on the music programme, all applicants must audition.

Those applicants who live in the Nelson region or who are able to travel to Nelson may audition in person at the School of Music. All other applicants must submit their audition on DVD/CD or VHS videotape.

All applicants (whether in person or DVDs/video) should prepare the following:

A short solo piece on your principal instrument of 1-2 minutes duration (vocalists may be accompanied)
A short solo piece on your principal instrument in a contrasting style of 1-2 minutes duration
Sing/play a major and minor scale starting on any note
Talk for a few minutes about your musical experience and your plans for the future.

Drum applicants must demonstrate the following:

3 different drum rudiments of 2 bars each
Count in and play a 4-bar moderate rock groove
Count in and play a contrasting 8-bar drum groove (any style) and include a 2-bar solo at bars 5 and 6
Talk for 60 seconds about your musical experience and your plans for the future.

Note 1: Video recordings - please index the content of the video and rewind.
Note 2: Send only copies of documents and references and include a prepaid postbag if you require the return of the audition DVD/video.
Note 3: Applicants unable to access DVD/video recording gear may request to submit an audio cassette.