Master of Music Practical Studies Auditions
The Master of Music includes two #2 Practical Studies courses as program electives. Each course takes one semester and cannot be repeated.
Master of Music students can also take level 3 courses with the approval of the Program Convenor. There are two #2 level 3 Practical Studies courses. Each course takes one semester and cannot be repeated.
Students must audition for permission to enrol in Practical Studies. Approval is granted only to students who
- submit an expression of interest
- complete a satisfactory audition and interview at either the level 7 or level 3 standard
Expression of Interest (EOI)
Your EOI must be submitted using the online webform.
Current students must apply by the end of the month before Orientation Week for the semester.
- You must apply by 31 January to request permission to audition for Practical Studies in Sem 1
- You must apply by 30 June to request permission to audition for Practical Studies in Sem 2
Commencing students in the 1-year Master of Music must apply by the Monday of Orientation Week of their commencing semester to request permission to audition for Practical Studies in their commencing semester. You will go through the same steps as current students, but in a much smaller timeframe.
Audition and Interview
If your EOI is accepted, the course coordinator will schedule an audition time for you in Orientation Week.
Your audition must be on one of the following instruments:
- Brass (any of euphonium, horn, trombone, trumpet, tuba)
- Classical Guitar (not electric guitar)
- Composition
- Harp
- Percussion (including drum kit)
- Piano (not electric keyboard)
- Strings (any of cello, double bass, violin, viola)
- Woodwind (any of saxophone, bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe)
- Voice
You must prepare three Western Art Music works of contrasting styles from different periods for the audition. Works should be presented with accompaniment when required: you must make personal arrangements for accompaniment. Blues, jazz, popular, folk, rock and similar genres are not acceptable repertoire for your audition. Percussionists must supply your own sticks and mallets for the audition.
Your audition and interview will take approximately 15 minutes. You may be asked to perform specific parts of your audition repertoire, or to perform a complete work: don’t expect to perform all your audition repertoire. You will be asked questions about your practice and your interests: this is also your opportunity to ask School of Music teachers questions about the School, our programs, and so on.
The audition process is flexible and accommodating. For example, it is not mandatory to have an accompanist if this is difficult for you to arrange. We want to make the audition as smooth and easy for you as possible: for us, it is an opportunity to get to meet you and to get to know you better.
Applicants auditioning on all instruments except classical guitar, composition, and piano are likely to require accompaniment for one or more of the works in their audition repertoire. Applicants must make personal arrangements for accompaniment. Details of potential accompanists are available at the Accompanists’ Guild of Queensland website.
Video Audition and Interview
If you cannot audition in person because you do not arrive in Brisbane until Teaching Week 1, the course coordinator may give you permission to submit a video audition and be interviewed online.
If you receive permission, you must provide a link to a video of three works by the Wednesday of Orientation Week. Your audition video must be unedited and recorded in a single take. Your recording will be considered purely on the basis of your performance skills and musicianship. The quality of the recording is not taken into consideration. Phone, tablet and other audio-visual devices are all acceptable. Accompaniment is not necessary, but you may use pre-recorded accompaniment if you wish.
Your audition panel will arrange a Zoom or telephone interview on Thursday or Friday of Orientation Week after they have reviewed your audition video.
Composition Audition and Interview
Composition applicants must provide a link to a video of their compositions by the Monday of Orientation Week. The audition video must contain an audio recording of three varied compositions (or excerpts) of approximately two minutes each, demonstrating a range of instrumentation and/or style and including the staff notation and recording (the recording may be a midi realisation). Your audition video must include the staff notation and recording (which may be a midi realisation). Electronic works without score may also be included.
During your audition, you are not required to play your own compositions in your video submission, but will be asked to perform your scores where possible, and must demonstrate your skill on an instrument that can participate in ensemble performances with other composition students in workshops.
Audition Outcome
The course coordinator will advise you of the outcome of your audition and interview, and if satisfactory, whether you are approved to enrol in a level 7 or level 3 Practical Studies course. You will be added to the class permission list in mySI-net for the relevant Practical Studies course. This allows you to enrol in the course.
You will also be added to the class permission list in mySI-net for the other Practical Studies course at the same level in the next semester. You are not required to audition a second time to enrol in the next semester of Practical Studies.
If you are approved to enrol in a level 3 Practical Studies course, you must apply to audition again if you wish to enrol in a level 7 Practical Studies course.