Entrance examinations for piano
The entrance examination consists of the following elements:
- Principal study audition
- Supporting subjects: aural studies / theory test
Principal study (duration: 30 minutes incl. assessment)
A list of repertoire for the entrance examination must be enclosed with the application form. The audition in the principal study consists of these three tests:
First test: Set/self-chosen tasks, etudes, scales (duration: 15-20 minutes)
- All scales in four octaves
- Scales and broken triads and tetrachords (only seventh chords) in all major and minor keys
- An etude of the applicant’s own choice
- A polyphonic work by J. S. Bach. E.g.: A Prelude and Fugue from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier
- One fast and one slow movement from a sonata from the Classical period
- A Romantic work or a work from the 20th century
Second test: Set task
A proposed task which is e-mailed to the applicant 7 days before the entrance examination takes place.
Third test: Sight-reading
Sight reading of a work of difficulty similar to e.g. Robert Schumann: Album für die Jugend, No. 11, “Sizilianisch”.
Assessment
Three separate marks are awarded according to the 7-point grading scale. One for each of the above-mentioned tests. The test will be passed succesfully, only if the applicant has achieved a minimum mark of 02 in all of the three tests. If the applicant passes the principal study audition, he or she then takes further examinations in supporting subjects. These examinations are identical for all Bachelor programmes.
The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study.
Repertoire requirements for the audition recording:
Duration: 15-20 minutes
- An etude of the applicant’s own choice
- A polyphonic work by J. S. Bach. E.g.: A Prelude and Fugue from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier
- One fast and one slow movement from a sonata from the Classical period
- A Romantic work or a work from the 20th century
The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study and a conversation.
The examination requirements apply equally to applicants who already attend the Academy and wish to take a test for the Master's programme without pedagogy.
The applicant must submit a repertoire for solo piano from at least three different musical periods. One of the pieces should be a virtuoso etude.
The submissions should last 40 minutes. At the examination, the censors choose 20 minutes repertoire to be performed. This is supplemented by 5 minutes of conversation regarding the student's prerequisites and expectations for the study programme.
The duration of the entrance examination is max. 25 minutes (35 minutes including assessment).
The entrance examination is censured by two internal censors and a grade is awarded according to the 7-point grading scale.
The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study.
Repertoire requirements for the audition recording:
Duration: 20 minutes
The applicant must submit a repertoire for solo piano from at least three different musical periods. One of the pieces should be a virtuoso etude.
Please note, that at the moment it is only possible for EU/EEA citizens to apply for admission to this programme.
Entrance exam
At the entrance exam the applicant performs:
1. A solo piano work of the applicant's own choice (max. 5 min.)
2. Two operatic scenes of the applicant’s own choice.
- one from an opera by Mozart (max. 5 min.)
- one from a 19th or 20th century opera (max. 5 min.)
The scenes have to be for a minimum of two singers (i.e. not arias) and the Mozart scene should include a secco recitative.
3. An opera excerpt (max. 5 min) provided by RDAM two weeks in advance. The excerpt is for a minimum of two singers. The ensemble will not be complete. The applicant should be prepared to coach the excerpt, making corrections, giving musical as well as language instructions, and singing cues.
4. A prima vista assignment from a vocal score/piano reduction (max. 3 min.)
All opera excerpts should be performed in the original language.
The applicant is responsible for the participating singers in the opera scenes of his/her own choice.
RDAM is responsible for the participating singers in the provided opera excerpt. RDAM is responsible for the prima vista assignment.
The entrance exam concludes with a conversation of max. 5 min. with the examiners focusing on the applicant’s prerequisites and expectations to the programme.
The duration of the entrance exam is max. 45 minutes (including the deliberation of the examiners).
The entrance exam is assessed by two internal examiners. A single grade is awarded under the currently applicable marking scale.
Form, content, and assessment of the examination
The entrance examination consists of a principal study audition, which is taken in two rounds. If you apply for the specialisation Soloist Artistic Research or Soloist with teaching qualifications (advanced level), there will also be a third round in your chosen specialisation.
You can read about the different specialisations and the content of the entrance exams here.
1st round – Video
The 1st round consists of a video recording with a duration of 20 minutes, where you play your chosen repertoire for the 1st round. The video recording must be uploaded in the application form.
You find the repertoire requirements below.
If you pass the 1st round, you will continue to the 2nd round.
We will send you the result from the 1st round in an email in the middle of May.
The 1st round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner with pass/fail.
Requirements for the video recording
- The recording of the entire 1st round must be one-take. You are allowed to take a sip of water or a short break between the pieces – like you would do, if it had been a live entrance exam.
- The video recording must be unedited.
- The video recording must be a maximum of six months old.
- We encourage you to record works with an accompanist, if the piece normally is performed with accompaniment.
Recommendations for the video recording
- See the Academy's guide for the best sound on your recording.
2nd round – At RDAM
The 2nd round will be held at RDAM between mid-May and end-June. If you pass the 1st round, you will be summoned for the 2nd round.
From end-March, you can find a preliminary schedule of the dates for the 2nd round on the Academy website under “The entrance examinations schedule”.
In the 2nd round, you will be asked to perform a programme of 30 minutes' duration. Please find the repertoire requirements below.
The 2nd round ends with a five-minute conversation about the applicant's motivation for applying, career considerations, etc.. The conversation does not affect the grade but is used for mutual matching of expectations about the education.
The 2nd round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner according to the 7-point grading scale.
Repertoire
The applicant chooses the repertoire, always subject, however, to the following rules:
- Playing the same work at both rounds is not allowed
- Together the works performed at the two rounds must cover at least four different periods
- At least one work at one of the two rounds must be written after 1945
- The works performed must be for piano solo
Examples of type and difficulty of repertoire:
- J.S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903
- D. Scarlatti: 5 Sonatas
- J. Haydn: Sonata in E flat major, Hob. XVI:52
- L. van Beethoven: Sonata in A flat major, Op. 110
- Fr. Schubert: Sonata in A major, Op. 959
- Fr. Chopin: Scherzo in E major, Op. 54
- Fr. Chopin: Sonata in B flat minor, Op. 35
- J. Brahms: Intermezzo in E flat minor, Op. 118:4
- J. Brahms: Rhapsodie in B minor, Op. 79:1
- J. Brahms: Sonata in F minor, Op. 5
- M. Ravel: 3 movements of Le Tombeau de Couperin (1914-17)
- B. Bartók: Sonata (1926)
- I. Nørholm: Signaturer fra en provins, Op. 51 (Signatures from a Province)
- L. Dallapiccola: Quaderno musicale di Annalibera (1952)
- P. Ruders: Dante Sonate (1970)
The Young Artist Programme is a new education. It is only possible for EU/EEA citizens to apply for admission to this programme.
Application
Application to be uploaded on the admission site must include:
- Motivation letter
- Recommendation(s) from educational institution(s) or professional collaborator(s)
- Curriculum Vitae including information on education and prior professional experience
- Documentation of a Master education in piano or another related subject
- Video recording of a performance of an opera ensemble for a duration of between 4 and 6 minutes where the applicant plays and sings
The entrance exam: Procedure and assessment
The entrance exam has two rounds. The jury grades the first round with “pass or fail”. If you pass, you will be invited to the second round.
The first round of the entrance exam
The first round of the entrance exam consists of an assessment of the applicant’s qualifications based on the material submitted in the application. The first round is graded with “pass or fail”. ”Pass” will mean that you have advanced to the 2nd round.
The second round of the entrance exam
The second round takes place at The Royal Opera Copenhagen or The Royal Danish Academy of Music and consists of a live audition in which the applicant will:
- Both play and sing the following music, some of which will might be conducted:
- W. A. Mozart: “Don Giovanni”
#13 (Act 1 Finale) bars 273-532 (app. 7 mins)
- R. Strauss: “Salome”
from the beginning of the 4th scene (3 bars after fig. 154) to 3 bars after fig. 172 (app. 4 mins)
- G. Puccini: “La Bohème”
all of Act 2 (app. 20 mins)
- W. A. Mozart: “Don Giovanni”
- Coach a singer (provided by the Opera or The Royal Academy of Music) on a piece of music sent to the candidate 3 days before the audition (app. 10 mins)
- Sight read
- Have a conversation with the jury about expectations for the study programme.
The second round will be assessed with one grade according to the 7-point grading scale by the admissions committee.
Form, content, and assessment of the examination
The entrance examination consists of a principal study audition, which is taken in two rounds. If you apply for the specialisation Soloist Artistic Research or Soloist with teaching qualifications (advanced level), there will also be a third round in your chosen specialisation.
You can read about the different specialisations and the content of the entrance exams here.
Content
The applicant chooses a repertoire of 75-80 min duration, consisting of chamber music as well as vocal and instrumental accompaniment (a movement from an instrumental concerto), representing at least 4 different stylistic periods.
1st round – Video
The 1st round consists of a video recording with a duration of 30 minutes, where you play your chosen repertoire for the 1st round. The video recording must be uploaded in the application form.
Repertoire
From the repertoire provided by the applicant, a self-selected program consisting of accompaniment and chamber music is performed.
You find the repertoire requirements below.
If you pass the 1st round, you will continue to the 2nd round.
We will send you the result from the 1st round in an email in the middle of May.
The 1st round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner with pass/fail.
Requirements for the video recording
- The recording of the entire 1st round must be one-take. You are allowed to take a sip of water or a short break between the pieces – like you would do, if it had been a live entrance exam.
- The video recording must be unedited.
- The video recording must be a maximum of six months old.
Recommendations for the video recording
- See the Academy's guide for the best sound on your recording.
2nd round – At RDAM
The 2nd round will be held at RDAM between mid-May and end-June. If you pass the 1st round, you will be summoned for the 2nd round.
From end-March, you can find a preliminary schedule of the dates for the 2nd round on the Academy website under “The entrance examinations schedule”.
Content
- Live performance of the chosen programme.
- Prima vista vocal accompaniment with a summoned singer.
- The 2nd round ends with a five-minute conversation about the applicant's motivation for applying, career considerations, etc.. The conversation does not affect the grade but is used for mutual matching of expectations about the education.
Repertoire
The remaining part of the repertoire consisting of accompaniment and chamber music provided by the applicant is performed (i.e. the part that is not included in the 1st round).
- Duration of the 2nd round approx. 55 minutes
The 2nd round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner according to the 7-point grading scale.
The requirements for each of the two disciplines are described below
The overall repertoire must have a duration of 75-80 minutes in total, representing at least 4 different stylistic periods, and consist of:
- Chamber music
- Accompainment
- Vocal
- Instrumental (max. 10 minutes)
Accompaniment
- Vocal accompainment
A previously rehearsed Lied repertoire with one or more singers.
- Instrumental accompaniment
Accompaniment of a concert piece (max. 10 min).
Intro, interlude and outro must be played in full length.
- Prima vista rehearsal
Accompaniment of a summoned singer in 1 romanza/lied and 1 aria from an opera or oratorio, difficulty comparable to:
- F. Schubert: Schlummerlied
- C. Debussy: Romance
- R. Wagner: Siegmund's "Winterstürme" from Walkhre, act 1
- G. Verdi: Tenor solo "Ingemisco tamquam tremo" from Requiem
Chamber Music
A previously rehearsed chamber music repertoire.
Examples of type and difficulty of repertoire:
- L. van Beethoven: Sonata in C minor, Op. 30 No. 2, for piano and violin
- J. Brahms: Clarinet Trio
- S. Prokofief: Violin Sonata, Op. 80
- C. Debussy: En blanc et noir, for two pianos