Entrance examinations for recorder and harpsichord


The entrance examination consists of the following elements:

Principal study (duration: 40 minutes incl. assessment and tuning)

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:

1st test: Set/self-chosen tasks, etudes, scales (duration: 15-20 minutes)

Recorder

  • All scales and triads (major and minor) using the instrument to its fullest range
  • An etude from Franz Brüggen: 5 Etudes for Finger Dexterity
  • A sonata from the High Baroque period chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to e.g. G. Ph. Telemann: Sonata in C major from Der getreue Musikmeister
  • A modern piece chosen by the applicant similar in difficulty to e.g. Hans Martin Linde: Music for a Bird

Harpsichord

  • An excerpt from Pieces de Clavecin - Rameau, Couperin, d’Anglebert or similar
  • A Prelude (with fugue) and a two-part invention by J.S. Bach
  • A sonata by Scarlatti

2nd test: Set task

A proposed task which is emailed to the applicant 7 days before the entrance examination takes place.

3rd test: Sight reading

Sight reading of a composition.

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 (a set task, a self-chosen task, and a sight-reading task). 

Recorder: 
(with pedagogy

G. PH. Telemann Fantasy No. 2 for Solo recorder (Keys: c minor if played on alto recorder and a minor on voice flute) 

Harpsichord

J.S. Bach: Allemande and Courente from Partita in c minor BWV 826

Duration of the entrance examination max. 20 minutes (30 minutes including assessment).

The entrance examination is censured by two internal examinators, and a grade is awarded according to the 7-point grading scale. The entrance examination can end 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.

On the soloist level you can choose the following consort and early music instruments:

  • Recorder
  • Harpsichord
  • Viola da Gamba
  • Baroque violin
  • Baroque cello
  • Lute
  • Baroque trumpet
  • Traverso flute

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

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.

Special repertoire requirements for recorder

The applicant chooses the repertoire, always subject, however, to the following rules:

  • Playing the same work at both rounds is not allowed
  • The works performed in the two rounds must be from at least two stylistic periods

Examples of type and difficulty of repertoire:

  • J. Hotteterre: Suite in E minor for alto recorder and b.c.
  • K. Badings: Sonata for soprano recorder and harpsichord
  • J.S. Bach: Obbligato recorder part of Cantata BWV 39, aria No. 5: Höchster, was ich habe, or of a comparable contemporary work
  • G.Ph. Telemann: Quartet in D minor (from Tafelmusik II, 1733) for alto recorder, transverse flute, oboe or b.c.
  • G.Ph. Telemann: Fantasia in E major for alto recorder solo
  • G. Sammartini: Concerto in F major for soprano recorder, strings, and b.c.