Entrance Tests for Percussion

When you apply to the Bachelor’s Programme in Classical Music, you need to take an entrance examination test. Here is everything you need to know to complete the test.

Application code: KMH-40000

Preparation

In advance of the tests, you should prepare at least four pieces on these instruments:

  • Snare drum: play one piece/étude of your choice that Demonstrates musical and technical proficiency
  • Melodic percussion instrument (marimba, vibraphone, or xylophone): play one piece/étude of your choice, ideally using four mallets, that Demonstrates musical and technical proficiency
  • Timpani: play one piece/étude of your choice that Demonstrates musical and technical proficiency
  • Choice of percussion: play one piece/étude of your choice that Demonstrates musical and technical proficiency. You may choose the instrument. It can be one of the instruments you played on earlier in the test.

Make a repertoire list with the names of your prepared pieces for the entrance examination (including possible Test 2). Include your personal details and the programme, profile, and instrument for which you are applying. Your repertoire list should be in PDF format.

Test 1 – Digital audition

The first audition is digital. This test is a selection that determines which applicants will get to take the remaining tests.

Record a video with an etude, a piece, or a part thereof, on either Snare Drum or Melodic Percussion (marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone) of your choice. Your performance should not exceed 3 minutes, and preferably should not include any of the material you have prepared for test 2.

Duration: Approximately 3 minutes.

After you have submitted your application at universityadmissions.se External link, opens in new window. and once the application deadline has passed, you will receive more information via email about how to submit your test to KMH.

Instructions for the video recording

For your video to be admissible, you need to

  • Provide proof of your identity by showing a photo ID card together with your face in the video. State the name of the piece you will perform and the test code.
  • Perform your piece. Your face and your hands must be visible throughout the entire video. It should be easy to see both you and your instrument.
  • Record your video in one single uninterrupted take. No clips or other edits are allowed.
  • It is fine to make your video with a mobile phone, but make sure your setup allows you to record without too much room acoustic, distortion, or noise. All recordings should have good image quality with sharp focus and good light.
  • Allowed formats are MP4 or MOV. Try to keep the file size around 500 MB if possible.

If you do not follow these instructions, and we find that your video shows signs of modification, your audition may be disqualified from consideration.

Test code: LS 11.0 Uttagning klassisk musik/Audition Classical Music
Assessment: The test is qualifying, and the result is evaluated on a pass (1) or fail (0) basis. The jury assesses your technical skill and musical performance.

Your result will be notified by email. All passing applicants will proceed to the remaining tests.

Test 2 – Audition main instrument at KMH

This test will take place on the KMH campus and has three parts.

  1. Entrance Audition
    You will play the pieces described in the section on preparing for the tests.
    Point scale: 0–50 points, pass requires 25 points.
  2. Sight Reading
    You will be given sight reading tests on the snare drum and marimba, directly from the sheet music, and a small tuning test on timpani.
    Point scale: 0–3 points, pass requires 1 point.

Bring a printout of your repertoire list to the audition and give it to the jury.

Test code: LS 11.1a Huvudämne klassisk musik/Main Subject Classical Music
Test time: Approx. 30-40 minutes
Assessment: The test is qualifying and a basis for selection. You can receive a maximum of 53 points. The points required to pass each part of the test are listed above.

Test 3 – Music theory test

This test is administered on the KMH campus and consists of three parts. To pass this test, you need to

  • Demonstrate a foundational knowledge of music theory: note names, intervals, keys, time signatures, note values and rests, and chord analysis.
  • Demonstrate foundational skills in ear training: music dictation (melody, harmony and rhythm) as well as imitation (in certain instances).
  • Demonstrate foundational skills in harmony: harmonic analysis (Roman numeral analysis or function analysis), voice leading, and writing a second instrumental part to a given melody.

Test code: MT-prov/MT test
Test time: 2 hours
Assessment: The test is qualifying and a basis for selection. You can receive a maximum of 5 points. 1 point for each part of the test is required to pass. For this assessment, the criteria shown in the chart below apply.

Assessment

Music fundamentals

Ear training

Harmony and arranging

2 points
(pass)

-

Shows good knowledge in ear training.

Shows good knowledge in harmony and arranging.

1 point
(pass)

Shows sufficient knowledge in music fundamentals to complete the education.

Shows sufficient knowledge in ear training to complete the education.

Shows sufficient knowledge in harmony and arranging to complete the education.

0 points
(fail)

Does not show sufficient knowledge in music fundamentals to complete the education.

Does not show sufficient knowledge in ear training to complete the education.

Does not show sufficient knowledge in harmony and arranging to complete the education.

Credit for test 3

All applicants need to take the music theory test. It will not be possible to credit a passed result from the previous year's music theory test. It will also not be possible to credit the results of the music theory test from other music colleges.

You only need to take the music theory test once if you apply to more than one of the following Bachelor's programmes:

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