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 (cancelled)

The digital audition is canceled for percussion applicants. Applicants will be invited directly to Tests 2 and 3 on campus.

Test 2 – Audition main instrument at KMH

This test will take place on the KMH campus and consists of two parts. Bring a printout of your repertoire list to the audition and give it to the jury.

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.
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.

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 – music fundamentals, ear training, and harmony and arranging.

You need to pass all three parts. To pass this test, you need to

Demonstrate a foundational knowledge of music fundamentals: 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).
Demonstrate foundational skills in harmony and arranging: harmonic analysis (Roman numeral analysis or function analysis), voice leading, and writing a second instrumental part to a given melody.

The test in ear training and music fundamentals is conducted digitally in a computer room and you have a total of one hour. The test in harmony and arranging is written and conducted in another room, and you again get a total of one hour.

The music theory test is the same for three classical bachelor's programmes. That means you only take the music theory test once if you apply to more than one of the following programmes:

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.