Entrance examinations for percussion

You can choose to take the audition at several levels at the Academy

The entrance examination consists of the following elements:

Principal study (duration: 45 minutes incl. assessment and set-up of instruments)

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

  • All scales and triads (major and minor) spanning two octaves played on a keyboard instrument (xylophone, vibraphone or marimba)
  • Piece chosen by the applicant for snare drum, e.g. Børge Ritz: Dansk Tapto (unpublished), Gert Mortensen: March Cadenza (Southern Percussion), Einar Nielsen: Etude Classique (unpublished) (excerpts from all three may be played)
  • Piece chosen by the applicant for timpani, e.g. movements from Robert Muczynski: Three Designs for Three Timpany or a piece chosen by the applicant for multipercussion
  • Piece chosen by the applicant for keyboard instrument, e.g. Paul Creston: Concertino for Marimba, 1st movement (G. Schirmer), Mitchell Peters: Yellow after the Rain (Mitchell Peters), or Povl Smadbeck: Rhythm Song (Mallets Arts)

Second test: Set task

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

3rd test: Sight-reading

Sight-reading on snare drum and keyboard instrument.

Assessment

The entrance examination is assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner. 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 for the Bachelor's programme is online. It consists of three rounds. Applicants must pass the first round to proceed to the second, and the second round to proceed to the third—these rounds are sequential and prohibitive.

  1. Audition recording
  2. Set task
  3. Interview

All three parts of the entrance exam must be passed. 

1st round - Audition recording
A recording of the audition repertoire.  Requiremets for the repertoire and the recording are listed below.

2nd round - Set task
RDAM will provide applicants with a set task 7 days before the application deadline. 

The set task must be uploaded together with the rest of the application before the deadline. The aim of the set task is to assess how far an applicant can progress with a piece they likely have not encountered before. It is important to underline that there are no formal requirements to the quality of the recording of the proposed task. I.e. using a smartphone on the music stand is perfectly fine.

The set task will be available here 3 March 2025.

3rd round - Interview
The conversation will assess language skills and general communication and reflection abilities in English. The submitted letter of motivation and repertoire list will form the basis for the interview, but many different subjects may be addressed. 

Based on the above, RDAM will decide if the applicant is recommended for admission.

Repertoire requirements for the audition recording

Duration: 15-20 minutes

  • Piece chosen by the applicant for snare drum, e.g. Børge Ritz: Dansk Tapto (unpublished), Gert Mortensen: March Cadenza (Southern Percussion), Einar Nielsen: Etude Classique (unpublished) (excerpts from all three may be played)
  • Piece chosen by the applicant for timpani, e.g. movements from Robert Muczynski: Three Designs for Three Timpany or a piece chosen by the applicant for multipercussion
  • Piece chosen by the applicant for keyboard instrument, e.g. Paul Creston: Concertino for Marimba, 1st movement (G. Schirmer), Mitchell Peters: Yellow after the Rain (Mitchell Peters), or Povl Smadbeck: Rhythm Song (Mallets Arts)

Requirements for the audition recording

  • The audition recording must be unedited except between performances (i.e. between pieces), and the audition must be recorded within six months of submitting your application.
  • Check that the recording submitted is accessible and that all recordings have been submitted successfully.
  • Accepted formats: mp4, mp3, webm and mpeg.
  • The maximum size of a file that can be submitted in the online application is 1GB. Therefore, it might be necessary to divide your audition recording into individual pieces (please remember not to edit within a piece of music).  

For extra guidelines on video recording, please watch our video. If YouTube is not available in your country, the video can also be accessed here.

Supporting information to be prepared when applying

Repertoire list: Applicants must submit a repertoire list with works/pieces/studies they have previously worked on in their application. 

Ensemble and/or orchestra playing: Applicants should describe their experiences in playing in orchestra/choir or smaller ensembles i.e. which kind of orchestra/ensemble, duration, repertoire.

Piano skills: As part of their application, the applicant must describe their experience with piano playing. Piano playing as a supporting subject in all programs and is an important part of the studies at RDAM. If the applicant has no prior experience in piano playing before starting their studies, RDAM will try to adjust the classes accordingly.

If the applicant is offered a study place the applicant will be invited to a separate online interview with the relevant faculty to plan the studies. If the applicant has limited experience with theory and aural training RDAM will try to adjust the classes accordingly. 

The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study.

The applicant must perform:

  • Snare drum: Masson: “Prim” or “Kim"
  • Marimba: A work by either Maslanka or Kaiko Abe or other works of similar degree of difficulty for multi-percussion, timpani, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba or snare drum

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

The entrance examination is assessed by two internal censors, 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.

The entrance examination for the Master's programme is online. It consists of three rounds. Applicants must pass the first round to proceed to the second, and the second round to proceed to the third—these rounds are sequential and prohibitive.

  1. Audition recording
  2. Set task
  3. Interview

All three parts of the entrance exam must be passed. 

1st round - Audition recording
A recording of the audition repertoire.  Requiremets for the repertoire and the recording are listed below.

2nd round - Set task
RDAM will provide applicants with a set task 7 days before the application deadline. 

The set task must be uploaded together with the rest of the application before the deadline. The aim of the set task is to assess how far an applicant can progress with a piece they likely have not encountered before. It is important to underline that there are no formal requirements to the quality of the recording of the proposed task. I.e. using a smartphone on the music stand is perfectly fine.

The set task will be available here 3 March 2025.

3rd round - Interview
The conversation will assess language skills and general communication and reflection abilities in English. The submitted letter of motivation and repertoire list will form the basis for the interview, but many different subjects may be addressed. 

Based on the above, RDAM will decide if the applicant is recommended for admission.

Repertoire requirements for the audition recording

Duration: 20-25 minutes

Requirements for the audition recording

  • The audition recording must be unedited except between performances (i.e. between pieces), and the audition must be recorded within six months of submitting your application.
  • Check that the recording submitted is accessible and that all recordings have been submitted successfully.
  • Accepted formats: mp4, mp3, webm and mpeg.
  • The maximum size of a file that can be submitted in the online application is 1GB. Therefore, it might be necessary to divide your audition recording into individual pieces (please remember not to edit within a piece of music).  

For extra guidelines on video recording, please watch our video. If YouTube is not available in your country, the video can also be accessed here.

Supporting information to be prepared when applying

Repertoire list: Applicants must submit a repertoire list with works/pieces/studies they have previously worked on in their application. 

Ensemble and/or orchestra playing: Applicants should describe their experiences in playing in orchestra/choir or smaller ensembles i.e. which kind of orchestra/ensemble, duration, repertoire.

Piano skills: As part of their application, the applicant must describe their experience with piano playing. Piano playing as a supporting subject in all programs and is an important part of the studies at RDAM. If the applicant has no prior experience in piano playing before starting their studies, RDAM will try to adjust the classes accordingly.

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 mid-March, you can find a preliminary schedule of the dates for the 2nd round on How to apply - EU/EEA applicants and How to apply - non-EU/EEA applicants.

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.
  • The programme must a.o. include the following:
    1. A major solo work for keyboard instrument, a major solo work for multi percussion, and a major chamber music work OR
    2. Solo works for keyboard instrument, and a major chamber music work of which multi percussion forms part OR
    3. Solo works for multi percussion, and a major chamber music work of which keyboard instruments form part

Applicants who have not previously been students at The Royal Danish Academy of Music may for practical reasons be granted an exemption from performing chamber music in case the applicant chooses possibility 1.