Entrance examinations for tonmeister

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

The entrance examination consists of the following elements:

Principal study

The main subjects for Tonmeister are recording technique and music production. The test will consist of:

  • Test of general technical and musical knowledge (example here)
  • Auditive analysis
  • Discussion

Test 1 is a separate, 60 minute long test, whereas tests 2 and 3 are taken at the same time. Each part will last approximately 15 minutes. The tests are prohibitive. The entrance examination is assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner. 

Audiogram

You must sent a certified audiogram (max. 1 year old) together with your application. An audiogram shows a person's hearing at different frequencies. An audiogram can be obtained from a specialist doctor.

Form and contents of the main subject examination

Test of general technical and musical knowledge

The test consists of a short written paper on a series of elementary technical and musical questions. Some of the questions will require only a yes/no answer, while others require brief answers. 

Auditive analysis

A verbal, musical as well as technical, description of two recorded pieces of music (one rhythmic and one classical). The applicant is asked to explain style, instrumentation, production technical choices, including dynamic, spectral and other processing. In addition, questions are asked about the usual stereo recording techniques and typical production methods within classical and rhythmic music. The candidate’s ability to express his/her perception of the music and his/her use of appropriate technical terminology will be taken into account. 

Discussion

With the help of individual questions the candidate’s technical and musical level will be established. These questions may be of both a theoretical and practical manner. Furthermore the candidate’s intentions and expectations towards the course will be discussed. 

If the applicant passes the principal study audition, he or she then takes further examinations in supporting subject: aural studies/theory test. This examination is identical for all Bachelor programmes. Furthermore, the applicant must take examination in supporting subject: basic piano.

Basic piano

For the piano test the applicant must prepare and perform the following:

  • A piano piece with the same degree of difficulty as e.g.
    • A sonatina by W.A. Mozart
    • A Two-part Invention by J.S. Bach
    • A movement from R. Schumann: Kinderszenen
    • A movement from C. Nielsen: Humoreske – bagateller
    • A movement from B. Bartok: Rumanian Christmas Songs
    • Notated jazz or other rhythmic arrangements with the same degree of difficulty as pieces by e.g. Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans
  • A previously prepared 4-part harmony chorale (from “Den Danske Koralbog”). You can find two examples of a 4-part harmony chorale here.
  • Scales and triads in major and minor (all three types: melodic, harmonic and natural) keys up to and including 4 key signatures, played over two octaves, using both hands simultaneously.
  • A proposed task: Accompaniment to own singing with text. The music may be notated in two different ways. The applicant should choose which one to perform: Simple notation or chord symbols
  • Sight reading task notated on two staves in the G and F clefs and with chord symbols (figured bass). The piece must be played from both types of notation.

The proposed task is emailed to the admission candidate 7 days before the entrance examination takes place.

Basic piano is assessed by two internal examiners. 

Non-EU applicants for the Bachelor's programme as Tonmeister will be called for an online audition, and should not upload any audition recordings as part of their application. 

The entrance examination consists of the following elements:

  • General introduction
  • Auditive Analysis
  • Test of technical and musical knowledge

General Introduction

This will be a short talk about you, your musical background/experience and motivations/goals for applying to the tonmeister programme.

Auditive Analysis

For the auditive analysis, you will hear a short (2 minutes) piece of music unprepared. After you have heard it, we would like you to characterize the musical style, instrumentation, technical choices, including dynamic, spectral and other processing. There will be two different examples – one from classical western music and one contemporary pop/rock/jazz-production. The auditive analysis’s will also be used as a foundation for a talk about things like stereo microphone theory, microphones, compressors, classical recording technique versus recording technique for pop/rock.

The student must be capable of articulating her/his/their perception of the music and, to some extent, use the correct terminology.

Test of technical and musical knowledge

The examiners will ask different questions related to music, sound engineering and music production. Below you can read an outline of the topics which could be covered. At the exam we may not have time for them all.

Instrument/ensemble knowledge

  • How are different instruments tuned and how are some instruments transposed
  • Which instruments are in standard ensembles (bigband, symhony orchestra, string quartets and so on)

Technical knowledge

  • Microphone types (working principle, directional/spectral charactaeristics)
  • Stereo techniques
  • Spectral and dynamic processors
  • Other technical equipment and brands related to Pro Audio
  • Signal flow

Physics

  • Basic acoustics and electronics
  • Audio perception

Knowledge of classical music

  • History, Composers, works/pieces, traditions

Knowledge of contemporary music (pop, rock, jazz)

  • History, Bands, soloists, artists, musicians, producers, genres

Duration of the entrance examination max. 50 minutes including assessment. 
The entrance examination is assessed by two internal examiners.

Supporting information to be prepared when applying

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 a principal study audition.

Applicants must submit two examples of their own musical productions – one in the rhythmic genre (e.g. pop/rock/jazz) and one in the classical genre. Each of the examples must be at least 7 minutes.

The applicant is called for a 20-minute discussion about the submitted Works.

In addition to the conversation about the submitted productions, the applicant's technical and musical standpoint is sought to be clarified. There may be questions of both theoretical and practical nature. In addition, the applicant's intention and expectations for the study are sought to be clarified.

Duration of the entrance examination: 30 minutes including voting.

The entrance examination is assessed by two internal censors. A grade is given on the Danish 7 point grade 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 decision regarding admission will be based on provided documentation for previous education and an evaluation of the submitted musical productions.

The entrance examination consists of a principal study audition.

Applicants must submit two examples of their own musical productions – one in the rhythmic genre (e.g. pop/rock/jazz) and one in the classical genre. Each of the examples must be at least 7 minutes. See the recording requirements

Together with the productions applicants must also submit a production plan. The production plan is a short document describing how the production was put together. It should incorporate a simple time schedule, a list of the equipment/software used and a list of the participants and their roles in the production (musicians, engineer, producer, composer and others). Also there must be a short description of the musical material and the context of the recording, for instance: demo, concert documentation, release for streaming.

The applicant is called for a 20-minute online discussion about the submitted Works.

In addition to the conversation about the submitted productions, the applicant's technical and musical standpoint is sought to be clarified. There may be questions of both theoretical and practical nature. In addition, the applicant's intention and expectations for the study are sought to be clarified.

Duration of the entrance examination: 30 minutes including voting.

The entrance examination is censured by two internal censors. A grade is given on the Danish 7 point grade 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 decision regarding admission will be based on provided documentation for previous education and an evaluation of the submitted musical productions.

Additionally, Non-EU/EEA applicants applicants may be asked to do an extra interview focusing on the musical entrance examination, including piano, ear training/solfége and theory.

Supporting information to be prepared when applying

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.