Applications and Auditions
Admission to the music program is based on the music faculty's assessment of a student's musical interests, experience, present level of achievement, and potential. An audition, interview, grades achieved in previous studies, and letters of recommendation are all important factors in this assessment. Each application is individually evaluated, and there is no set formula for weighing the components of assessment. Applicants may be admitted with deficiencies in musical knowledge or in performance, but such deficiencies must be made up. Faculty, in consultation with the student, will develop a suitable program of study.
After your application has been received, the Music Department will contact you for an interview and audition. A placement test in various music skills is also given to all Diploma program candidates.
Intake of music students generally occurs only in September. Since there are many applicants for a limited number of spaces, and registration priority is determined by application date, we encourage all students to apply as early as possible.
How to Apply
Application to the Music Program is a three-step process:
- Complete Online Web Application
If you attended a secondary institution within the last five years, you must submit an official transcript bearing the original signature of the Registrar and/or original seal of the issuing institution.
If you attended a post-secondary institution(s), you must submit an official transcript(s) bearing the original signature of the Registrar and/or original seal of the issuing institution. - Complete Online Music Program Information Form.
- Arrange for two references: one from a qualified individual who can attest to your musical ability, accomplishments, and potential; the other from a person who is able to comment on your character and capacity for academic study. References cannot be from family members. Referees may complete the Online Reference Form or send a recommendation letter to the department.
Diploma applicants wishing to be exempt from the theory placement test must submit transcripts of their Royal Conservatory or Western Board theory exams.
Prospective students should contact the Music Department to inform us of interest in the program. We also encourage prospective students to visit the Langley Campus and arrange to meet specific faculty members. We will be happy to answer any questions about our program and to discuss your musical interests and goals.
Music Department Mailing Address:
Music Department
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
20901 Langley By-Pass
Langley, BC
Canada V3A 8G9
Note: Applications can be filed starting November 1st and all documentation must be received by March 31st to be eligible for April and May auditions. Subject to space availability, applications will be considered until July 31st. Late auditions may be scheduled as needed. We cannot accept applications for deferred entry.
Note: To be eligible for scholarships, students must submit complete documentation by March 31st.
Music Foundation Program
The Audition and Interview
Applicants for the Music Foundation Program must have a basic ability on an instrument or voice, as well as keen interest in learning about the practice, history, and theory of music. We look for individuals who are creative, curious, disciplined, highly motivated, possess reasonable academic skills, and are willing to adjust to time commitments.
Students should come prepared to demonstrate their playing level and basic music reading ability. Normally, two compositions of contrasting character are expected. Applicants may perform music of any style, but should realize that once admitted to the program they will be studying mainly classical music. We will ask for a demonstration of technique (scales, chords, arpeggios) and sight reading. There are no formal written entrance exams.
The interview is informal and gives us an opportunity to discuss your musical background, interests, and other strengths. The information helps us advise you regarding the selection of courses that will best meet your musical needs. It also gives you an opportunity to discuss your personal and career objectives and ask any pertinent questions regarding the music programs.
Note: Students must provide, at the time of the interview, ONE EXTRA COPY of the music they will be performing. A lead-sheet is sufficient for original compositions or arrangements. All guitar applicants should demonstrate their abilities and musical knowledge on an acoustic guitar.
University Transfer Program - The Interview and Audition
An interview, an audition on the major instrument, and a placement test must be completed before an applicant can be accepted into the University Transfer Program (each component of evaluation is discussed in detail below). Candidates will be chosen based on current playing level and general musical and academic potential. It is normally expected that successful candidates will have a good musical ear and knowledge of basic rudiments of music theory. Familiarity with music history is encouraged but not essential.
The Interview
The interview is informal and gives us an opportunity to discuss your musical background, interests, and other strengths, which we would not otherwise know about. The information will help us advise you regarding the selection of courses that will best meet your musical needs. It also gives you an opportunity to discuss your personal and/or career objectives and ask any pertinent questions regarding the music programs.
The Placement Test is held on the same day as the audition/interview. Candidates are therefore advised to set aside a full day for the evaluation process.
The Audition
Each applicant will be contacted by the Department of Music to establish the date and time of the audition. Confirmation of the audition appointment will arrive at least one week in advance of the scheduled date. If this date is not suitable, notify the department immediately in order to arrange an alternate appointment. Students should audition in person, but those who are not local residents may request instructions on how to prepare an audition tape.
Auditions are conducted by a panel of two or three members of the music faculty. The audition panel will seek to assess:
- Musicianship (phrasing, rhythm, dynamics, style, imagination, and musical sensitivity);
- Technical skills (accuracy, intonation, tone quality, and posture);
- Sight-reading abilities
The audition is not a high-pressured examination but rather an opportunity for members of the faculty to assess your present playing abilities. This will help us advise you of the course of study that would best meet your needs.
You will be expected to perform:
- Repertoire: Candidates should prepare two works of contrasting styles, which will demonstrate musicianship as well as technical ability. For all instruments except piano, the standard of practical work expected at the time of audition is equivalent to RCM Grade 6. The entrance standard for piano is equivalent to RCM Grade 10.
Note: Admission is determined by the level of performance demonstrated at the audition, not the conservatory certificate.
Students who wish to major in Performance will be expected to demonstrate an very high level of musical and technical proficiency.
Memorization is encouraged but not compulsory. Please provide, at the time of your audition, ONE EXTRA copy of the compositions you will be performing.
Voice students should arrange for their own accompanist. Piano accompaniment is optional for players of orchestral instruments. If you cannot arrange for your own accompanist, the Music Department may be able to provide one upon advance request. You must provide music for the accompanist. - Technique: Candidates will be asked to demonstrate scale, arpeggios, and chords. Specific requirements for the various instruments are listed below.
- Sight-reading: Candidates will be asked to sight read a piece of music.
Please see Audition Requirements which detail specific technical prerequisites for each instrument.
University Transfer Program - Audition Requirements
Piano
a) Two contrasting selections from the classical repertoire.
b) Major and harmonic and melodic minor scales, hands together, minimum two octaves, in keys up to and including three sharps and three flats.
c) Arpeggios, hands together, minimum two octaves, in major and minor keys up to and including three sharps and three flats.
d) Solid and broken triads/four-note chords, two octaves.
e) Sight-reading.
Voice
a) Three selections, at least two of which should be from the standard art song, opera, oratorio repertoire, or musical theatre. (An ability to perform one of the works in a language other than English is desirable but not required.) The third selection may be a traditional folk song or represent another style of the candidate's choice. In selecting a program, candidates should aim to present different aspects of singing and demonstrate a variety of moods, beauty and fullness of tone, and sensitivity to pitch and rhythm.
b) Sight-reading.
Classical Guitar (Note: All auditions must be played on an acoustic guitar)
a) Two solo guitar pieces of different periods, contrasting style, tempo, and technique.
b) One guitar etude or study.
c) Major and harmonic and melodic minor scales (two octaves) up to and including four sharps and four flats.
d) Chromatic scale: 2 octaves - A to a'.
e) I-IV-V7-I chord progression in major and minor keys up to and including four sharps and two flats. Chords may be fingered in open and/or closed positions.
Strings: violin, viola
a) Two solo pieces of contrasting style and tempo, or two contrasting movements of one composition.
b) One etude or study.
c) Major and harmonic and melodic minor scales (two octaves).
d) Major, minor, dominant- and diminished-seventh arpeggios (two octaves).
e) Chromatic scale of student's choice (two octaves).
f) Sight-reading
Strings: cello, double bass
a) Two solo pieces of contrasting style and tempo, or two contrasting movements of one composition.
b) Major and harmonic and melodic minor scales (two octaves), up to and including two sharps and two flats.
c) Sight-reading.
Woodwinds: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone
a) Two pieces or etudes of contrasting style and tempo, or two contrasting movements of one composition.
b) Major and harmonic and melodic minor scales (two octaves when possible) up to and including four sharps and four flats.
c) Chromatic scale.
d) Sight-reading.
Brass: trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba
a) Two pieces or etudes of contrasting style and tempo, or two contrasting movements of one composition.
Note: NO band parts accepted.
b) Major and harmonic and melodic minor scales (two octaves when possible) up to and including four sharps and four flats.
c) Sight-reading.
Percussion
a) One piece or study on a mallet/keyboard instrument (chimes, marimba, vibraphone, xylophone).
b) One piece or study on snare drum.
c) Technique:
i. mallet/keyboard - major and harmonic and melodic minor scales up to and including four sharps and four flats.
ii. drum - demonstrate standard rudiments, including open and closed rolls, flams, drags.
d) Sight-reading.
Note: Students must bring their own sticks. Snare drum and mallet instruments provided.
University Transfer Program - Placement Test
A student entering the University Transfer Program must have an understanding of all elements of music in order to benefit fully from the courses offered. Therefore, all applicants to this program must take a placement test prior to being recommended for admission. The test is given on the day of the audition.
The placement test is designed to determine a student's knowledge and ability in the areas of aural skills, music theory, and music history. The results of the test are used to help place students in the appropriate course of studies. An applicant may be admitted with deficiencies in musical knowledge, provided such deficiencies are made-up and the necessary standards met in later testing.
Applicants may be exempt from the placement test if they have achieved good scores on recent Royal Conservatory or Western Board theory examinations, Grade 2 or higher. Transcripts of these results should be sent directly to the Music Department.
Part 1: Aural Skills Test
Good aural skills are a vital component of musicianship. Students will be asked to identify the following by ear: any interval within the octave; the four triads (major, minor, diminished, and augmented); dominant seventh chords; scale types (major, harmonic and melodic minor); cadence types (perfect, imperfect, and plagal).
Students will also be asked to notate a simple rhythmic pattern and a four-bar melody from dictation.
Part 2: Theory Placement Test
The purpose of this test is to determine each applicant's knowledge of the rudiments of music theory. The level of difficulty is comparable to Grade 2 Royal Conservatory or Western Board. The theory test includes:
- values of notes and rests;
- meanings of time signatures;
- clefs (treble, bass, alto, tenor);
- accidentals and other basic musical symbols;
- intervals, interval inversion, and enharmonic equivalents;
- scales and scale degree names;
- key signatures;
- triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented) - all inversions;
- dominant sevenths - all inversions;
- transposition;
- common musical terms.
Part 3: Music History Questionnaire
The placement test concludes with a one-page questionnaire that assesses the student's general knowledge of the following:
- the historical periods of Western art music;
- important composers associated with those periods;
- important genres (symphony, opera, etc.).
The results of this questionnaire are not used to determine a student's eligibility for the Diploma Program, but give us a better understanding of each student's musical background.
Location of audition/interview and placement test:
Music Wing
Langley Campus
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
20901 Langley By-Pass
Langley, B.C.
V3A 8G9
What Happens After the Audition?
Within two weeks of the audition applicants will receive one of four decisions from the Music Department:
- an unconditional offer of admission to the program; or
- an offer conditional upon upgrading their musical skills or theory knowledge; or
- an offer conditional upon receipt of English 12 or English testing results; or
- refusal of admission at the present time.
A student whose application was unsuccessful but who wishes to undertake preparatory studies with the objective of possible future admission should consult an adviser in the Music Department for counseling.
The Registration Process
If you accept an offer of admission, you will be contacted to attend an information session. The purpose of the meeting is to help you select courses that will best meet your needs and to answer any questions you may have about your studies.
Note: students will be required to pay a registration deposit prior to registration.
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