Music Therapy Auditions
All applicants who apply for a live audition in London will be offered an in-person audition. However, the majority of successful applications come from musicians who have completed their bachelor degree and/or who have gained significant relevant work and life experience outside of education.
Application process
- Submit an online application by the deadline of 4.30pm on Thursday 4 January 2024.
- All applicants who elect to audition in person will be offered a musical audition. Further information about auditions can be found below.
- Applicants who are successful at audition will be invited to the interview stage of the process. Further information about the interview process can be found below.
When submitting your application, you should ensure that you spend time writing a personal statement to best reflect the qualities which make you a suitable applicant for the programme. We welcome applicants from different backgrounds and at different stages in their lives, with diverse personal, musical educational and work experiences. We are looking for applicants who are creative, engaged and thoughtful, and curious about their own and others’ experiences. Your personal statement should detail your relevant experience to date, motivations for using music to work with vulnerable people within a therapeutic framework, and your wish to train in music therapy as a professional discipline. Prior experience of personal therapy is an advantage.
You must also ensure that you supply contact details for two referees who can comment on your suitability for this pathway. Both references must be submitted within two weeks of your application date.
Musical Audition
London auditions are provisionally scheduled to take place on the following dates:
- Monday 22nd January 2024
- Thursday 25th January 2024
- Friday 26th January 2024
- Thursday 1st February 2024
- Friday 2nd February 2024
Please note: these dates are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. You will be advised of your audition date after the application deadline and should not book travel/accommodation prior to formal confirmation of your appointment.
At the live audition, you are expected to demonstrate a high standard in your first instrument (usually diploma/degree level or performance skill at a professional/commercial level). We are particularly interested in sensitive and expressive musical communication and the potential to develop improvisational skills, alongside technical skill.
Your keyboard skills will also be tested. Second study and keyboard skills should be of minimum grade 5 standard or equivalent. It is generally expected that you will be able to have a basic grasp of Western staff notation in treble and bass clefs. Exceptions will be made for musicians from genres that do not use written music.
Accompaniment and equipment
PLEASE NOTE: We will supply a staff accompanist for your audition (if appropriate for your chosen instrument/s) and they will be prepared to accompany music from the western classical tradition. If you are presenting a piece which does not have western classical notation, you must supply your own accompanist or a suitable backing track. In either case, please email music_applications@gsmd.ac.uk at the point of application to confirm any such arrangements.
Please email before your audition if:
- You will be accompanying yourself or bringing someone to accompany you
- You are playing something from outside the western classical tradition for which you require alternative accompaniment arrangements (as detailed above)
- You require additional musical equipment (e.g. electric guitar amplifier, drum kit etc.)
- You require use of a Guildhall School instrument or special audition room setup, e.g. harp/percussion/harpsichord etc.
PLEASE NOTE: We recommend you bring your own equipment wherever possible as we cannot guarantee to meet all requests. Please email music_applications@gsmd.ac.uk if you fall into any of the above categories.
You will need to prepare:
(i) two contrasting pieces on your first study instrument. These should be drawn from your musical speciality, for example classical, jazz, or folk repertoire, or music from any other tradition or style.
(ii) one piece on your second study instrument - also drawn from your musical speciality.
(iii) a short, simple song for unaccompanied voice, such as a folk song or children’s song (ideally from memory)
Unseen - presented to you at the audition:
(iv) a simple sight-singing test of a 12-16 bar written melody (and keyboard sight reading if keyboard is not offered as first or second instrument). However, if you are from a tradition without written music, let us know in your personal statement and the panel will offer an alternative aural task.
(v) a simple practical harmony test on a piano (playing a well know melody by ear, with a basic accompaniment). Guitar will be considered as an alternative to piano, in which case you may be asked to play the melody alone first, and then provide a harmonic accompaniment while singing the melody.
(vi) a free improvisation on a piano, based on a given story line or scenario (this does not require accomplished pianistic skills, but more imagination and creativity in making sounds).
(vii) an interactive improvised musical role-play with a member of the panel (this can be on any instruments, including percussion provided by the panel).
Recorded Auditions for Overseas Applicants
Candidates located overseas may submit a recorded audition in the first instance, but all candidates who are successful in this initial review stage must travel to the UK for a live audition, group workshop and interview. Regretfully, students cannot be admitted to this programme based on remote engagement alone; this is due to the complex range of skills that must be evidenced through the admissions process, including interactive tasks, group/collaborative work and improvisation.
If you wish to submit an initial recorded audition for consideration, please note the following:
- Please ensure that you select ‘RECORDED’ in the audition venue field of the application form.
- Instructions about how to upload your video will be sent to you after the application closing date.
- The deadline for all uploaded audition videos is Friday 12 January 2024.
- If you are successful following your initial recorded submission, you must be prepared to travel to London for a live audition/interview which is scheduled to take place in late March/early April 2023.
Please prepare video recording(s) of the following items:
(i) two contrasting pieces on your first study instrument. These should be drawn from your musical speciality, for instance classical repertoire, jazz repertoire, or folk repertoire from any tradition.
(ii) one piece on your second study instrument - also drawn from your musical speciality.
(iii) a short, simple song for unaccompanied voice, such as a folk song or children’s song (ideally from memory)
PLEASE NOTE: If you are successful following your initial recorded submission, you must be prepared to travel to London for a live audition/interview which is scheduled to take place in late March/early April 2023. The requirements for live auditions are stated above.
Interviews
Interviews take place in London in March/April.
The interview day is divided into three parts; two interviews and a group session. The interviews will be conducted with:
1) the Head of Music Therapy, and
2) a qualified, experienced psychotherapist, external to the music therapy programme, who helps to assess your personal readiness to undertake training.
Occasionally, further interviews with the Head of Music Therapy are deemed necessary before making a final decision.
In these interviews, you will discuss your musical and family background, significant events in your life or aspects of your development, your motivation to work as a therapist, your mental and physical health, your background reading and your observation of music therapy or voluntary work in relevant areas. Importance is placed on your perception of the personal qualities needed to work as a therapist, including the capacity for personal self-reflection and the ability to communicate openly about your thoughts and emotions. Emphasis is placed on the ability to think independently and creatively, and the ability to discuss challenging issues.
3) You will also participate in an experiential music group session with other applicants, run by one of the department’s tutors. In this session we will assess how you relate musically and verbally within a group setting.
English Language Requirements
As the programme requires extensive reading and private study, as well as placements in professional workplaces, there should be evidence of intellectual stamina and a sound working knowledge of English. Please check the English language requirements for this course before application.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check and Health Requirements
All successful candidates will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service and health check.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, candidates accepted onto this programme will be required to supply evidence of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 prior to taking up their place. We also require candidates to supply a full immunisation history post-offer. Both of these measures are in place to ensure that students can engage in placements in clinical settings with potentially vulnerable members of the community.