Application and admission procedures - Griffith University

QCGU UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Application and admission procedures
Domestic applicants
Selection of applicants for the Conservatorium’s programs is based on various requirements, which
may include satisfactory results in an audition, written or oral interview, and presentation of folio,
Conservatorium-administered tests of musical knowledge and ability, as well as OP. Carefully
check the specific requirement for the program/s you wish to apply for entry into. You must apply in
the year before beginning studies at the Conservatorium. Application for Audition forms are
available at griffith.edu.au/music-audition or from:
Student Administration
Queensland Conservatorium
South Bank campus, Griffith University
140 Grey Street
PO Box 3428, South Brisbane Qld 4101
Telephone: +61 (0) 7 3735 7744 (Brisbane)
+61 (0) 7 5552 8933 (Gold Coast)
+61 (0) 1800 677 728 (Toll free)
Email: Future Students via AskUs: griffith.edu.au/ask-us
Audition forms must be submitted by 12 August (QTAC applicants) or 19 August (UAC applicants).
You can download or have a music brochure mailed to you by following the directions on our
Future Students website—griffith.edu.au/future-students
A non-refundable registration fee of AU$45 (or $90 if Musical Theatre is included) per applicant
applies and should be submitted with the Application for Audition form.
A QTAC or UAC application must also be submitted by the 27 September 2013. QTAC information
is available from:
QTAC
PO Box 1331, Milton Qld 4064
Telephone: +61 (0)7 3368 1166
Facsimile: +61 (0)7 3367 1164
Website: qtac.edu.au
Queensland Year 12 students and interstate Year 12 students
If you are a current Queensland or interstate Year 12 student you can apply by lodging an
application via QTAC’s Twelve To Tertiary (TTT) online application service—qtac.edu.au
New South Wales Year 12 students
As a current New South Wales Year 12 student, you’ll receive a 2014 UAC Guide through your
school. This guide includes Griffith programs offered at the Gold Coast campus—uac.edu.au
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Other Australian applicants
All other applicants who are Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents,
including candidates for the Queensland External Senior Examination, can apply by lodging an
application using QTAC’s ‘Apply by Web’ online application service—qtac.edu.au
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
Applicants 21 years of age and older who do not have any formal qualifications or whose results
are insufficient for entry may nominate for the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Details are
on the QTAC website—qtac.edu.au
International applicants
All international students completing an Australian Year 12 study course should apply on a full-fee
basis through QTAC.
All other International applicants must:
complete an Application for Admission as an International Student form (available from Griffith
International website—griffith.edu.au/international)
submit certified copies of academic records (transcripts) and qualifications and any record of
experience. Include course outlines of relevant courses if applying for credit
submit a certified copy of English language proficiency test results (not more than two years
old)
pay the application fee by credit card or bank draft—payable to ‘Griffith University International
Office’
submit a DVD (instrumental and vocal candidates)—see ‘Auditions’ for details
or
submit a folio of work (composition, or music technology applicants)
or
submit a folio of work on CD and an instrumental or vocal performance on DVD (popular
music applicants)
Note. There is no deadline for International applicants making an application with a recorded
audition; however, it is advisable to apply by 31 October for Semester 1 entry the following year.
All International applications should be submitted to:
International Office
Nathan campus, Griffith University
170 Kessels Road Nathan Qld 4111
AUSTRALIA
English language requirements
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose
previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language
requirements for such applicants for entry to these programs are as follows:
A minimum overall band score of 6.0 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 5.5
OR a minimum score of 550 on TOEFL
OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no score less than 19)
OR no score less than 3 in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by GELI or ISLPR Language
Services only)
OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
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OR a minimum score of 54 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic).
English test results must be no more than two years old.
Students who do not meet these English language requirements may enrol in Griffith English
Language Institute (GELI) programs or other programs offered in Brisbane, in consultation with the
Conservatorium.
Notification of admission
The Conservatorium makes its offers through QTAC, in either the December early round or the
January major round. International students are advised their result by Griffith International after
the application has been assessed.
Students are required to be at the Conservatorium for Orientation to be held in February 2014.
Deferment
You cannot defer your place at the Conservatorium. If you are unable to accept an offer, you must
re-apply for entry in the usual way the following year.
Auditions
Domestic applicants
All Queensland Conservatorium applicants must complete an audition application. ‘Application for
Audition’ forms are available from the Conservatorium website at griffith.edu.au/music-auditions
The closing date for applications is 12 August. After all audition forms have been processed,
candidates will be informed of their audition date and time in writing. Bachelor of Music Technology
applicants will not be required to attend a live audition but may be invited for an interview.
Some areas permit applicants who are genuinely unable to travel to Brisbane (for example
international applicants) to submit a good quality audition video or audio recording. The recording
must be dated and certified as being an unedited performance by the applicant and signed by the
person in charge of the recording session. Please contact the Conservatorium to check which
areas permit recordings. It may also be possible for individual auditions to be arranged at other
times during the year, for applicants travelling to Brisbane on other business. However, this cannot
be guaranteed. Please contact the Conservatorium well in advance. The Conservatorium may hold
auditions in Sydney and Melbourne in 2013. Details will be available via Future Students Ask Us at
griffith.edu.au/ask-us
The audition session for undergraduate entry in 2014 will be held from 30 September – 4 October
2013 in Brisbane and the Gold Coast (Popular Music only), Queensland.
Note. Applicants must be available for audition all days during this period.
International applicants
International applicants may submit a good quality audition recording on DVD. It must be dated
and certified as being an unedited performance by the applicant and signed by the person in
charge of the recording session. It may also be possible for live auditions to be arranged during the
year. Please contact the Griffith International in advance. The audition requirements vary according
to the type of program you wish to apply for.
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Audition requirements
Bachelor of Music
Classical instruments
Applicants will be required to complete:
1. A performance audition based on three contrasting pieces of their choice. Not all pieces will
necessarily be heard and not all pieces will be heard in their entirety. Some instrumental areas
may require a quick-study piece or a sight-reading example. Some instrumental areas may
prescribe one or more set pieces.
2. An interview in which applicants will be asked about their directions and goals, musical
experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may
present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview, if they wish. Together the
playing audition and interview will last about 15–20 minutes.
3. A Diagnostic Test for Music Theory and Aural Skills to be conducted either online or at the
Conservatorium.
Classical voice
Applicants will be required to complete:
1. A performance audition based on two contrasting pieces of their choice (it is important that
these be within vocal capabilities but showing potential). Pieces will not necessarily be heard in
their entirety.
2. An interview in which applicants will be asked about their directions and goals, musical
experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may
present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview, if they wish. The playing
audition and interview will together last about 15–20 minutes.
3. A Diagnostic Test for Music Theory and Aural Skills to be conducted either online or at the
Conservatorium.
Composition (including jazz)
Applicants who are focused on writing popular songs should apply for the Bachelor of Popular
Music rather than the Composition specialty in the Bachelor of Music program.
Applicants will be required to:
1. Submit a folio comprising three or more of the applicant's compositions or equivalent evidence
of musical creativity. Various media may be used and recordings included, if available. Each
item should be of reasonable length, depending on the nature and context of the composition
(e.g. 30 bars or more, or one or more minutes). Applicants must bring the folio with them on the
day of their audition interview.
2. Complete an interview in which they will be asked about their directions and goals, musical
experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may
present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview.
3. A Diagnostic Test for Music Theory and Aural Skills to be conducted either online or at the
Conservatorium.
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Jazz instruments
Applicants will be required to complete:
1. A performance audition based on three contrasting pieces. At least one of these should
demonstrate an ability to improvise over a common jazz form such as blues or a 32-bar
standard tune. Not all pieces will necessarily be heard in their entirety. Use of pre-recorded or
live accompaniment is acceptable. Audition repertoire can be contrasting in terms of tempo and
mood; style (swing, bossa nova, samba, ballad, funky); form (blues, 32-bars, other lengths);
and tonality (major, minor, blues).
Suggested Jazz repertoire:
Blues: Now's the Time, C-Jam Blues, Centrepiece, Sonny, Moon for Two.
Bossa nova: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Gentle Rain, Recordame, Perdido, any
composition by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Standards: Autumn Leaves, Summertime, Beautiful Love, God Bless the Child, Stormy
Weather, Misty, Take the ‘A’ Train, any standard by Porter, Gershwin, Berlin, Schwartz,
Rodgers, Ellington, Arlen, Kern, etcetera.
Jazz drummers may include a snare drum study as one of the pieces.
Saxophonists may include an etude (for example, Lennie Niehaus, Jim Snidero) as one of
the pieces.
Pianists may include a transcription (for example, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans) as one of the
pieces.
Students may be asked to sight-read.
2. An interview in which applicants will be asked about their directions and goals, musical
experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may
present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview, if they wish. The playing
audition and interview will together last about 15–20 minutes.
3. A Diagnostic Test for Music Theory and Aural Skills to be conducted either online or at the
Conservatorium.
Jazz voice
Applicants will be required to complete:
1. A performance audition based on three contrasting pieces. Candidates need to show through
their repertoire selection an interest in improvising in a jazz style and may be asked to solo
over a blues form. Audition repertoire can be contrasting in terms of tempo and mood; style
(swing, bossa nova, samba, ballad, funky, popular, music theatre); form (blues, 32-bars, other
lengths); and tonality (major, minor, blues). At least two of the repertoire selections should be a
blues or jazz standard in the style of such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Diana
Krall, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett or Kurt Elling. A jazz standard is virtually any song by
Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Rodgers, Arlen, Schwartz and Ellington. Use of pre-recorded or live
accompaniment is acceptable.
2. An interview in which applicants will be asked about their directions and goals, musical
experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may
present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview, if they wish. The playing
audition and interview will together last about 15–20 minutes.
3. A Diagnostic Test for Music Theory and Aural Skills to be conducted either online or at the
Conservatorium.
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Musical theatre
Applicants will be required to complete a possible two phases:
Phase 1
Dance: Following a warm-up and basic technical exercises applicants will be taught a short routine
which they will present to the panel.
Singing: Applicants will present one song to the panel (due to time limitations, a vocal warm-up will
not be provided as part of the audition. Applicants should come prepared). However, you should
prepare two singing pieces from the Musical Theatre repertoire. These should last no longer than 2
minutes each—not be from the classical repertoire (this includes Opera); not be accompanied by a
backing track; be performed in the key in which they’re written (the pianist will not transpose at
sight, into a different key); give you the opportunity to act through the content of the words as well
as to sing the tune.
Depending on your Phase 1 audition, you may be asked to return for Phase 2.
Phase 2
Acting: Applicants will present two acting pieces to the panel. These pieces should: last no longer
than 2 minutes each; only be from published plays; not be extracts from poems or novels; and one
piece must be modern—after 1945.
Voice: Applicants spoken voice will be considered during the performance of their acting pieces.
Singing: Applicants will present their second song to the panel.
Bachelor of Music Technology
Applicants for admission to the academic program will not have an audition but may be asked to
attend an interview. They will also be required to provide:
a portfolio of original works consisting of one (single) 15–45 minute CD or CD-R of music
recorded/created by the applicant, together with a technical description of each work on the
CD. This description should include a brief overview of the technical set-up, a brief discussion
of any problems encountered, the solutions to these problems, and an evaluation of the overall
results—aesthetic considerations are important. (The written component should be
approximately 1–2 pages for each work included on the CD. Multiple works can be discussed
jointly as a single “project”, however more than one “project” is desirable.)
a written resumé of achievements and experience
a written statement of the applicant's career aims and goals (one page).
The recordings should be clearly identified and attached securely within the overall folio
submission. The resumé of achievements and experience should:
be submitted in a format no larger than A4
clearly identify all of the applicant's significant details including name, address, telephone
number and email address
provide a detailed outline of relevant music and technology experience, knowledge and
opportunities, career goals, general education, and other supporting information
present a complete listing of audio titles presented in the recording folio, together with
composition, recording credits and supporting information as necessary to fully describe the
work.
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Applicants must submit the recording folio and resumé to Student Administration at the
Conservatorium by Friday, 27 September 2013. Interviews, if required, will be held during the week
of 30September – 4 October 2013. Folios are not returned.
Applicants should be ranked on academic standing (OP), have a ‘Sound Achievement’ in Year 12
English and a ‘Sound Achievement’ in either Maths A, B or C. Applicants over the age of 21 can sit
the Special Tertiary Admittance Test (STAT) through QTAC.
Bachelor of Popular Music
Applicants for admission to this academic program will be required to:
1. Complete an interview in which they will be asked about their musical directions and goals,
musical experience and knowledge, familiarity with audio hardware and/or software, general
education, and other relevant matters. Applicants should provide a resume of achievements
and experience at the interview.
2. Present a recording folio on CD as well as a live instrumental or vocal performance. The CD
should be accompanied by documentation describing the applicant's contribution, for example,
writing, recording, performance.
The recorded folio and live performance can include covers but original compositions are
preferred. For the live performance, applicants should prepare three contrasting pieces and include
original material. Collaborative compositions are acceptable. Pieces will not necessarily be heard
in their entirety. Applicants should bring the folio with them on the day of their audition interview.
Components one and two will last about 20 minutes.
Certificate in Music Studies
Applicants for admission to this academic program will complete the same audition, interview and
test requirements as for the Bachelor of Music.
Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Business
Admission to this academic program will be based on an audition and interview in addition to your
academic results. Visit griffith.edu.au/music/queensland-conservatorium to find out more.
In addition to the audition, you will still need to lodge a QTAC application by 27 September 2013.
Revised: 8 May 2013
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