Music Therapy Auditions

Application form

Please ensure that you state exactly which first study and second study disciplines you will present at audition in the relevant fields, along with a note about whether you require a classical accompanist (see notes below about accompaniment the school can provide under the ‘accompaniment and equipment’ section*).

Examples are below: 

• Classical clarinet (require a classical accompanist)
• Classical viola (no accompanist required – solo repertoire)
• Jazz saxophone (will bring own playback equipment and backing track)
• Popular guitar (will bring own playback equipment and backing track)
• Popular singing (will accompany self on piano)

Personal statement

You should ensure that your personal statement best reflects 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 also 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.

Referees

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.

London auditions are provisionally scheduled to take place on the following dates:

• Monday 27 January 2025
• Thursday 30 January 2025
• Friday 31 January 2025
• Thursday 6 February 2025
• Monday 10 February 2025

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 melodic aural test of 12-16 bars;  you will hear each melody phrase (3-4 bars length) twice and be asked to play back each phrase on a xylophone/bar instrument (you will be given time to find the starting note); the melody will be in a major or minor key of not more than two sharps or flats.
v) a harmonic accompaniment test of 12-16 bars; you will be asked to work with a panel member to provide a harmonic accompaniment on piano or guitar to them singing a well known melody (you will be given time to find the starting note); the melody will be in a major or minor key of not more than two sharps or flats.
(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).

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 3 January 2025. 
• 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 2025. 

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 2025. You will be asked to complete the unseen aspects of the audition process, as detailed above, and the panel may also wish to hear you play some of your pieces. This will be communicated to you when you are invited. Details about the interview day are below. 

Candidates may apply to attend audition in our overseas venues but, if successful, you must be prepared to travel to London for a live audition/interview which is scheduled to take place in late March/early April 2025. You will be asked to complete the unseen aspects of the audition process, as detailed above, and the panel may also wish to hear you play some of your pieces. This will be communicated to you when you are invited. Details about the interview day are below. 

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.