How to apply

To apply at the Fontys Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) you have to prepare a video audition. Below you find all the requirements per instrument.

- Classical -

Accordion
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. Playing an instrument with melody basses is advisable. The audition program should consist of:
• 2 etudes
• 2 polyphonic works
• 2 concert works

Composition
The entrance exam consists of two parts. Duration of the first part is 20 minutes.
• Part 1: Review of your digital portfolio. The portfolio must contain at least three compositions, both scores (PDF files) and sound recordings (MP3 or WAV files) and a short biography with date of birth, previous education, musical experience, musical preferences, plans and dreams for the future, etc. The committee will assess whether the student has sufficient talent and motivation, and is open-minded towards new, innovative music. You can send the sound recordings via the online form. Please send the scores to fhkampa@fontys.nl
• Part 2: Once we receive the necessary documents, the Admissions Committee will review your work. If the result is positive, you will be invited for an online interview.

Guitar
Duration of the audition is 20 minutes. The audition program should include at least:
• 2 etudes
• 2 concert pieces

Harp
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 2 etudes
• 2 concert pieces

Flute
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 2 etudes
• 3 concert pieces from different eras

Oboe
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 1 melodic and 1 technical etude
• 2 concert pieces or concertos from different eras

Clarinet
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 1 melodic and 1 technical etude
• 2 concert pieces or concertos from different eras

Bassoon
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 2 etudes
• 1 sonata
• 1 concert piece

Saxophone
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 1 melodic and 2 technical studies of e.g. Klosé, Terschack, or a comparable level.
• 2 recital pieces, of which at least 1 with piano accompaniment, such as Jolivet, Fantasie-Impromptu; Maurice, Tableaux de Provence; Demersseman, Fantaisie; Noda, Improvisation I, II or II; Ibert, Histoires; or a comparable level. Major and Minor scales (melodic and harmonic) up to 4 sharps, staccato, legato, in thirds, and with broken triads in the quickest tempo in which it is possible to play as 'clean' as possible.

French horn
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 2 etudes
• 1 concert piece or concerto

Trumpet
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• technival exercises from Rolf Quinque's ASA-method • flexibility exercises from Knud Hovaldt's Trumpet Technique
• ability to perform tonguing technique from the methods of Jean Arban, Victor Salvo or James Burke
• 1 etude
• 1 concert piece

Trombone
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 1 technical etude and 1 melodic etude
• 2 concert pieces

Euphonium
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 1 Solo Work (choose 1 piece from the following list): Euphonium Concerto, two movements - Joseph Horovitz Symphonic Rhapsody - Edward Gregson The Green Hill - Bert Appermont
• 1 Melodic Study (choose 1 piece from the following list): One study of your choice from ‘Melodious Etudes for Trombone’ - Joannes Rochut Reflections from ‘New Concert Studies for Euphonium, Volume 1’ - Douglas Court
• 1 Technical Study (choose 1 piece from the following list): One study of your choice from ’24 Advanced Etudes for Trumpet’ - Sigmund Hering Hommage a J.S. Bach from ‘New Concert Studies for Euphonium, Volume 2’ - Piet Swerts

Tuba
The following level of playing will be required. You are allowed to make your own suggestions as well. Let us know this on forehand, as we have to make sure it will meet the required level for the audition. Requirements Bachelor Audition:
 Rochut or Bordogni nr 1 Blazhevich 2
 Konzert fur tuba und klavier - Lebedev Effie Suite 4 & 6 - Alex Wilder

Percussion
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. We would like to see and hear your technical and performance skills on the following instruments:
• Mallets (marimba/vibraphone/xylophone); overall technique, subtleness, melodic phrasing, 1 etude + 1 concert work. (at least 1 piece with 4 mallets)
• Snare drum; multiple rolls, rudiments, several stroke types and 1 etude
• Timpani; multiple rolls, rudiments, several stroke types and 1 etude
OPTIONAL:
• Multipercussion; rhythmic phrasing, timing, versatility, structure
• (Hand)drums; rhythmic phrasing, timing, versatility, improvisation

Singing
• First round: Prepare 5 pieces: 4 from the 5 categories in below download and 1 of your own choice. Next to the 5 pieces you also have to prepare 1 monologue mentioned in download as well. Download repertoire list & monologues
• Second round: If you passed the first round you will be invited to the second round. During the second round we will look at improvisation and drama. Then we will also give a vocal workshop, in which we will check your workability i.e. how quickly do you follow instructions.

Violin
Duration of the audition is 20 minutes. The audition program should consist of three or four works, choosing from:
• One etude for violin solo of your choice : Mazas, Kreutzer, Fiorillo, Rode, Wieniawski.
• A movement of a concerto or sonata of your choice
• A repertory piece (could be a mouvement from a concerto-sonata) from a different style period as 2.

Viola
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• One etude for viola solo from Mazas, Hoffman, Kreutzer, Hoffmeister, Vieuxtemps.
• A movement from a concerto or sonata at your choice.
• A repertory piece from another style period as in 2.

Cello
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 2 etudes, including at least one with thumb position: Franchomme Caprices
• 1 movement from a Bach-solo suite
• 1 (pre)classical composition
• 1 concert piece from the Romantic Era

Double Bass
Duration of the audition is 15 minutes. The audition program should include:
• One etude for double bass solo of your choice: Kreutzer (Nanny or Hermann), Storch-Hrabě "57 Etudes", Simandl "Gradus ad Parnassum", Mengoli "20 Etudes"
• The first movement of a classical concerto with cadenza
• A repertory piece (could be a movement from a concerto-sonata) from a different style period as 2

Piano
Applicants should prepare from memory (unless you play contemporary music) a program of three works of their own choice. This should last at least 15 minutes and show a variety of style, period and character. It must include a polyphonic work and a sonata form. The audition panel reserves the right to hear only two pieces overall. The audition will include a sight reading test.
Examples:
• C. Czerny etudes op. 299
• polyphonic work, e.g. J.S. Bach Inventions or Symfonics
• movement from a classical sonata: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
• (part of a) concert piece from the Romantic Era: Chopin, Schubert, Schumann up to Rachmaninov, Skriabin
• (part of a) concert piece in a more modern style: Debussy, Bartok, Prokofiev up to the present era

Organ
Duration of the audition is 20 minutes. The audition program should include:
• 2 Baroque works
• 1 work from the 19th of 20th century

Jazz

Bass guitar
In the audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights. To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces.These pieces should represent different styles (e.g. jazz, latin, pop, et cetera), but at least two pieces must be jazzstandards, in which we hear you play accompaniment (walking bass) and an improvised solo. Make a video recording of these five tunes and make sure you (and your hands) can be seen well and that the bass is clearly present in the balance.

Double bass
In the audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights. To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. These pieces should represent different styles (e.g. jazz, latin, pop, et cetera), but at least two pieces must be jazzstandards, in which we hear you play accompaniment (walking bass) and an improvised solo.
Make a video recording of these five tunes and make sure you (and your hands) can be seen well and that the bass is clearly present in the balance.

Drums
To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. These pieces must represent different styles (e.g.jazz, latin, pop, et cetera
Video audition: Play at least 3 jazzstandards. Make sure you play solo and trade 4 or 8 bars. In addition play a snaredrum exercise (Charley Wilcoxon or Mitchell Peters). Make sure we can see your hands and posture in the video. Total duration 20-30 minutes.

Guitar
To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. These pieces must represent different styles (e.g.jazz, latin, pop, et cetera). One of these five pieces is a (jazz-) blues theme and at least one jazz standard. In the audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights, as well as sufficient reading proficiency.
Video auditions: Send a video with 20-30 minutes of varied repertoire, at least 3 pieces, including a (jazz-) blues theme and at least one jazz standard. Each piece must contain theme, improvisation and accompaniment. Make sure the video recording is made from a good angle: ensure your hands are visible.

Piano
To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare at least three jazz standards and possibly two pieces in a style of your own choice. Besides that you have to prepare a minimum of two classical pieces, including at least one etude*.
In the audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights, as well as sufficient reading proficiency.
Video audition: You have to send a video with 20-30 minutes of varied repertoire (jazz standards, piece in a style of your own choice and a classical piece). Besides that you have to film your hands during performing, so that the teachers can see them while you're playing. If it's possible please play on a akoestic piano.
* Examples of classical pieces: Etudes by Heller, Bertini, Moszkowski, Czerny; Nocturnes, Waltz by Chopin, Brahms, Schumann; Preludes & Fugas, Inventionen & Sinfonias by J.S. Bach; Preludes, Rêverie, Arabesk by Debussy; Sonatinas by Clementi, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven.

Trumpet
To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. These pieces must represent variety in tempo and key and preferably find their roots in multiple styles of music (jazz, latin, pop, etc). In this audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate basic trumpet technique, rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights, as well as sufficient reading proficiency.
Video audition: You have to send a video with 20-30 minutes of varied repertoire

Trombone
To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. These pieces must represent different styles (e.g.jazz, latin, pop, et cetera). In the audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights, as well as sufficient reading proficiency.
Video audition: You have to send a video with 20-30 minutes of varied repertoire

Saxophone
To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. These pieces must represent different styles (e.g.jazz, latin, pop, et cetera). In the audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights, as well as sufficient reading proficiency.
Video audition: You have to send a video with 20-30 minutes of varied repertoire (jazz standards, piece in a style of your own choice). In addition, play two scales of your own choice, in all keys, with metronome or backing track. Plus an exercise or tune from Lennie Niehaus' Basic Jazz Conception Vol 2 and an etude from Lennie Niehaus' Developing Jazz Conception.

Vibraphone To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. These pieces must represent different styles (e.g.jazz, latin, pop, et cetera). We would like to hear at least 1 solopiece (completely alone) and want to hear your technical and improvisational abilities.
In the audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights, as well as sufficient reading proficiency.
Video audition: we request you to make a recording of the five pieces in different styles (jazz, latin, pop, etcetera).

Vocal
To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. These 5 pieces must represent different styles:
- 4 jazz songs of the 'standards list' below (2 medium / up tempo piece and 2 ballads)
- 1 'free choice' (may also be an original composition) or from the Jazz, Blues, Soul, Latin, Pop, Gospel or R&B repertoire
In the audition, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate rhythmical, melodic and harmonic insights, as well as sufficient reading proficiency. If you will have a video audition (not for candidates who live in the Netherlands or Belgium) we request you to send YouTube links of the 5 abovementioned pieces.

Standards