FAQ - Music Aptitude AssessmenT

• What does the assessment involve?

The assessment will be in two parts. The first part assesses the musical aptitude of the student through their responses to aural and listening examples. This assessment is conducted through an online assessment that will be completed on the school site, on a specified date and under exam conditions. Students will be played various musical examples and will have questions to answer through an online form. Each student will have their own computer to complete the answers. Students who achieve the required mark in this first online assessment are then invited to submit a video recording of a practical piece on any instrument of their choice and this forms the second part of the assessment. Marks for both parts of the assessment are then combined to form the final mark. Parents will then be informed of the total score and the rank order of the pupils who have taken the assessment.

• Does the pupil have to use written music for the assessment?

No. Pupils will not be required to submit written / notated music for the assessment. It is neither a requirement that pupils perform from notated music (singers, for example, may have learnt a song from listening to recordings). Pupils can, however, use printed music if they wish for the video performance.

• Are there past papers of the questions for us to prepare?

No. We do not provide past papers of questions as the assessment is supposed to be an unprepared assessment of musical aptitude – not an assessment of the ability to ‘learn’ answers from past papers. The assessment will change every year.

• Can we perform on two instruments or play two different pieces?

Due to the time constraints of the session students should submit one piece only. We advise you to perform on your best instrument.

• Can my son / daughter perform on any instrument?

Yes. We will hear any instrument, including voice.

• Does the piece have to be a particular grade standard (ABRMS or TRINITY)?

No. Any level of piece can be played. It is the musical aptitude that we are assessing not the level of ability or grade standard on a particular instrument. We would say, however, that pupils playing extremely simple pieces would probably not show sufficient musicality in the performance.

• Is there a list of pieces to choose from?

No. Pupils can play any piece that they wish.

• Can a backing track be played during the video performance?

Yes

• Will the pupils have to perform any sight reading or scales?

No, these are not part of the assessment. Only one performance is required.

• Do I need to be accompanied on a piano when recording the piece?

No. To ensure that all pupils are assessed equally an accompanist is not required.

• How long does the online assessment take?

The online aural / listening assessment with take approximately 30 minutes and will be completed at King David High School during the time and date specified on the application letter.

• Should I send in copies of my child’s musical certificates or letters of recommendation from music teachers?

No. We are not allowed to look at these as part of the assessment, nor can we ask questions about extra-curricular interest that your child has. Information regarding previous grades, exams, certificates, proof of ability or references from teachers are not required and cannot be considered. Please do not submit these to the school as we cannot take then into consideration as part of the process.

• My son / daughter also does dance or other creative arts, can this be taken into account?

No. We cannot assess any other creative art apart from music so please do not prepare any dance or other creative arts presentations. The assessor will only assess the musical performance on the chosen instrument.

• What are the times / deadlines / dates for the music aptitude assessment?

Please see Music-Applications-Timeline.

• Can I talk to / contact the assessors about my son or daughter to give them specific information about my child?

No. In order to follow a consistent approach to the assessment process and keep the process fair for all students we will not be able to enter into specific conversations with parents or carers about applicants or applications. All of the information that you need and the answers to common questions are in either the pack you have received or in this FAQ document

We would urge parents or carers to read through the information thoroughly before the assessment process.

Guidance for uploading your Music Aptitude Assessment Part 2 video - Click here