A formal audition fee of £75 will be required (not required for Advisory Auditions). Once you are invited to the formal audition, you will be emailed a payment link. Alternatively you can send a cheque, payable to “St Mary’s Music School” addressed to:
Admissions
St Mary’s Music School
Coates Hall
25 Grosvenor Crescent
Edinburgh EH12 5EL
Application for an Instrumental Place: Notes for Guidance
Instrumental Audition Applications
Instrumental applicants usually offer two specialist studies, but this need not be a condition of acceptance for an audition. Specialist studies are not always instrumental: for example, some pupils take Composition and/or Singing as either first or second studies.
Music References
The School does not need references for Advisory Auditions.
The School requires references from the applicant’s present music teachers for instrumental auditions stating:
- Pupil’s length of study.
- List of works recently learned.
- Estimate of present standard.
- Estimate of potential, and degree of application.
Musical references must be enclosed with the application form. When the school receives these documents, if references are satisfactory, the candidate will be given a date and a time for an audition. Overseas applicants may be asked to submit a short clip/link of performance. An Advisory Audition may be offered if appropriate. If the applicant is applying for an instrumental audition the Headteacher will contact the applicant’s school for a school reference.
Audition procedure
Full Instrumental Auditions are held three times a year, in November, January/February and April. Applications should be received at the latest two weeks prior to audition, but may be sent in at any point in the session. Applicants will be auditioned by a panel including the Headteacher and the Director of Music. The Admissions Secretary can advise on exact dates.
Instrumental auditions are divided into two parts. In the first, the applicant will be asked to play two contrasted works on his or her main instrument and one on the second instrument (if a second is being offered). The second part of the audition may include sight reading and ear tests and an informal discussion. An accompanist will be provided by the school and you are asked to send music in advance.
If an instrumental candidate is successful at audition, they will be invited to come and spend two days at the school, for lessons on both main and second instruments, and in some academic subjects, so that further assessments can be made. A boarding facility for the candidate will usually be available if needed.
Following a successful outcome the candidate will be offered a place in the school usually for the start of the next academic session. Demand is high and a waiting list place may be offered if the candidate is not offered a place outright. A recommendation for a further audition may be made and unsuccessful candidates may reapply. The allocation of places is at the discretion of the Headteacher as advised by the Director of Music.
Points to Note
Should a place be offered:
- a high standard of musical attainment and commitment must be maintained.
- pupils’ progress will be reviewed each session.
- a major music assessment will take place each session when further recommendations may be made.
- the rules of the School must be observed.
- a term’s notice of withdrawal is required, failing which one third of a full year’s fee will be charged in lieu of notice.