The Art of Sound entrance exams at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague will take place online. The procedure is:

Pre-selection

1. Music theory test (online) at the latest on February 29 2024.

2. Mathematics test (online) February 29 2024, 00:00 – 23:59 CET

3. Musical skills test (by video) at the latest on February 29, 2024

4. Curriculum Vitae, at the latest on February 29, 2024

    Audition round

    5. Motivation interview (online): During the week of April 15, 2024. Exact dates will be announced as soon as possible.

      You will only be invited to the audition round if you have completed the pre-selection with a positive result. You will be informed about this by e-mail on March 20, 2024, before 21:00 CET at the latest.

      Details about the online entrance exam per department can be found here.

      1. Music Theory test
      The Music Theory test takes place online and is available online until February 29, 2024. Here you can find more info about the theory exam. Contact the music theory department for any further questions.

      2. Mathematics test
      The mathematics test will take place on February 29, 2024. Soon you will receive a link per email, at your email address as known to us. Contact us if you did not receive this link on February 26, 2024.

      This link will only give you access to the online math test on February 29, 00:00 – 23:59 CET. From the moment you click on the link, you have 90 minutes to complete the test, so start the test no later than 22:30 CET. Make sure you are ready within 90 minutes and click "submit". The submit button appears at the end of the test. You are expected to keep an eye on the elapsed time yourself, you will not receive a warning. Contributions that exceed this time limit, or are submitted after 23:59 CET, are by definition assessed negative. Once you clicked "submit", your answers have been sent and you can no longer correct your answers.

      Summarizing:

      • You will receive a link to the online mathematics test before February 26, 2024
      • Contact us if you have not received the link on February 26, 2024
      • You will have access to the test on February 29 at 00:00 – 23:59 CET
      • You have up to 90 minutes to complete the test
      • Start the test no later than 22:30 CET
      • Submit the test before 23:59 CET
      • Once the test has been submitted, you can no longer correct your answers.

      You can find an example of the example mathematics test here.

      3. Musical ability test
      The musical ability test does not take place in person, but via a pre-recorded and submitted video. The following regulations must be observed when recording and submitting the video:

      The following regulations must be observed when recording and submitting the video:

      • The recording (video and audio) is recorded in one take per composition, is not edited and no post-production has taken place;
      • The video shows the candidate's face and hands clearly and continuously;
      • A high level of audio quality is not necessary, but the audio quality must be good enough to hear your playing or singing clearly;
      • Before you start playing or singing, clearly state your full name and the program for which you are auditioning (Art of Sound Bachelor);
      • Before each piece, announce the title and composer of the piece;
      • You play 3 compositions in different musical styles and tempi;
      • The maximum duration of the video is 15 minutes;
      • Classical admission: you play solo, without the accompaniment of other musicians;
      • Jazz / Pop admission: you play with one or more accompanists, but you ensure that you are most clearly audible and visible. You may optionally use a pre-recorded play-along sound file ("minus-one").

      Videos that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted. The video must be submitted no later than February 29, 2024. Upload a document (in Word- or PDF format) with an active, non-expiring link (hyperlink) to your video recording on YouTube or Vimeo, in our online application Osiris Aanmeld. You received your login details in a previous message. You can click here to go to Osiris Aanmeld.

      Tips for recording your video:

      • You can record the video with any smartphone, but using a good camera and (external) microphone will lead to better image quality and sound quality.
      • Provide a quiet environment (no buzzing refrigerator or rushing traffic as background noise).
      • Provide sufficient light when recording; light from multiple sides works best.
      • Make sure the audio is not too loud (distorted) and not too soft (a lot of noise); move the microphone or your recording device closer or farther to achieve the desired result.

      4. Curriculum Vitae
      Create your Curriculum Vitae according to the Europass CV format.View the admission page for more information on the motivation form.

      5. Motivation interview

      The motivation interview only takes place if you have successfully passed the previous tests. At the latest on March 20, 2024 before 21:00 CET, you will receive an email message informing you whether you are invited to the motivation talk.

      If you have failed the previous tests, you will, unfortunately, receive a message that you have not been accepted.

      If you have successfully passed the previous tests, you will be invited to the motivation interview by email. All motivation interviews take place online during the week of April 15th 2024. The email message contains the exact date and time (CET) of the motivation interview. At this time you need to have a working internet connection in a quiet environment, without other people being present. Make sure you are ready on time.

      The motivation interview will take place online via the Microsoft Teams platform. You can download the free Microsoft Teams app here. Make sure you have installed the app well before the start of the interview. Optionally, the interview can also be conducted via one of the following web browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or the latest version of Firefox. Apple users, please notice: Microsoft Teams does not work in Safari, you have to download the app or use one of the beforementioned web browsers. Make sure you are well prepared; if the interview cannot take place for technical reasons, this may have negative consequences for your admission.

      On the day of the motivation interview, you will receive an invitation via email, 15 minutes before the announced time. One of our employees will test the audio and video connection with you. Then you have to wait until the committee is available and joins the conversation.

      The motivation interview will take about 15 minutes. Three jury members take part in the conversation and ask questions about your ideas about the education program and what you want to achieve with it. Provide spontaneous and honest answers. No ready knowledge will be tested during the interview, it is about your motivation and your vision.

      Summarizing:

      • On March 20, 2024, before 21:00 CET, you will be notified whether you have been invited to the motivation interview, including the exact date and time of the interview.
      • Make sure you have the Microsoft Teams app installed.
      • Make sure you are ready on time and that your internet connection works properly.
      • Make sure you are alone, in a quiet environment.
      • An email will be sent to you 15 minutes before the announced time of the interview. The email contains an invitation (link) for taking part in a conference call via Microsoft Teams.
      • Accept the invitation; there will follow a short test with one of our employees.
      • The motivation interview can start as soon as the committee is available.

      After the entrance examination
      The results of the entrance examination will be communicated by e-mail within two weeks after the motivation interview. In principle, the board of the Royal Conservatoire will take over the advice of the admission committee, but reserves the right to deviate from this. As soon as possible, but no later than August 31, 2024, you will receive an official notification of your admission from the board of the Royal Conservatoire.

      Cancelations
      If you refrain from your application for registration and the entrance exam, please notify us as soon as possible via Studielink. This way, your position for the entrance exams can be allocated to another candidate who is on the waiting list.

      In conclusion
      We wish you the best of luck with the preparations and look forward to meeting you online soon. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact us at p.jeukendrup@koncon.nl.