If we need to find out a little bit more about you during the ACM application process, we might ask you to audition or interview with us.
Your audition / interview will be an enjoyable experience so you should not feel at all nervous. The candidates you are applying alongside are just like you and we are most certainly not looking for perfection.
In fact, perfection, especially in the arts, is something that you are always on the road towards but will never achieve as your own standards grow with you, so don’t set yourself that impossible bar, now.
Instead, rest assured that we are looking for those people with passion and potential. We’re looking for diamonds in the rough. We’re looking for people who are ready to learn.
If you’re a musician who needs to brush up on your sight reading, that’s ok. We’ll give you support with that. Or maybe you’re a future business exec who gets nervous about presentations? That’s ok, too.
We’ll give you coaching to make it better. We’ll go above and beyond in our efforts to widen participation in every way possible, for as long as you show strength of character and commitment to your studies.
Through the process, you’ll meet current and prospective students, experience what learning in our unique environment is like with our world-class lecturers and, depending on your chosen study discipline, you will either be asked to perform a musical piece, play us some of your best work and/or speak to us about your career aspirations.
Remember, we want to know you, your history, and all of your ambitions for the future so that we can help join those dots between where you are now, and where you one day want to be, out there in industry.
You’ll find more information as to what to prepare by choosing the relevant section, below, and this is now also your opportunity to come forward with any required adjustments to our admissions processes if you’ve got an accessibility or specific learning requirement.
We wish you all the very best with your preparation, but don’t hesitate to reach out to us by calling 01483 500 841, using our web chat function or emailing enquiries@acm.ac.uk if you need us, in the meantime.
Please select your course discipline.
Music Performance | Guitar
Welcome to the ACM Performance School! We are very pleased that you are considering studying with us. In doing so, you are following in the steps of countless world-class musicians who have chosen to train here.
The Audition Piece
As part of the audition process, you will be asked to perform a prepared piece of music of your choosing that will help us evaluate your level of musical skill. You are welcome to perform your audition to a backing track or with some instrumental accompaniment from either yourself or someone else. Please ensure that the backing track you choose to perform to will allow you to showcase your abilities in the best possible way! We will provide a standard headphone / audio jack to connect your playback device into.
As part of your audition, you will also be asked to perform a few short exercises that will allow us to assess you in the areas listed below. We encourage you to prepare for this part of the process by brushing up on your technique and practicing all of your usual exercises.
Technique/Melody
To demonstrate your technique, phrasing, tone and timing, you will be asked to perform a melodic piece of your choosing to a click (suggested 120 bpm, but tempo can be changed if needed). This melodic passage can either be derived from scales, a portion of a prepared tune or an improvised passage. What you choose to play must highlight your left-hand and right-hand technique and demonstrate command of your instrument, whilst exploring a good range of your instrument’s register and expressive capabilities. No more than 1 minute of music is required.
Harmony/Chords
You will be asked to perform a chordal passage of your choosing to a click (suggested 120 bpm, but tempo can be changed if needed). This chordal passage can either be derived from chord exercises, a portion of a prepared tune, or an improvised passage. You may lay down some rhythm guitar or outline chordal structures through the use of arpeggios. This chordal passage can either be derived from chord exercises, a portion of a prepared tune, or an improvised passage. You may add riffs, but be sure to include chords as well. What you choose to play must highlight your knowledge of chord structures and your ability to articulate these with good performance technique. No more than 1 minute of music is required.
Groove/Timing
You will be asked to lay down a groove and time feel of your choosing at a tempo you decide. Your performance should establish a good time feel and groove and must showcase your ability to lock down the time feel with a click. You can choose to perform an exercise, a portion of a prepared tune, or an improvised passage. No more than 1 minute of music is required.
Music Theory
We will ask a few questions to establish how you approach your instrument and studies. Don’t worry if you have limited music theory knowledge, this is reletively common. Many fine musicians have learned by ear. If you do have knowledge of music theory and theoretical concepts, areas for demonstration and discussion will include intervals, scales and chords as well as broader rhythmic and harmonic content.
Examples of theory questions we may ask are:
- Can you play / sing the major scale in the keys of F major and A major?
- Can you name the notes in a G major / D minor chord?
- Can you demonstrate some rhythm-playing to a metronome?
- Can you explain what 4/4 means?
Tell us all about YOU!
More than anything, we want to know about you. We want to know about your history, your ambitions for the future, and we want to work out together how ACM might be able to help you join those dots between where you are now and where you one day want to be, out there in industry.
Music Performance | Bass
Welcome to the ACM Performance School! We are very pleased that you are considering studying with us. In doing so, you are following in the steps of countless world-class musicians who have chosen to train here.
The Audition Piece
As part of the audition process, you will be asked to perform a prepared piece of music of your choosing that will help us evaluate your level of musical skill. You are welcome to perform this with a backing track or with some instrumental accompaniment, from either yourself or someone else. Please ensure that the track you choose to perform will allow you to showcase your abilities in the best possible way! We will provide a standard headphone / audio jack to connect your playback device into.
As part of your audition, you will also be asked to perform a few short exercises that will allow us to assess you in the areas listed below. We encourage you to prepare for this part of the process by brushing up on your technique and practicing all of your usual exercises.
Technique & Melody
To demonstrate your technique, phrasing, tone and timing, you will be asked to perform a melodic piece of your choosing to a click (suggested 120 bpm, but tempo can be changed if needed). This melodic passage can either be derived from scales, a portion of a prepared tune or an improvised passage. What you choose to play must highlight your left-hand and right-hand technique and demonstrate command of your instrument, whilst exploring a good range of your instrument’s register and expressive capabilities. No more than 1 minute of music is required.
Harmony & Chords
You will be asked to perform a chordal passage of your choosing to a click (suggested 120 bpm, but tempo can be changed if needed). Applicants should outline chordal structures through the use of arpeggios, using passing tones if necessary. This chordal passage can either be derived from chord exercises, a portion of a prepared tune, or an improvised passage. What you choose to play must highlight your knowledge of chord structures and your ability to articulate these with good performance technique. No more than 1 minute of music is required.
Groove & Timing
You will be asked to lay down a groove and time feel of your choosing at a tempo you decide. Your performance should establish a good time feel and groove and must showcase your ability to lock down the time feel with a click. You can choose to perform an exercise, a portion of a prepared tune, or an improvised passage. No more than 1 minute of music is required.
Music Theory
You will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge of music theory and theoretical concepts. Areas for demonstration and discussion will include intervals, scales and chords as well as broader rhythmic and harmonic content. Don’t worry if you have limited music theory knowledge. this is relatively common, even for degree applicants. Many fine musicians have learned by ear. If you have limited theory knowledge, we may instead ask a few questions to establish how you approach your instrument and studies. In this way, it may be discovered that you possess more theory knowledge than you realise!
Examples of theory questions we may ask are:
- Can you play / sing the major scale in the keys of F major and A major?
- Can you name the notes in a G major / D minor chord?
- Can you demonstrate some rhythm-playing to a metronome?
- Can you explain what 4/4 means?
Tell us all about YOU!
More than anything, we want to know about you. We want to know about your history, your ambitions for the future, and we want to work out together how ACM might be able to help you join those dots between where you are now and where you one day want to be, out there in industry.
Music Performance | Drums
Welcome to the ACM Performance School! We are very pleased that you are considering studying with us. In doing so, you are following in the steps of countless world-class musicians who have chosen to train here.
The Audition Piece
As part of the audition process, you will be asked to perform a prepared piece of music of your choosing that will help us evaluate your level of musical skill. You are welcome to perform this to a backing track or with some instrumental accompaniment. Please ensure that the track you choose to perform to will allow you to showcase your abilities in the best possible way! We will provide a standard headphone / audio jack to connect your playback device into.
Technique
To gauge the level of your hand technique, you will be asked to demonstrate Paradiddles, a Double Stroke Roll and some basic Flam and Double-Stroke rudiments across a range of tempos.
Groove
You will be asked to lay down a groove at 90 bpm. You should aim to establish a good time feel and lock down the groove in time with the click track.
Styles
In order to gauge your level of stylistic ability and understanding, we’ll ask if you can play in different styles and feels. Styles you could demonstrate might include Jazz, Blues Shuffle, Motown, Latin and Funk. Don’t worry if you’re not confident playing in these styles, this is just to assess your ability.
Music Theory
We will ask a few questions to establish how you approach your instrument and studies. Don’t worry if you have limited music theory knowledge, this is reletively common. Many fine musicians have learned by ear. If you do have knowledge of music theory and theoretical concepts, areas for demonstration and discussion will include intervals, scales and chords as well as broader rhythmic and harmonic content.
Examples of theory questions we may ask are:
- Can you play / sing the major scale in the keys of F major and A major?
- Can you name the notes in a G major / D minor chord?
- Can you demonstrate some rhythm-playing to a metronome?
- Can you explain what 4/4 means?
Tell us all about YOU!
More than anything, we want to know about you. We want to know about your history, your ambitions for the future, and we want to work out together how ACM might be able to help you join those dots between where you are now and where you one day want to be, out there in industry.
Music Performance | Vocals
Welcome to the ACM Performance School! We are very pleased that you are considering studying with us. In doing so, you are following in the steps of countless world-class musicians who have chosen to train here.
The Audition Piece
As part of the audition process, you will be asked to perform a prepared piece of music of your choosing that will help us evaluate your level of musical skill. You are welcome to perform your audition to a backing track or with some instrumental accompaniment from either yourself or someone else. If you are auditioning for vocals you are welcome to audition acapella (no accompaniment) as well, if you like. Please ensure that the track you choose to perform showcases your abilities in the best possible way! We will provide a standard headphone / audio jack to connect your playback device into.
As part of your audition, you will also be asked to perform a few short exercises that will allow us to assess you in the areas listed below. We encourage you to prepare for this part of the process by brushing up on your technique and practicing all of your usual exercises.
Technique/Melody
On a comfortable starting key and in a tempo of your choice, sing a major scale (ascending and descending). You’ll be required to do this in 3 consecutive keys, ascending by semitones from where you began. To demonstrate your technique, phrasing, tone and timing, you will be asked to perform a melodic piece of your choosing to a click (suggested 120 bpm, but tempo can be changed if needed).
Harmony / Chords
Using a syllable and tempo of your choice, sing the notes of a major 7 chord, both ascending and descending. You’ll be asked to do this in 2 different keys which will be provided. If you have never done this before, and have learned to sing by ear, then you will be able to find examples of this exercise online.
Groove / Timing
To identify your rhythmic understanding, a single 2 bar rhythm will be played or sung twice. You will be required to correctly clap or sing the rhythm back.
Music Theory
We will ask a few questions to establish how you approach your instrument and studies. Don’t worry if you have limited music theory knowledge, this is relatively common. Many fine musicians have learned by ear. If you do have knowledge of music theory and theoretical concepts, areas for demonstration and discussion will include intervals, scales and chords as well as broader rhythmic and harmonic content.
Examples of theory questions we may ask are:
- Can you play / sing the major scale in the keys of F major and A major?
- Can you name the notes in a G major / D minor chord?
- Can you demonstrate some rhythm-playing to a metronome?
- Can you explain what 4/4 means?
Tell us all about YOU!
More than anything, we want to know about you. We want to know about your history, your ambitions for the future, and we want to work out together how ACM might be able to help you join those dots between where you are now and where you one day want to be, out there in industry.
Music Performance | Keys
Welcome to the ACM Performance School! We are very pleased that you are considering studying with us. In doing so, you are following in the steps of countless world-class musicians who have chosen to train here.
The Audition Piece
As part of the audition process, you will be asked to perform a prepared piece of music of your choosing that will help us evaluate your level of musical skill. You are welcome to perform your audition to a backing track or with some instrumental accompaniment from either yourself or someone else. Please ensure that the backing track you choose to perform to will allow you to showcase your abilities in the best possible way! We will provide a standard headphone / audio jack to connect your playback device into.
As part of your audition, you will also be asked to perform a few short exercises that will allow us to assess you in the areas listed below. We encourage you to prepare for this part of the process by brushing up on your technique and practicing all of your usual exercises.
Technique/Melody
To demonstrate your technique, phrasing, tone and timing, you will be asked to perform a melodic piece of your choosing to a click (suggested 120 bpm, but tempo can be changed if needed). This melodic passage can either be derived from scales, a portion of a prepared tune or an improvised passage. What you choose to play must highlight your left-hand and right-hand technique and demonstrate command of your instrument, whilst exploring a good range of your instrument’s register and expressive capabilities. No more than 1 minute of music is required.
Harmony/Chords
You will be asked to perform a chordal / arpeggio passage of your choosing to a click (suggested 120 bpm, but tempo can be changed if needed). This chordal passage can either be derived from chord exercises, a portion of a prepared tune, or an improvised passage. What you choose to play must highlight your knowledge of chord structures and your ability to articulate these with good performance technique.
Groove/Timing
You will be asked to lay down a groove and time feel of your choosing at a tempo you decide. Your performance should establish a good time feel and groove and must showcase your ability to lock down the time feel with a click. You can choose to perform an exercise, a portion of a prepared tune, or an improvised passage.
Music Theory
We will ask a few questions to establish how you approach your instrument and studies. Don’t worry if you have limited music theory knowledge, this is relatively common. Many fine musicians have learned by ear. If you do have knowledge of music theory and theoretical concepts, areas for demonstration and discussion will include intervals, scales and chords as well as broader rhythmic and harmonic content.
Examples of theory questions we may ask are:
- Can you play / sing the major scale in the keys of F major and A major?
- Can you name the notes in a G major / D minor chord?
- Can you demonstrate some rhythm-playing to a metronome?
- Can you explain what 4/4 means?
Tell us all about YOU!
More than anything, we want to know about you. We want to know about your history, your ambitions for the future, and we want to work out together how ACM might be able to help you join those dots between where you are now and where you one day want to be, out there in industry.
Music Technology
Welcome to the ACM Production School! We are very pleased that you are considering studying with us. In doing so, you are following in the steps of countless world-class musicians who have chosen to train here.
You are required to bring to your interview one piece of music that clearly demonstrate your abilities as a producer or engineer. This piece should convey contrasting techniques and may be computer or studio based. If you have examples of work where you have set audio to video, you may submit such pieces as an alternative to the audio file requested above.
You should bring your audio recording as an mp3 / mp4 / m4a filetype or video file as .mov / .mpg / .m4v on a USB.
In your interview we will also assess you on your knowledge of software, studio hardware and common audio production techniques, so arrive fresh and ready to let us know what you know!
Tell us all about YOU!
More than anything, we want to know about you. We want to know about your history, your ambitions for the future, and we want to work out together how ACM might be able to help you join those dots between where you are now and where you one day want to be, out there in industry.
Songwriting
Welcome to the ACM Songwriting School! We are very pleased that you are considering studying with us. In doing so, you are following in the steps of countless world-class musicians who have chosen to train here.
You will be asked to perform an original song of your own composition either acoustically, accompanied by an instrument (played by yourself or someone else) or to backing track (preferably self-produced, but not compulsory). Keyboard, headphone/audio jack and amps will be provided.
After your performance, we will ask you a few questions about how the song came to be written and about your career/music goals.
In addition, we also require you to bring a pre-recorded version of the track for us to listen to. We’re assessing your creativity in this case, rather than your technical production skills, so please don’t worry if you have recorded your track using Garageband or some other generally available software on a device such as your phone. You can supply this pre-recorded track either on a memory stick or as a link (to be sent to enquiries@acm.ac.uk).
Our approach is the very opposite of a “one size fits all” philosophy, and our core objective is to help each student find – and express – the very best of who they are as a songwriter, musician and performing artist. We are therefore open to songs in any genre, and would encourage you to choose a song from your repertoire that you feel truly represents who you are.
Tell us all about YOU!
More than anything, we want to know about you. We want to know about your history, your ambitions for the future, and we want to work out together how ACM might be able to help you join those dots between where you are now and where you one day want to be, out there in industry.
Game Development
Welcome to the ACM Game Development School! We are very pleased that you are considering studying with us. In doing so, you are following in the steps of countless creatives who have chosen to train here.
In the interview, we want to see your passion and enthusiasm for game development. Bring any portfolio you have done to support this, any artwork, game designs, code, audio, or anything else related.
Think about your favourite games. We want to know why you love them and how they inspire you.
Tell us about yourself, your other interests, and your future plans, as we want to know you and understand how we best can help you achieve your future goals! And remember – we’re not looking for perfection, we’re looking for potential!
