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Enrolment for a music education performance exam 

Information about how to apply music education performance exam

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Level performer’s information package

Please, note that if your concert is held outside the Sibelius Academy, the Academy will not provide equipment lending services (music stands, chairs, platforms, instrument stands) and that set-up services are not available at the Helsinki Music Centre on weekends.  

Those registering for the performance examination must be registered as attending at the Sibelius Academy.

Pop/Jazz level D performance info letter

At least 10 weeks before the level performance

Submit your own compositions for the preliminary examination (if any). For pop/jazz vocal music, the compositions are examined by Aija (aija.puurtinen@uniarts.fi). For other pop/jazz instruments, the examination is carried out by Max Tabell. NOTE! The preliminary examination only applies to level performances B and A, which are used to exclusively present new compositions. 

At least 8 weeks before the level performance

  1. Reserve the date of the level performance in advance, no later than 8 weeks beforehand. Book the level performance date with the study coordinator (aino.hannonen@uniarts.fi).
  2. You can also notify the teacher-in-charge of your instrument of the reservation.
    • Pop/jazz vocal music level A (aija.puurtinen@uniarts.fi) 
    • Level B (selina.sillanpaa@uniarts.fi) Levels C and D (elina.arlin@uniarts.fi). At level D, your own teacher checks the repertoire.
    • Other pop/jazz instruments (aino.hannonen@uniarts.fi). The examinations are arranged in the calendar as logical wholes, considering the composition of ensembles and committees. 
  3. Attend a communications meeting (date announced separately). The representatives of the communications and production team will attend the meeting and the meeting will review the media plan for performance examination concerts. 
  4. Register for the level performance in the Taito channel. If you do not submit the data in the Taito Channel on time, your performance examination reservation will be cancelled. Stage maps are not required at this stage. 
  5. The approval of programme information is carried out electronically. The officer responsible for the programme information, i.e. the professor, the committee chair or the student’s teacher are informed of the student’s registration electronically, based on the authority the student entered on the form. 
Go to Taito channel

No later than 2 weeks before the level performance (levels C, B and A)

  1. Attend the production meeting (date announced separately). The meeting will have representatives of the production team and stage and studio services of the Sibelius Academy. The meeting discusses the schedules of the examination days, set-up and sound and light design matters in great detail. 
  2. Agree with the other students at the same degree festival on which backline equipment (drums, amplifiers, etc.) you will use. As a rule, you use the same equipment as the other performers at the degree festival so that the time can be used for sound checks instead of set-up. Agree between you which instruments/amplifiers you want to use. 
  3. Complete the pop/jazz examination stage map template with your information. The grand piano, drums and bass amplifier are placed in fixed locations due to the tight schedule of the festival. Send the completed form to the responsible producer of your examination and to the sound and light designers. The contact information will be communicated separately.
  4. Tell Mikko (mikko.seppanen@uniarts.fi) what equipment you need for the concerts from Muka classrooms. Teaching must also be possible during the examinations. For this reason, it may not be possible to meet every request. However, we will prioritise the concert needs as well as possible. 
STAGE MAP TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING IT IN (in Finnish)

At least one week before the level performance

Make sure that your ensemble knows the schedules of the examination day and that everyone can make it to the entire sound check! 

If you want to add song-specific preferences regarding audio and lighting, send the documents well in advance. More detailed instructions are available below. 

On the day of the level performance

It is the responsibility of the candidates to handle the set-up of musical instruments borrowed from Muka and, after the examinations, to set them back up in the classrooms in good working order. Everyone participating in the set-up must know what is borrowed from which classroom and how the devices have been placed in the classrooms.  

Coordinate with each other on who carries what, where, and when. Make sure as well that all classrooms are usable for band practice during your examination.  

The coloured cables in the classrooms may not be taken to examinations, the department’s gig cable set (incl. approximately 15 black plug-in cables) can be picked up from Mikko (mikko.seppanen@uniarts.fi). Every piece that has a case must be carried in the case! These include drums, guitars, bass guitars and keyboards. Items easily slip on the floor despite careful handling. Cases are also available from Mikko. Leave the cases and the concert cable case on the 6th floor hallway in a neat pile. 

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all members of the band are present on time! 

Level performance dates

Spring 2024 S-6104 (level D)

  • Friday 26 April 2024, 11.00 Maissi Uusitalo, 12.00 Andrei Makaroff, 13.00 Wilhelmiina Ahmala VOCAL MUSIC
  • Mon 29 April 2024, 10.00 Jon Selin, 11.00, 12.00 Helmi Ketola, 13.00 Alina Salmi VOCAL MUSIC

Spring 2024 Degree Festival, Blackbox (Levels C, B and A)

  • Wed 24 April 2024, 12.30, 14.00 Hannu Risku, 18.00 Severi Ollinen, 19.30 Sakari Soukka
  • Tue 7 May 2024, 12.30 Hanna Lanki, 14.00 Justiina Paasonen, 18.00 Laura-Ilona Kotilainen, 19.30 Eevi Sahimaa ONLY VOCAL MUSIC
  • Wed 8 May 2024, 12.30 Sonja Kola, 14.00 Tuuli Jaakonaho, 18.00 Venla Kosunen, 19.30 Sami Arvonen ONLY VOCAL MUSIC
  • Fri 10 May 2024, 12.30 Katja Nikkanen, 14.00 Sini Koivuniemi, 18.00 Senni Lyytinen, 19.30 Markus Laine

Schedule for level C, B and A performances

These schedules apply unless specified otherwise.

  • 08.30 – 09.30 Technical building and set-up
  • 09.30 – 10.30 Check 2
  • 10.30 – 10.45 Switch
  • 10.45 – 11.45 Check 1
  • 11.45 – 12.30 Lunch break
  • 12.30 – 13.30 Gig 1
  • 13.30 – 14.00 Switch
  • 14.00 – 15.00 Gig 2
  • 15.00 – 15.30 Switch (also switching technology team members)
  • 15.30 – 16.30 Check 4
  • 16.30 – 16.45 Switch
  • 16.45 – 17.45 Check 3
  • 17.45 – 18.00 Break
  • 18:00 – 19:00 Gig 3
  • 19.00 – 19.30 Switch
  • 19.30 – 20.30 Gig 4
  • 20.30 – 21.30 Tear-down

Concert hall attendant for level performance events held at Helsinki Music Centre

The level A, B and C concerts arranged at the Helsinki Music Centre will have a concert hall attendant primarily responsible for the security of the event. Before and after the concert, they check the the concert hall lighting (= basic lights) with the performance examination candidate. In addition, the attendant assists in stage set-up (moving the grand piano, music racks, chairs) and handles announcements for the audience to enter or exit. The concert hall attendant’s work begins one hour before the examinations. 

Descriptions of level performances (levels A, B, C, D)

Please note that ECTS credits are not awarded for level performance, but they are earned for study units. 

If your level performance is cancelled

  1. If your performance is cancelled, notify your teacher and the employee in charge of the level performance, who will notify to the members of the committee. NOTE! You may only postpone or cancel your level performance for reasons other than illness six weeks before the performance date. 
  2. You must make a new hall reservation as usual. 
  3. If necessary, register by submitting a new level performance form. If your repertoire is unchanged, the previous form can be used. 

Important information

  • The pop/jazz level performances in Muka Black Box have a maximum band size of 10 people (including soloist).
  • During the examinations, level performance candidates have access to a sound designer and lighting designer, who handle the stage technology. Sometimes a student of music technology can also assist in the hall. In addition to the sound and light designers, always send set lists, stage maps and musical instrument lists to the producer so that in case of illness, the information is available.   
  • The whole ensemble must be present for the sound check. Remember that the sound check is not a rehearsal or a full run. There is not enough time for it. The most important thing is to get a feel for the stage, test the sound and find the stage and listening balances. 
  • From the lights and sound perspective, it is a good idea to play a part of every piece during the sound check and also agree on how the band and soloist arrive on the stage, or at least mark a spot if the song has an exceptional configuration (solo, duo…?) 

If you want to add song-specific preferences regarding audio and lighting, do the following

Prepare a set list for your concert

The sound and light designers track the set list throughout the concert.

The set list should include:  

  • The pieces in order 
  • Short description of each song and its tempo 
  • Is the ensemble unusual (e.g. duo), or whether you will be moving to another spot (e.g. from soloist spot to the piano) 
  • Whether the piece includes a backing track or a significant solo 
  • Lighting requests (e.g. do you want active or calm lights, or a colour?) 
  • When will the band be introduced? Other speeches? 

Equipment at Black Box

  • 4 wireless microphones 
  • 6 grouped monitor speakers 

Equipment at Sonore

  • 4 wireless microphones 
  • 4 grouped monitor speakers 

Equipment at Camerata

  • 4 wireless microphones 
  • 4 grouped monitor speakers 

Due to limited resources and time

  • You may not bring your own mixer 
  • No dancers 
  • No pyrotech, water etc. 
  • You cannot bring your own wireless microphones or devices 
  • Any backing tapes or soundscapes must be handled by a band member on a laptop, mobile phone, etc. 
  • On the hall day, a shared light set for all bands and a light designer are available, but because of the limited time for programming, it may not be possible to guarantee precise light situations, and some of them will be improvised. 
  • If you have your own lighting designer, make sure that they can handle the shared light set in the hall and are able to quickly program the GrandMa2 light table, and that they have agreed on the matter well in advance with the in-house light designer. They will only have the soundcheck (45 minutes) to program the lights. 

If you want to use projections, you must arrange for your own assistant. The sound or light designer can lower the screen, turn on the video projector and provide an HDMI connection. However, you cannot delegate the playback of background visuals (even if it is just a click of a button) to them. There is so much to do in sound and light technology that it is easy to forget everything else. In any case, remember to report projections in the technical rider. 

If you cancel a C, B or A level performance less than one month before the scheduled date without a force majeure reason, you will be sanctioned with a reduction in personal teaching. 

Recordings

Level performances are video recorded using the fixed system in the halls without a separate request, and, if necessary, they can also be recorded on a multitrack. The recordings are available for personal use. If you publish a promo tape on social media, etc., make sure you are aware of the copyright laws. Commercial use is agreed upon with the director of stage.  Video recordings will be sent as Filesender download links to the level performance candidate’s email. 

Practice reservations for level performances in the music education department

Once you have been informed that your level performance registration has been approved, you can make practice reservations in classrooms S6102-S6106 for a period of four months. Use the Peppi event calendar to find available times and send your bookings to siba.muvarat@uniarts.fi. 

Practice reservations can be made as follows:

  • level D performance: 6 hours total 
  • level C performance: 9 hours total 
  • level B or A performances: 12 hours total 

In addition, students can book practice hours independently in the reservation system in accordance with their existing rights. 


Published 19.9.2022 | Updated 11.12.2024

Registration timetable 

Registration for a performance exam in the Taito channel takes place in two stages.

1. Book a date for the performance exam using the booking form (form 1). You will find a list of examination dates per instrument on the form.

2. Submit the registration form (form 2) at least eight weeks before the performance exam date. This will confirm the performance exam date you have booked.

During holidays, registration will not progress; holidays extend the processing period for registrations. Also see the instructions regarding cancelling your examination on this page.

Enrolment time for Early music and Church music examinations is 6 weeks. If the artistic performance examination is held outside the Sibelius Academy (e.g. in a church), you must register for the examination at least 4 weeks in advance. The chairman convenes the examination board.

Register in Taito channel

Repertoire and approval of repertoire details

When you register, you must submit both the repertoire you will perform in the level performance examination and the repertoire rehearsed for this completion. You can list the rehearsed repertoire to a different document. The document’s file format is optional. Your teacher must check and sign the rehearsed repertoire. Please note that you do not need to list the rehearsed repertoire for performance examinations on string instruments or piano.

You cannot use the same repertoire in a level performance and a chamber music exam – see the Moodle chamber music page for further instructions.

Enter the name of the person approving your repertoire details on the form.

  • Professor or chairperson of the examination board: Level A, B and C performance examinations (Piano C: own teacher). The names of the chairpersons of the examination boards can be found in the examination board decisions below. Your own teacher cannot primarly approve your exam repertoire. Please see the exceptions below
  • Teacher: Level D and below; in piano, level C and below. 

When you have submitted your registration form, the person approving the form will check your repertoire details, and if there is nothing to remark on in the details you submitted, producer services will confirm your examination date and time within two weeks of your registration. If there is something to remark on in your repertoire details, the approver will contact you, and you will then need to submit a new and revised registration.

If your performance forms part of a proficiency demonstration for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, then a planning officer will verify that you have completed the necessary prerequisites. Check the  Study Guide to see whether this level performance examination forms part of a proficiency demonstration in your case.

If you complete the artistic level performance examination with the old curriculum, i.e. according to the degree requirements of the academic year 2023-24, you must have agreed on this with your head of department already before registering in the Taito channel.

Examination boards 2024-2025 (in Finnish)

Repertoire lists

The repertoire list is an instrument-specific list of repertoires suitable for the artistic modules. You will find repertoire lists here below. Descriptions for level performances, demonstrations of proficiency, and other course descriptions may be found  here (the University of the Arts Helsinki’s study guide).

Find repertoire lists here

Program leaflet 

You yourself are responsible for creating and printing out the program leaflet for the audience. When making the program leaflet, please take into account the copyright of any images and text.

Marketing

Public level performance examinations (A and B levels) will be in the Uniarts event calendar, and no other notice to communications is needed. If the concert is held at the Music Centre, the concert will also be in the Music Centre website automatically. 

Instructions about how to promote your concert

If copyrighted music is played in your public level performance examination concert (levels A and B), you must submit a notification to siba@teosto.fi. Reporting is important because royalties are channeled to music creators. The notification may be free-form, but it must state the following: the time of the concert, the venue of the concert, and the works performed. Be sure to send a notification soon after the concert so that it is not forgotten.

Sheet music materials

In principle, the student is responsible for the purchase of sheet music. If you are arranging sheet music or otherwise require an agreement with the publisher (e.g. you are performing only part of the score), please contact the publisher yourself to confirm the rights and fees for the performance and arrangement of the work.

Read more about the copyright services