Enrolment for a music education performance exam
Information about how to apply music education performance exam
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
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
No later than 2 weeks before the level performance (levels C, B and A)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
- 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.
- You must make a new hall reservation as usual.
- 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.