Hampshire County Council Music Awards 2013

A Hampshire County Council Music Award is available to Hampshire residents, who demonstrate exceptional ability on their instrument and are in school year 11 or below. Applicants will be invited to audition at a venue in Hampshire and will perform to a panel of professional musicians. To be considered for an audition candidates will need to provide evidence of a minimum standard of grade 6 or equivalent. Successful candidates will be entitled to five hours tuition with a specialist teacher each term, along with the opportunity to take part in other musical events - master classes, workshops, general musicianship courses - throughout Hampshire.

Auditions will take place in the spring term and applicants are informed of the results early in the summer term. The award commences the following September and can last for a maximum of three years. All award students are required to take up membership of an HMS area or county ensemble.

Application packs

Full details including audition requirements, guidance notes and conditions of the award can be found with the application pack which can be downloaded here  85kb. Alternatively you can request a pack to be sent by post. Please email clare.burton@hants.gov.uk or contact Hampshire Music Service by phone on 023 8065 2037

Auditions

Auditions will be held at several venues throughout Hampshire during March 2013. Candidates are normally given an audition at a venue in the area of the county in which they live. All piano and percussion auditions, however, will be held at a venue in central Hampshire. The majority of auditions will be held between 3.00pm and 8.00pm from Monday to Friday and between 9.00am and 6.00pm at weekends. Each audition will last for approximately 20 minutes. Please indicate on the application form if any dates during this time are not possible. Applicants/candidates will be given an audition date and time by letter by early February. It is not likely that audition dates can be changed once they have been given.

At the audition, candidates will be expected to perform two contrasting pieces, scales from a current grade 6 syllabus, sight-reading and aural tests. The audition will finish with a discussion about the candidate's musical ambitions and a brief viva voce about the music performed. The applicant will also have an opportunity to ask questions about the award scheme and discuss which HMS ensemble might be appropriate.

Example Aural Tests

You can download example aural tests here

Eligibility

Hampshire County Council Music Awards are available to Hampshire residents who are in school year 11 or below, and can demonstrate a minimum standard of grade 6 or equivalent. All award holders must be a member of an HMS ensemble which encourages interaction with other musicians and is an excellent musical development opportunity. The award is held for three years or until the award holder leaves school or 6th form college. Individual tuition will cease if / when the award holder goes on to take A level music where free instrumental lessons are provided, or by taking one of the Hampshire Specialist Music courses at Southdowns College or Peter Symonds. However these students will still be eligible and encouraged to participate in all other activates offered to award holders. Please see Application Pack for a full list of conditions.

FAQ

Do I need to bring an accompanist to the audition?
Can any instrument apply?
Do we get any feedback after the audition and what happens if we are not successful?
What will be available at the audition venue and who will be listening to me play?
What happens if I can't find an Ensemble to join?
What happens if I go on to study A-level music?
Do I have a choice who teaches me?

Do I need to bring an accompanist to the audition?

An accompanist is not essential, but careful consideration must be given to the suitability of the music chosen to perform. For example, if you choose to play a sonata, which involves equal parts for piano and soloist, you would find there would be many gaps and the overall structure of the music would not make sense. It is advisable to choose something that has been written for an unaccompanied solo instrument, if you are not bringing an accompanist, as you only have two pieces with which to impress the panel. You are welcome to bring a CD backing track but please ensure that you let HMS know this when you confirm your audition appointment.

Can any instrument apply?

Any instrument or voice can apply for an award, although you may only hold an award on one instrument. There are no set number of awards allocated to any instrument so it will vary each year depending on the number of applicants. Awards are also available for Composition - Please see Application Pack for a full list of conditions.

Do we get any feedback after the audition and what happens if we are not successful?

All candidates will receive written feedback from the panel. If unsuccessful there will be suggestions of how to improve your performance. As long as you continue to fulfil the conditions you can apply again if you wish to, in the following year. Please remember that the minimum standard to apply is Grade 6 or equivalent and candidates who have a good grasp of the technical requirements are more likely to feel confident and enjoy the experience.

What will be available at the audition venue and who will be listening to me play?

All the audition venues will have a waiting room and some may have a separate warm-up room. A piano is not always available in the waiting / warm-up room unless the venue is a central location specifically for pianists to audition. If you are bringing your accompanist along they may be expected to play on a good quality electric piano is some venues. The two members of the award panel are highly experienced musicians, with many years' experience as adjudicators and examiners. They will sit on all the auditions to ensure a common standard. It is possible that a third member may be present from Hampshire Music Service although this is not always the case. A brief biography of the panel members will be available at audition venues.

What happens if I can't find an Ensemble to join?

HMS provide a network of over 70 ensembles across the county \{link\}. Ensemble membership does not always have to be on their award instrument - for example some pianists have joined percussion groups on tuned percussion or an area/county choir, but membership of an HMS ensemble is an essential requirement of holding an award. This may involve travelling to join a suitable group but it is regarded as a highly important aspect of your musical development. Music awards have been suspended when regular membership has not been maintained.

What happens if I go on to study A-level music?

Most colleges will now be offering free instrumental tuition as part of the music A-level course. In this case any tuition fees provided by the HCC Music Award will stop. However you will still hold an HCC Music Award and would be encouraged to participate in other activities provided. After three years of holding an award if you are still at school or 6th form college, and not receiving college funding for instrumental/vocal teaching via A-level music you will be invited to re-audition in order for it to continue.

Do I have a choice who teaches me?

Hampshire Music Service will make this decision although your preferences will be taken into account. Teachers are not always available locally but in some circumstances travel expenses can be claimed. It is preferable that lessons take place at school or college. This will be arranged between the teacher and parents and HMS will be kept informed. The award continues each year dependant on a satisfactory record of achievement from your teacher.