The majority of our programs require an audition or the submission of a creative portfolio, in addition to entry requirements for domestic and international students. Your audition and portfolio help us assess your suitability for the program, and is your opportunity to demonstrate your talent and passion for music.
Your audition and interview are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your talent and demonstrate your suitability for our course. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
- Select pieces that best showcase your talent!
- Make sure you know your pieces well, and are comfortable performing them.
- Ensure you show your passion, willingness to work and learn and of course your musical skills.
Hear directly from our academics on tips to nail your audition.
Audition and portfolio requirements by course
If you are based in Melbourne and Sydney, you will attend a live audition. Students outside Melbourne and Sydney, and international students outside Australia, submit an audition and portfolio online. If your audition is successful, you will receive a letter of offer to study at AIM.
More information on the requirements for each program is outlined below.
Bachelor of Music – Performance (Contemporary)
Performance of two contrasting pieces on your chosen instrument/voice.
To maximise your chance of a successful audition, we recommend:
- At least one piece should be a cover.
- For vocalists, both songs should be performed to backing/accompaniment.
- For instrumentalists, at least one piece should be performed to backing/accompaniment.
- Pieces should be performed in full, but no more than 5 minutes each.
Find out more about the Performance specialisation.
Bachelor of Music – Arts Management
Applicants should prepare two contrasting items.
The first should be an analytical essay about music or the music business. Topics may include a music artist, composer, musical work, genre, or aspect of the music business.
The second item may be a contrasting essay, or a musical item such as:
- A live music performance.
- A recorded video or audio performance.
- A recorded original composition including a credit list (for example: composer, lyricist, arranger, producer, musicians, engineer).
- A pdf score of an original composition or arrangement.
- A handwritten score of an original composition or arrangement.
- An original audio mix of a musical work including a credit list (for example: composer, lyricist, arranger, producer, musicians, engineer).
Find out more about the Arts Management specialisation.
Bachelor of Music – Composition
Applicants should prepare two contrasting items.
To maximise your chance of entering the Composition course, we recommend the provide examples of original creative work that demonstrates your compositional and/or production skills.
- Complete pieces, not small samples
- A credit list for each original work, containing your name as the composer and acknowledging other additional contributors.
Find out more about the Composition specialisation.
Bachelor of Music – Creative Technology (Audio)
Applicants should prepare two contrasting items.
To maximise your chance of entering the Creative Technology course, we recommend you provide items that demonstrate your recording, mixing, producing and/or mastering experience.
- Complete pieces, not small samples.
- At least one should be your original creation – can be in the medium of sound files, video recordings, PDF or handwritten scores, or original audio mix.
- At least one should demonstrate your ability using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
- A credit list for each original work, containing your name as the composer/creator and acknowledging other additional contributors.
Find out more about the Creative Technology specialisation.
Bachelor of Music – Musicology
Applicants should prepare two contrasting items.
The first should be an analytical essay about music or the music business. Topics may include a music artist, composer, musical work, genre, or aspect of the music business.
The second item may be a contrasting essay, or a musical item such as:
- A live music performance
- A recorded video or audio performance
- A recorded original composition including a credit list (for example: composer, lyricist, arranger, producer, musicians, engineer)
- A pdf score of an original composition or arrangement
- A handwritten score of an original composition or arrangement
- An original audio mix of a musical work including a credit list (for example: composer, lyricist, arranger, producer, musicians, engineer)
Find out more about the Musicology specialisation.
Bachelor of Music – Performance (Classical)
Performance of two contrasting pieces on your chosen instrument/voice.
To maximum your chance of a successful audition, we recommend:
- For pianists, repertoire should be performed solo (i.e. not chamber music).
- For vocalists and other instruments, repertoire should be performed with an accompanist where applicable.
- Combined repertoire should be approximately 10 minutes in duration.
Find out more about the Performance specialisation.
Bachelor of Music Theatre
Performance of two contrasting pieces on your chosen instrument/voice.
To maximise your chance of a successful audition, we recommend:
- Both songs should be performed to backing/accompaniment.
- The performance should demonstrate your ability to sing, dance, and act.
Find out more about the Music Theatre course.
Additional documentation for all auditions
You are encouraged to provide additional documents to support your application. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Music/performance resume outlining any previous training and/or experience.
- Cover letter outlining your goals for study and/or career aspirations.
- Awards, certificates, music exam certificates (such AMEB or Trinity).
- Information about any informal training, such as short courses or workshops you have attended.
- Additional performance audio/video recordings.
- Recording/PDF score/handwritten score of an original composition/arrangement.
- References from teachers, tutors or industry professionals.
Live auditions
Your live audition and interview are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your talent and demonstrate your suitability for our course. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
- Select pieces that best showcase your talent!
- Make sure you know your pieces well, and are comfortable performing them.
- Ensure you show your passion, willingness to work and learn and of course your talent.
See our tips to nailing your audition.
Equipment
- Instrumentalists – excluding piano / keyboard players – are required to bring their own instruments on the day of their audition.
- Drumkits are provided, however drummers need to bring their own cymbals, drumsticks, hi-hat clutch and felts.
- Amplifiers are provided; however guitarists and bass players need to bring their own instruments and leads.
- Vocalists will not require amplification, so microphones will not be required.
Accompanists and backing tracks
- Accompanists are not provided for auditions. We are focusing on your performance, not on your accompaniment, so a backing track will suffice for most auditions.
- Backing tracks on AUX capable devices are preferred, with AUX cables supplied. For those using a phone with no AUX output, please provide your own AUX adapter.
- USB, Bluetooth and CD facilities are available, but please notify us at least 24 hours beforehand.
- You are also welcome to either accompany yourself or provide your own accompanist, but this is not required.
- A full band accompaniment is not advised.
- Voice applicants should not perform acapella.
If you are unsure about your equipment or accompaniment, then please contact your AIM Recruitment team member before the day of your audition. It’s much easier to make alternative arrangements in the days beforehand, rather than on the day itself.
Online submissions
If you’re outside Sydney, Melbourne and Australia, you can submit your audition/portfolio online. Once your files are ready for submission, we will provide you with an upload link. As well as meeting the audition requirements, you are encouraged to submit documentation or a brief recording of your music experience and goals for study. Here’s some information on what we need for each course.
For Bachelor of Music – Arts Management, Bachelor of Music – Performance (Contemporary), Bachelor of Music – Performance (Classical), and Bachelor of Music Theatre:
Ensure your online submission meets the following requirements:
- Videos recorded in MP4 or MOV file formats.
- Audio files should be uploaded in MP3 or WAV file formats.
- Documents should be uploaded in PDF, JPEG, or PNG formats only.
Performance video submissions must:
- Show a live, unedited performance (no auto-turn, filters, cuts, etc).
- Clearly show that it is you performing. If 2+ performers are visible in the video, indicate which performer you are.
- Clearly show your skills and technique on your instrument (i.e., we can see both of your hands playing the guitar or piano).
- Clearly hear your performance and your backing / accompaniment.
- Be no more than 12 months old.
Performance videos may:
- Be filmed at an informal location (home, school, rehearsal space).
- Be filmed separately and/or at different times. Both songs do not need to be together in the same video or filmed at the same location.
- Show you playing other instruments (i.e., a vocalist accompanying themselves on piano).
Credit lists
Credit list example
Sara Coates: Application to study at AIM – Bachelor of Music (Composition), Credit list
Credit 01 – Open Eye Signal (original mix)
- All work completed by Sara Coates using Ableton and some analogue equipment
Credit 02 – Smell of the Wind
- Composer: Sara Coates
- Lyrics: Ledicia Ceballos
- Mix and Master: Mixed and mastered by Sara Coates and Pro Tools
- Piano: Sille Villadsen
- Violen: Jessica Wooton
- Drums: Jerome Murphy
- Vocals: James Nguyen