WRITTEN TESTS:
- Music Theory and Harmony Test (Duration: 1 hour – Sample Test)
- Ear Training Test (Duration: 1 hour – Sample Test)
PRACTICAL TEST:
Candidates are required to prepare five pieces selected from the following categories:
- Blues Forms (e.g., Billie’s Bounce, Sandu, Blue Monk, Now’s the Time, Tenor Madness)
- Song Forms (AABA, ABAC, or other structures – e.g., Lady Bird, Tune Up, All of Me, Doxy, Mood Indigo, Song for My Father, Yesterdays, Bye Bye Blackbird, Night and Day)
The pieces listed above are examples and not an exhaustive list. Candidates may choose other suitable pieces within these categories. Each candidate must prepare lead sheets for the five selected pieces and submit them to the examination committee in advance. Two out of the five pieces will be performed:
· One selected by the candidate
· One selected by the committee
These will be performed with the assistance of a rhythm section provided by the academy.
- Sight-reading test, including verification of instrumental technique
- Motivational interview, including assessment of the candidate’s attitude and artistic background
Evaluation and results
Candidates will be assessed primarily on their attitude and on their musical instrumental skills.
At the end of the admission exams, the committee will prepare a merit ranking for each instrument, indicating the scores obtained. Only candidates deemed eligible (i.e., who achieve a minimum score of 18/30) will be listed in the published rankings.
Note: Being eligible does not guarantee admission, as the number of places available per instrument varies each Academic Year.
The final score (out of 30) is a weighted average:
· 30% from theoretical tests
· 70% from practical tests To be included in the final average, candidates must score at least 15/30 in both theory and practice tests.
Admission exams will take place on July 11 and 12, 2025. Results will be published on the Siena Jazz website within five days after the exams.
Following the publication of the rankings, the administrative office will send instructions to admitted candidates on how to pay the first instalment. Enrolment must be completed within the specified deadline (usually 10 days after the rankings are published). Candidates who fail to pay the first instalment within the deadline will be considered to have forfeited their place, and the spot will be offered to the next eligible candidate on the list.