Admission requirements
Candidates will be selected beforehand by means of a recording of three pieces which the candidate must upload to the application form. The candidate is free in their choice of pieces, but there must be moments of improvisation and interplay in the recording. If the candidate's playing on the recording does not match the required level, they will not be invited to the entrance examination.

During the entrance examination, the candidate is tested on:

1. Playing skill
a. The committee will choose from three pieces from standard jazz repertoire prepared by the candidate (among which one swing piece, one ballad and maybe an original composition), in which the candidate shows the committee that he/she both masters the instrument and has a reasonable rhythmic, harmonic and melodic understanding.
b. Additionally, the candidate must play written material, such as solo transcriptions, jazz and or classical etudes (please bring sheet music in uplicatie for the exam committee). 
c. The audition will be in trio format with bass and drums. Candidates may bring their own accompaniment. It is also possible to use a trio from the conservatoire; please indicate this on the application form.

2. Hearing, tempo/timing and reading skills
This may consist of:

• repeating by ear lines and chords
• accompanying by ear an unknown, simple piece, without any previous information
• being able to play a given piece (melody and chord symbols)
• improvising on a melody given by the exam committee

The committee supplements the examination with some exercises which must show the candidate's skills which have not been sufficiently disclosed up till then.

3. Assessment
The possibilities to follow a principal subject study will be discussed by the committee. Important issues for the assessment are:

• musicality, hearing and melodic understanding
• feeling for rhythm and tempo
• affinity with jazz and/or connected music styles
• creative skills (arrangements and improvisation, originality)
• knowledge of chords
• technique, among which fingering, toucher
• sight reading (including chord symbols)

Preselection
The candidate must submit via the application form three links (YouTube, Soundlink etc). to audio or video recordings of their performances. On the basis of these materials, the committee will assess the candidate's level. If the candidate's level meets the requirements for the master's degree programme, the candidate may be invited to the entrance exam.

Entrance Exam

The master entrance exam consists of two parts:

• a practical part
• an interview

In the interview, the following topics are discussed:

• motivation to do a master study
• specific plans for the study (based on the written motivation in the application form)
• plans for the curriculum and a research proposal

In the practical part, the candidate will play three pieces, including:

• one original composition
• one jazz standard *)

*) originality and a high level of improvising are required

Candidates may bring their own accompaniment. It is also possible to make use of a conservatory trio; if you wish to do so, please state this on the application form.