* Student selection for Spring 2012 will take place from May 28th to May 31st at the Espoo Cultural Centre in Tapiola.
* A detailed timetable for the selection days will be published in the May 5th edition of the Länsiväylä newspaper. Timetable information will also be available on EMO’s website from the end of April.
* Applicants need to register for the selection process in advance through our website. Registration will be open from May 7th to May 20th.
What happens at the selection process?
Student selection consists of two different stages: a short info session followed by an individual test. The whole process lasts around 90 minutes. During the info session, applicants and their families are given all relevant information about the content and timetable of the selection process. Registration forms should be completed before arriving at the info session, so applicants should aim to arrive around ten minutes before their allocated slot (listed in the audition timetable).
In the individual tests, the teacher will clap and sing different rhythms and melodies, which the children should copy, almost like playing ‘follow the leader’. The children must also listen to and identify different melodic phrases and do some simple motor exercises. In addition, each applicant should sing a simple song of their choice, e.g. Happy Birthday to You and, if they wish, give a short demonstration of their playing on the instrument of their choice. Assessing this will be a panel consisting of three of EMO’s friendly teachers. Parents may not be present during the test.
Results
The results of the selection process will be posted on the EMO website and in the foyer of the Espoo Cultural Centre approximately one week after the tests. More detailed information regarding the results of the selection process can be obtained from the institute office later in the autumn. Specific times will be published during the selection process itself.
Which instrument should I learn?
If you are interested in taking up a musical instrument, but you’re not sure which one, you should visit us at Soitinpolku (Open doors -day), where you can have the opportunity to explore different instruments with the guidance of the EMO staff. At EMO you can study all Western acoustic instruments. Come along and visit us at the Espoo Cultural Centre on May 3rd 5-7pm and at our instrument introduction concerts in the foyer of the Tapiola Hall 4-6pm. For more information, please consult the Small Instrument Guide (PDF, in Finnish only).
Securing a place to study an orchestral instrument is easier than securing a place for the most popular instruments: namely the guitar and the piano. The exact number of free places for each instrument changes each year.