Recorded auditions

Guidelines for submitting a recorded audition to the New Zealand School of Music.

Auditions will be held using recordings. Ensure that you follow the guidelines below for recording your audition. Once you have recorded your audition you will need to upload it to YouTube as an unlisted video and send the link to music@vuw.ac.nz. International applicants must apply for admission to the University through our site for international students.

Recording your audition

  • Ensure your instrument is in tune.
  • Submit an unedited recording of your audition. It must be a recent recording.
  • The recording must be of good quality in terms of sound and visuals. Your singing or music playing should be clearly audible.
  • Camera work should be straightforward. Use a tripod and ensure that your hands are in frame. Do not use any zooms or cuts—simply find a good camera angle and start recording.
  • You can record each piece as a separate file or upload a single file of all pieces, but each file must be unedited.

The audition may be followed up by an online interview with you (on Zoom or another platform), to be arranged at a suitable time.

See recording requirements specific to each programme on Undergraduate auditions or Master of Music Therapy auditions.

Uploading your Recorded Audition to YouTube as an Unlisted Video

  1. Please go to YouTube and create an account for yourself.
  2. Upload your audition video to your channel and select unlisted as the privacy setting. Do not select the Private option; Private means that only you can view the video. You want the unlisted setting.
  3. Send the URLs of your audition video to music@vuw.ac.nz by email, along with any other required elements of the audition (such as written materials).

What is an unlisted video?

An unlisted video is a different type of private video. Unlisted means that only people who have the link to the video can view it. An unlisted video will not appear in any of YouTube's public spaces, like your channel, search results, or the homepage. You can choose to make changes to the privacy settings of any of your videos at any time.

How do I create an unlisted video?

  1. Sign-in to your YouTube account.
  2. Click on the Upload button at the top right of the page.
  3. Before you select the file to upload, you can choose a privacy setting from the drop bow menu below the big arrow. Choose Unlisted.
  4. Then click the big arrow to browse on your computer for the video file. Click Upload.

How do I change the settings of a video once it is uploaded?

  1. Sign-in to your YouTube account.
  2. Select the video you want to change.
  3. In the edit bar directly under the video, click on Video Manager on the right.
  4. Choose the video you want to edit and click the Edit button below the video thumbnail.
  5. Scroll down to the Basic Info tab and find the Privacy section on the right.
  6. You’ll see the option to make the video Public, Unlisted, or Private.
  7. Choose Unlisted. Make sure to click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page.

How do I share an unlisted video?

To share an unlisted video, just copy the URL of the video and share it with the people who you would like to have access to it, and they will be able to see it.

Who can access my unlisted video?

Only people who have your unlisted video's URL have access to the video.