VCE Music Repertoire Performance exam-day guide
VCE Music Repertoire Performance · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed copy of your performance program and running order
Prepare a clean list of every work you will perform, with composer, title, and timing. Confirm with the provider whether a written program must be submitted in advance or handed to the assessor on the day, and how many copies are required.
Instrument, accessories, and spares
Pack your instrument in its case, plus the accessories your setup needs (reeds, strings, sticks, mallets, capo, picks, rosin, valve oil, spare cables). Bring a spare of anything that can fail, such as a second pair of sticks or a backup cable.
Personal amplification or backing-track equipment (if permitted)
If your program uses a backing track or amplification, confirm with the provider in advance what equipment the venue supplies and what you must bring. Test cables and playback devices beforehand and bring a backup copy of any audio file on a separate device.
Tuning device and metronome
Bring a clip-on or plug-in tuner and a metronome, with spare batteries. Confirm with the provider whether phones or apps are permitted in the room, since some venues restrict devices.
Photo identification
Bring the ID the provider requires (for example, a student card or government-issued photo ID). Confirm the accepted forms with the provider, as requirements vary by school and venue.
Confirmation of your session time and venue
Re-check your appointment time, arrival time, and location the day before. Arrive early enough to allow for parking, sign-in, and warm-up. Confirm with the provider how early candidates should report.
Water and a small snack
Bring water and a light snack for before or after your session. Check with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in waiting areas or the performance room.
Warm-up materials
Bring a short routine (scales, long tones, lip slurs, or a brief technical exercise) that you can run quietly in the waiting area if space allows. Confirm with the provider whether a warm-up room is available.
Performance scores or charts (if required)
Some formats require you to supply scores or lead sheets to the assessor. Confirm with the provider whether scores are needed, in what form, and how many copies.
Plan for page turns and accompanist cues
If you perform with an accompanist, agree on tempo, starts, and page turns in advance, and confirm the accompanist's arrival time and any rehearsal access to the room.
Review the assessment criteria and your program timings
Know how your performance will be judged and how long each item runs. Confirm with the provider the total time limit and what happens if you run over.
Backup transport and contact plan
Arrange your transport with a buffer and save the provider's contact number in case of delay. Confirm with the provider the procedure if you are running late or cannot attend.
Plan the day
Run full mock performances of your entire program in order, timed, with no stopping to fix mistakes. Record one run and listen back for balance, intonation, and ensemble issues. Finalise your running order and timings, and confirm with the provider any paperwork, equipment requests, or accompanist arrangements that must be settled before the day.
Check instrument condition: replace worn strings or reeds, check pads and valves, and test all cables and playback devices. Pack the instrument case and accessory bag now, and set aside spares. Confirm your session time, venue, parking, and travel route with the provider or your school.
Do a light technical session only: slow scales, long tones, and difficult passages at reduced tempo. Avoid learning new material or making major changes to interpretation. Lay out clothes, ID, program copies, water, and snacks. Charge devices and pack spare batteries. Go to bed at a normal hour and avoid loud environments.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Do a short, gentle warm-up (about 10 to 15 minutes) rather than a heavy practice session. Re-check your bag against the checklist, leave with a travel buffer, and arrive at the venue at the reporting time the provider specifies.
Report to the sign-in desk, present your ID, and confirm where to wait and where to warm up. Keep noise to a minimum near performance rooms. If anything is unclear about equipment, timing, or procedure, ask staff before your session begins.
Set up calmly and take a moment before starting. Perform your program in the planned order, keeping going through minor slips rather than restarting. Stay with your accompanist or backing track, and manage page turns and instrument changes efficiently. If a break between items is permitted, use it to reset rather than to re-negotiate the program.
Pack your instrument and equipment carefully, thank the staff and accompanist, and leave the room quietly so other candidates are not disturbed. Note anything you want to change before a future performance, and confirm with the provider whether any paperwork must be signed before you leave.
Rules to check
Follow the provider's instructions on identification and sign-in. Bring the ID form the provider specifies and present it when asked; confirm accepted forms with the provider before the day.
Arrive at the reporting time the provider sets. If you are delayed, contact the venue or provider immediately; confirm with the provider how lateness is handled, as policies differ.
Perform only the program you have prepared and declared. Do not substitute works or add items on the day unless the provider's rules allow it; confirm any change procedure with the provider in advance.
Keep the performance room and waiting areas quiet and professional. Silence phones and devices unless the provider permits their use for tuning or backing tracks.
Use only equipment and backing tracks that the provider permits. Confirm in advance what the venue supplies and what you may bring, including whether recorded accompaniment is allowed.
Treat staff, assessors, and accompanists respectfully, and follow their directions on setup, timing signals, and when to begin and stop.
Do not discuss or record other candidates' performances, and do not share assessment details in a way that breaches the provider's confidentiality rules. Confirm the provider's recording policy if you wish to record your own session.
Understand how your performance is scored before the day: review the published assessment criteria and time limits, and confirm with the provider any details about breaks, stopping, or penalties for running over time.