Music – Cambridge Interview Questions
“How can I prepare when the interviewer could ask me absolutely anything about Music?”
By understanding how the interview works and, crucially, what it is that the interviewer is looking for. The interviewer is not looking to catch you out, but rather for you to demonstrate your curiosity, knowledge and passion for Music.
“How am I able to do that?”
Demonstrate your enthusiasm and personality
Show that you enjoy studying Music independently
The easiest way to demonstrate your enthusiasm for Music is to show that you are self-motivated and have studied the subject in your free-time for enjoyment – for example through online lectures and independent reading. If you don’t know where to start, review our suggested reading list below.
Demonstrate your subject knowledge about and passion for Music
The key to answering these questions is to always demonstrate your thought process aloud. The interviewer does not expect you to be able to answer every question immediately, but rather wants to determine that you are able to think about and work on unknown topics with confidence, intelligence and clarity – and they won’t be able to do that if you sit in silence! Use the list of questions below to prepare. Perhaps you can have a friend or relative ask you these questions so that you can develop your skills of thinking under time pressure and speaking out loud.
Music Suggested Reading
Music Interview Questions
How did Wagner’s operas influence the history of Western music?
Why has music developed the way it has?
Which venue do you most like to play in acoustically?
Consider Girls Aloud and football anthems with reference to functionality of music.
How had the piano developed by the time of Beethoven?
How is music related to free will?
How do you think the current economic climate will affect music?
What would your desert island disc be?
How are Vivaldi’s ritornellos different to Bach’s ritornellos?
If you could invent a new musical instrument, what kind of sound would it make?
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture. Discuss.
Do you feel that music is an art incomparable to history in that history cannot be performed?