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Music courses pages

Applying to study at a Music College/Conservatoire

Undergraduate study at Music Colleges is for students who are firmly set on becoming professional musicians. Courses at Music Conservatoires are primarily focused on practical music making. The academic content can be somewhat limited, with academic standards considerably lower than on a University course. Many academically able musicians (including those who don ’t study Music) choose to take an undergraduate degree at a University. They then move onto Music College for postgraduate study and, in many cases, are still able to pursue a successful career as professional musicians For some students, but mostly for singers, there may even be an advantage in deferring professional musical study to postgraduate level. The principal criteria is your ability as a performer. Competition for places at the top conservatoires (The Royal schools, Guildhall and Trinity) is extremely fierce and all applicants are expected to be at a post grade VIII level. There are academic requirements, but the bar is set at a low level; for instance entry on the Royal College of Music ’ s Bachelor of Music programme requires a C in A level Music plus an E in another subject. Application for most of the UK’ s Music Colleges (listed below) is via the Conservatoires UK Admissions Service (CUKAS) and not via UCAS (but it is on the same website!). However, it is possible to pursue a parallel process, simultaneously applying for University via UCAS and for Music College via CUKAS. This is highly advisable given the highly competitive nature of Music Colleges and if you wish to keep your options open between University versus Conservatoire study. For instance, a better than expected set of A level results might open the door to undergraduate study at University rather than Music College. Information about how to apply and the audition process is clearly laid out on the UCAS website (Conservatoire section). Applications are made via this link on the UCAS website. The application process starts very early, with online

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applications in July for admission the following September. You will need to complete your application by 1 October to guarantee that all your chosen Music Colleges will consider you.

You can apply to the following Music Colleges through CUKAS: • Royal College of Music • Royal Northern College of Music • Royal Academy of Music • Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance • Birmingham Conservatoire • Leeds College of Music • Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama • Royal Conservatoire of Scotland The notable exception is the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which has its own application process via the website at http://www.gsmd.ac.uk/apply.html In choosing the right Music College and course you will need to do as much research as possible. From location and building to atmosphere and opportunities, each conservatoire is different. In particular does the College have a good reputation for your instrument/singing? Do you have a particular teacher in mind? Try to attend as many open days as possible and talk to past and present students. If you are thinking of applying to Music College please arrange to see Mr Boxall during the Summer term before your application goes in.

But you can study Music at University….

Taking a degree in Music at a top university can be exceptionally rewarding. At undergraduate level the study of Music is an altogether broader and richer discipline than at A level, covering all the expected technical and analytical aspects but also encompassing the wider philosophical, aesthetic, historical and anthropological questions raised within the subject. You will be encouraged to develop areas of academic specialism through independent research and will have a degree of freedom to develop existing strengths, for instance composition, performance, source study, analysis etc. Some university music departments have exceptionally lively and busy extra-curricular music programmes.These can be of a very high standard, for instance those

at Oxford, Cambridge and Durham. You will also have much more freedom to put on your own projects at university than you would at a music college, where activities are usually staff-led and tightly controlled. Undergraduate Music courses vary widely in their content. It is therefore essential to research through trawling websites, attending open days and talking to present and past students. Some questions you might consider are as follows: • Does the balance of performance versus academic aspects of the course suit you? • If you are an active performer, how strong is the extra-curricular music? • does the course cater for any particular interests (eg Jazz, Pop Music, Early Music, Music Production, Ethnomusicology) • If you are a top performer, do you need to consider a university with links to a music college? • If you intend to go on to a music college at Postgraduate level will you have access to first class instrumental/vocal teaching at your chosen university? A list (by now means exhaustive) of universities to research includes: Cambridge, Oxford, Kings College - London, Manchester, Royal Holloway, Durham, Birmingham, York, Bristol, Glasgow, Southampton, Cardiff, Sheffield and Nottingham

Applying for Choral or Instrumental Awards at Oxford or Cambridge

Winning a Choral or Instrumental award at an Oxbridge college brings a number of potential rewards. As well as the kudos involved there can be financial incentives, including an annual bursary and free singing lessons. You will automatically be making music at a high level within your College and the University, and over the following three years going on foreign tours, making broadcasts and recordings. On a social level, you will be mixing from day one with like-minded students. It is important to realise from the start that winning an Award will not give you any advantage on the academic front; you will still need to satisfy the stringent academic entry requirements. However, if you are reading Music what you offer to the College and Faculty as a performer will clearly be considered as part of the overall package. It is important to do plenty of research. Commitments will vary and could be up to six services a week with one of the choral foundations.

Both Oxford (late April) and Cambridge (early May) run Open Days for Choral and Organ awards. In addition, most of the College Directors of Music are happy to hear you sing or play at any time before the formal auditions. At Oxford, applications for Choral awards have to be in very early – 1st September in the year prior to entry. Auditions are usually held in the third week of September, prior to the UCAS deadline of mid October. Offers of choral/organ awards are therefore made before the academic tests and interviews in December, and are provisional on success in the academic entry process. For Cambridge Choral and Instrumental Awards you will submit your UCAS application first in October but then should indicate your interest in a Music Award shortly afterwards on the Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ). If you are successful in receiving an academic offer the following January you will need to apply for a Choral audition in mid February. Both Oxford and Cambridge offer Instrumental Awards, separate from the Choral and Organ awards. Arrangements for these vary from College to College. If you are thinking of applying for any of these awards it is essential to talk things through with Mr Boxall early in the Summer Term in the year prior to entry. With applications for Oxford Choral awards needing to be in prior to the start of the Autumn Term, all arrangements for references need to be in place before the summer holidays. For comprehensive, and up to date, information please consult the relevant University website; http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/musicawards/

http://www.music.ox.ac.uk/apply/undergraduate/choral-and-organ-awards/organ -awards/

Channing Music Department

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