Royal College of Music versus Royal Academy of Music

[ravellian]

Hello!

This is my first time on the forum, so - hi! I have a question regarding music schools. I auditioned recently at both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, for masters studies in piano. I've been offered a place from both of the schools, and I'm just wondering if anyone here has experience with either of the schools and could provide me with some comparisons/suggestions that would help me make my decision. I was able to have a consultation lesson at RCM a few days after my audition - they arranged for me to have a lesson with Gordon Fergus-Thompson, which was really excellent. I didn't get to have a consultation at RAM, as it wouldn't have been possible until a bit after I was due to arrive home in Australia.

Yeah, so any suggestions or thoughts about the two schools are most welcome Thanks!

[mjames]

the one with prettier women.

[richard black]

Gordon F-T is a splendid guy and very highly thought of as a teacher (he taught me, privately, many years ago at a time when I wasn't thinking at all of playing for a living, which I now do - I found him very helpful).

In general terms there's really nothing to choose between RAM and RCM. Similar facilities, similar standing in the music world, both have some excellent teachers, and they're not even very far apart (you can easily walk from one to the other inside an hour). See if you can wangle a scholarship out of either of them!

[ravellian]

Gordon F-T is a splendid guy and very highly thought of as a teacher (he taught me, privately, many years ago at a time when I wasn't thinking at all of playing for a living, which I now do - I found him very helpful).

In general terms there's really nothing to choose between RAM and RCM. Similar facilities, similar standing in the music world, both have some excellent teachers, and they're not even very far apart (you can easily walk from one to the other inside an hour). See if you can wangle a scholarship out of either of them!

Glad to hear that! Yeah, he seemed really lovely and had lots of great suggestions about the Rachmaninoff I played for him .

As you say, sounds like both schools would be great choices - learning with Gordon would definitely be a good reason for me to choose RCM. I already know that RCM wouldn't be able to give me a scholarship sadly, and I think RAM there'll be something I have to fill in and send back to apply for one (worth a shot I guess). In any case, the international study costs would still be extortionately expensive  Thanks for your reply !