(UK) Music college auditions for a masters degree

[Jacey1973]

Has anyone auditioned for any music colleges in the UK for a masters degree? I was just wondering what peoples experiences have been, as i'm going to audition in a years time.

I was thinking possibly - Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Northern College - any other suggestions? Don't really know which colleges have the better reputations.

[Bob]

Do the small ones too for practice.  Nothing like practicing for a performance by actually doing a performance.

[greyrune]

Well there's always Royal College of Music and Trinity College London, they're both really good.  I'm at Goldsmiths and i have to recommend it, great place and good department but the other two are probably better for music Goldsmiths just has the coolest social life.  I've met people from Trinity and they say the social life is a little dull, but then that gives you more time practice i guess.

[Dazzer]

i'veheard of a placecalled the royal academy of music... RAM?

[pianowelsh]

Audition for as many of the big 8 as you can afford. Royal Academy Music Royal College Music, Guildhall, Trinity, Royal Northern, Royal Scottish, Royal Welsh College and Birmingham conservatoire - they are all international standard and offer good degree programmes and masters possibilities. Leeds college and Thames valley (LCM) are not so well recognised and have fewer good teachers but it depends what your strengths are.  LCM is good for contemporary music and music technology inclined musicians of all disciplines. Leeds college has quite a strong world music reputation and the advanced one year course there means you can study with Fanny Waterman (founder Leeds competition) Both rwcmd and rsamd have excellent research reputations and very strong keyboard departments and have lots of opportunities you wouldnt have in london for chamber music etc. rwcmd has possibly the best practice facilities of any uk conservatory (people at ram have to que every morning for rooms). Of course RAM and RCM are very prestigious but you will not necessarily get a better teacher there than you would at some of the other schools and the pressure on masterclass and performance class time is more intense. You could read ditto for Trinity and Guildhall but generally they have fewer famous teachers. Guildhall has produced more pianistic talent in recent years than Trinity with lots of people doing quite well in competitions amongst the postgrads. Trinity is strong for collaborative piano and accompanying and also new music - they also have cool buildings now at Greenwich. Birmingham is a big inner city conservatoire with lots of pianists - some of the teachers are quite well respected and the course seems well structured but it appeared a bit bland to me. As for masterclasses/ teachers etc (nuts and bolts) all the provincial colleges RNCM, RWCMD, RSAMD and Birmingham basically have similar folks come around, in fact sometimes they tour! - (there are eyes everywhere) OK at Guildhall RAM and RCM there are sometimes more prestigious names alongside the (i say this politely) fodder! but as i alluded to earlier the opportunities to play to them are few and far between. Trinity sits between the two camps and often has quite innovative people take class.  MARKS?!?! I have often heard it whispered too oh dont go there they mark at a low standard etc etc.. I can put a nail in that one and say its not the case the marking standard at any of the colleges is very high and is not necessarily tighter at the london colleges than provincial as some would have say! (i know both sides) - neither is it coincidental that provicial colleges often have the same examiners as the London ones - ooh! The requirements do however differ but you need to decide what your strengths are and sit down with the syllabuses and find which college offers the best package for your needs.  Dont worry abpout picking a duff one because there arent really any in the uk (amongst those mentioned at the head of the post) A masters form one of them ought to hold up anywhere!   All the best for your auditions may see you around! :-)

[Eusebius_dk]

Since September I have been studying at the Royal College of Music, and from my own experience I can only say that this first year at the College has been awesome. I could tell a lot more about the ups and downs (both certainly do exist) about the place, but the most important information I can give you is that personally I'm extremely happy to be a student there.

No matter where you decide to go, I would suggest you first to find a teacher you really want to study with. A good teacher always comes first, institution comes second. Who has ever been happy about studying at a great school having a teacher you don't like?

Since I have come from abroad I can't tell you much about the other conservatoires, but if you need more info about teachers and auditioning at the RCM I'll be happy to help!

[Jacey1973]

Since September I have been studying at the Royal College of Music, and from my own experience I can only say that this first year at the College has been awesome. I could tell a lot more about the ups and downs (both certainly do exist) about the place, but the most important information I can give you is that personally I'm extremely happy to be a student there.

No matter where you decide to go, I would suggest you first to find a teacher you really want to study with. A good teacher always comes first, institution comes second. Who has ever been happy about studying at a great school having a teacher you don't like?

Since I have come from abroad I can't tell you much about the other conservatoires, but if you need more info about teachers and auditioning at the RCM I'll be happy to help!

Yeah that's a good point, but how do i go about finding a really good teacher if i don't know them?

[Jacey1973]

Audition for as many of the big 8 as you can afford. Royal Academy Music Royal College Music, Guildhall, Trinity, Royal Northern, Royal Scottish, Royal Welsh College and Birmingham conservatoire - they are all international standard and offer good degree programmes and masters possibilities. Leeds college and Thames valley (LCM) are not so well recognised and have fewer good teachers but it depends what your strengths are.  LCM is good for contemporary music and music technology inclined musicians of all disciplines. Leeds college has quite a strong world music reputation and the advanced one year course there means you can study with Fanny Waterman (founder Leeds competition) Both rwcmd and rsamd have excellent research reputations and very strong keyboard departments and have lots of opportunities you wouldnt have in london for chamber music etc. rwcmd has possibly the best practice facilities of any uk conservatory (people at ram have to que every morning for rooms). Of course RAM and RCM are very prestigious but you will not necessarily get a better teacher there than you would at some of the other schools and the pressure on masterclass and performance class time is more intense. You could read ditto for Trinity and Guildhall but generally they have fewer famous teachers. Guildhall has produced more pianistic talent in recent years than Trinity with lots of people doing quite well in competitions amongst the postgrads. Trinity is strong for collaborative piano and accompanying and also new music - they also have cool buildings now at Greenwich. Birmingham is a big inner city conservatoire with lots of pianists - some of the teachers are quite well respected and the course seems well structured but it appeared a bit bland to me. As for masterclasses/ teachers etc (nuts and bolts) all the provincial colleges RNCM, RWCMD, RSAMD and Birmingham basically have similar folks come around, in fact sometimes they tour! - (there are eyes everywhere) OK at Guildhall RAM and RCM there are sometimes more prestigious names alongside the (i say this politely) fodder! but as i alluded to earlier the opportunities to play to them are few and far between. Trinity sits between the two camps and often has quite innovative people take class.  MARKS?!?! I have often heard it whispered too oh dont go there they mark at a low standard etc etc.. I can put a nail in that one and say its not the case the marking standard at any of the colleges is very high and is not necessarily tighter at the london colleges than provincial as some would have say! (i know both sides) - neither is it coincidental that provicial colleges often have the same examiners as the London ones - ooh! The requirements do however differ but you need to decide what your strengths are and sit down with the syllabuses and find which college offers the best package for your needs.  Dont worry abpout picking a duff one because there arent really any in the uk (amongst those mentioned at the head of the post) A masters form one of them ought to hold up anywhere!   All the best for your auditions may see you around! :-)

Thanks for the detailed advice!