Courses

For the 2012/13 academic year, up to six places are available. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview in the week beginning 2 July 2012.

An important element of your e-application is the submission of a 400-word proposal outlining your intended area of research within the Research Project core unit. This will represent a substantial piece of work, especially if you are returning to formal study after a break, so it is important to sketch out some clear ideas at this early stage and show that you have the potential and capacity to plan and execute a major project. The Research Project itself may take one of a number of forms, as the examples below indicate. Your proposal will be discussed in further detail at your interview.

• A dissertation of between 7,500 and 9,000 words (footnotes, bibliography and appendices are not included in this word count)
• A high-quality audio or audiovisual recording of maximum 40 minutes with supplementary text of between 2,000-3,000 words
• A 5,000-7,500 word website with supplementary text of between 2,000-3,000 words
• A CD-ROM with supplementary text of between 2,000-3,000 words

If you wish to discuss your plans for your Research Project prior to submitting your e-application, you may contact the Head of Academic Development & Undergraduate Programmes, Dr Elisabeth Cook.

Each year, within the full-time BMus(Hons) programme, a range of Level 6 units is offered. Not all of these will be suitable for those accepted onto the BMus Conversion Programme. Those considered most appropriate – because they are delivered through more flexible one-to-one supervision rather than through weekly lectures – are listed below (with outlines of content/approach and expected pattern of assessment). However, for students living close to London and prepared to make a commitment to attending RCM classes regularly, exceptions may be made and this is something that may be explored during the interview.

Level 6 options delivered on a one-to-one basis include:

Level 6 Composition:

The assessment outcome for this unit is a portfolio submitted in May of the academic year in which you are enrolled containing at least two contrasting pieces. One piece should be for at least four instruments or voices and the total duration of the portfolio should be between 7 and 9 minutes. Your work will need to show evidence of a coherent harmonic language, sustained and appropriate use of pace and a critical attitude to rhythmic use. One-to-one supervision will explore the techniques used in extended composition (including contrapuntal techniques, harmonic language and orchestration) and cover the practical responsibilities of performance preparation in scores, parts and rehearsal requirements.

Level 6 Orchestration & Arrangement

The assessment outcome for this unit is a portfolio of at least four separate orchestrations or arrangements (or a combination of these) which will be submitted in May of the academic year in which you are enrolled. You will need to be able to demonstrate a sound working and practical knowledge of the main orchestral and other instruments, in terms of their ranges, technical strengths and limitations, and their individual qualities, probably evidenced through pervious arranging/orchestration experience. The ability to apply a full range of resources in terms of arranging and instrumental technique is important, in order for your work to show the effective and idiomatic transfer of musical material between instrumental media.

Level 6 Instrumental/Vocal Teaching

There are three elements of assessment within this unit: (i) oral presentation based on lesson observations, given at the RCM at the end of the Autumn Term, and write-up of these; (ii) Case Study Portfolio; (iii) 3,000-word written project (choice of topics provided). This unit is likely to be a natural choice for applicants whose careers to date have focussed on instrumental or vocal teaching.

Level 6 Stylistic Studies

The assessment outcome for this unit is a portfolio containing a complete fugue (or comparable demonstration of advanced contrapuntal procedures) and three other substantial pieces of work, this portfolio to be submitted in May of the academic year in which you are enrolled. One-to-one supervision will include the analysis of individual pieces of music (to recognise how styles and individual pieces function) which will then enable you to construct your own pieces in larger forms (including fugue) through extending your contrapuntal and harmonic vocabulary and understanding. This unit is likely to be a natural choice for applicants who bring a reasonable understanding of harmonic style in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries (including some knowledge of fugal and contrapuntal procedures, including canon, stretto, augmentation, diminution).

Other Level 6 units

Enrolling in any of the further Level 6 units listed below is dependent on a number of factors: (i) existing class sizes (which may affect whether courses are already full, or indeed whether they are running in a particular year); (ii) the applicant’s ability to attend regular weekly classes at the time scheduled by the College; (iii) any other stipulations indicated.

• Alexander Technique (previous knowledge and experience necessary)
• Historical Studies (choice of options available)

One of the key challenges of undertaking this conversion programme is likely to be that of returning to formal study. It is for this reason that we invite discussion of your application (in particular of your Research Project proposal) prior to submission.

Thereafter, applicants accepted onto the programme will normally have allocated, as the supervisor for their Research Project, either the Head or Assistant Head of Undergraduate Programmes, since this will increase opportunities for both student and the College to discuss and monitor progress in both the units being completed during the year.

A more formal ‘review’ meeting will take place around the half-way stage of the year (January of the academic year in which you are enrolled) with either the Head or Assistant Head of Programmes to discuss progress made in both units during the Autumn Term and to plan for the completion of final submissions.

These processes will be encapsulated, formally, in a Learning Agreement for each student which will be constructed at the very start of the academic year and which will set out the content of each student’s individual programme (including the working title for the Research Project), details of supervisors and relevant assessment deadlines.

To facilitate the studies of those accepted onto the programme the College is able to offer a range of learning resources to support each individual’s programme of study. These include:

RCM Library: The Library is open from 09:00 to 19:00 (Monday – Thursday) and from 09:00 to 17:30 (Friday) and offers a comprehensive service for advice, lending, reference and listening. Click here to read more about the Library. 

ICT facilities: RCM ICT Services include an RCM IT and email account; wireless network hotspots; student computing facilities (Sibelius room, Internet Café, Library), facilities for reading flash memory cards, CD/DVD burning and scanning devices; accessibility software for students with disabilities and limited free printing.