Course Outline
Course Structure
The experience of managing rehearsals and directing performances is at the heart of the MMus / PgDip Conducting programme and your study will demand a considerable amount of individual practice. Both the MMus and the PgDip offer specialist weekly specialist tuition, normally undertaken on an individual basis. Your first-study tuition will lead to a major conducting assessment at the end of your studies, and will be supported by a programme of activities to enhance your professional and business skills.
Our Conducting programmes will enable you to become self-directed in tackling - and capable of solving - technical and musical problems, acting autonomously in planning and presenting performances at a high artistic level. You may specialise in either Choral or Orchestral conducting.
In addition to helping you develop an understanding of techniques applicable to your specialism, your study will encourage originality and the creative use of established techniques. The final Rehearsal assessment provides a snapshot of your development – in terms of technique, interpretation and stagecraft. A weekly postgraduate performance class provides you with a regular forum to give and receive informal feedback from your student colleagues.
Supported by your individual tuition and a variety of related activities in your specialist area, your first-study tuition will lead to a preliminary performance assessment roughly half-way through your programme, and will culminate in a your final assessment taking the form of an observed rehearsal – either choral or orchestral, as well as a performance (orchestral students).
Whether you follow the MMus or the PgDip, your practical study will be complemented by relevant supporting studies designed to provide greater breadth and a wider context.
Choral Conducting
As a first-study Choral Conductor you will be offered tailored individual tuition from our principal conducting tutor Paul Spicer (Finzi Singers), and will also come into contact with Jeffrey Skidmore (Ex Cathedra) through the Chamber Choir.
The course focuses on building skills in vocal technique (you also receive vocal tuition), score preparation, gesture, interpretation, repertoire building, how to approach orchestral scores, communication, and even administration and interpersonal skills.
Your singing lessons will be with a member of our distinguished vocal staff, according to your individual needs and, amongst other skills, you will also receive specialist coaching in editing and how to address performance issues relating to different periods of music.
We are unique amongst all UK music schools in having two chamber choirs:
- The Conservatoire’s highly-acclaimed Chamber Choir is closely auditioned and is limited to about 25 voices. If you fail to get a singing place by audition for this group, you will still attend the rehearsals, observe, and perhaps assist at the piano, if necessary.
- Camerata was founded specifically for choral conducting students to run and to conduct. It will be the principal responsibility of you and your fellow choral conducting students to manage and to nurture this group.
For further details of the work you will undertake with both groups, visit our Choral Conducting Department page.
Other singing opportunities can be found in the Conservatoire Chorus, a large choir which has recently performed Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast and Britten’s War Requiem. There is also a Gospel Choir. You may also wish to set up your own group (see our Choral Conducting Department page for examples).
Orchestral Conducting
As a first-study Orchestral Conductor, you will be offered individual tuition from our staff conductors, Edwin Roxburgh and Daniele Rosina, and also from the many distinguished guest conductors who work with our ensembles and orchestras on an occasional basis throughout the year. You will also have regular sessions with a pianist experienced in orchestral repertoire, directed by one of the conducting tutors.
Guidance will be offered through carefully identified core areas of orchestral repertoire, but will also extend to a wider focus on the current repertoire of the Conservatoire’s concert programme. This is likely to range from core contemporary repertoire and student composition projects, through the central romantic and classic masterpieces back to period performance techniques, led by acknowledged experts such as Margaret Faultless.
You will also have the opportunity to attend associated activities, such as sectional rehearsals directed by Departmental heads or specialist guest tutors, giving valuable professional insight into the detailed working of the different instrumental areas of the orchestra.
It is normal for conducting students to be proactive in presenting performances of projects that they have generated themselves. You will receive support and professional advice in pursuing such projects, which should be viewed as an essential element of your studies.
The Conservatoire has a range of ensemble activities with which you may get involved, including
- Symphony Orchestra
- ‘Repertoire’ and ‘Pops’ Orchestras, each specialising in short accessible concerts
- Thallein Ensemble for contemporary music
- Brass Band and Brass Ensemble
- Symphonic Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble
- Opportunity to join choral conducting classes
Supporting Activities
Throughout your course, you will also take part in the broad programme of practical activities we offer, which includes several choirs and other performing ensembles in addition to those listed above. You will have access to our programme of Professional Development electives, allowing you to sample diverse activities (from early music to performing with technology) which will broaden your experience and introduce new possibilities.
Our Professional Portfolio module will help you negotiate a suitable programme of these activities to help you enhance those skills relevant to your career aspirations. If you are an international student, you will also benefit from further tuition in English language.
A ‘Performance Matters’ module covers a range of issues relevant to the aspiring professional performer, including historically-aware performance; past performance traditions on record; performance psychology; working with composers; contemporary music performance issues; programme-note writing and presentation. You will write an essay and deliver a presentation on topics relevant to your own first-study.
Modules
| MMus (Full-time intensive, one year) |
|
Preliminary Performance
(15 credits) |
Professional Portfolio
(15 credits) |
Performance Matters
(30 credits) |
|
Research Project
(15 or 30 credits) |
MMus Options (2 or 3)
(15 credits each) |
|
Final Project: Conducting Rehearsal (and Performance – Orchestral)
(60 credits) |
| MMus (Full-time, two years) |
|
Year 1 |
Preliminary Performance
(15 credits) |
Professional Portfolio
(15 credits) |
Performance Matters
(30 credits) |
MMus Option
(15 credits) |
|
Year 2 |
Research Project
(15 or 30 credits) |
MMus Option(s) (1 or 2)
(15 credits each) |
Final Project: Conducting Rehearsal (and Performance – Orchestral)
(60 credits) |
| MMus (Part-time, three years) |
|
Year 1 |
Preliminary Performance
(15 credits) |
Professional Portfolio
(15 credits) |
Performance Matters
(30 credits) |
|
Year 2 |
Research Project
(15 or 30 credits) |
MMus Option(s) (1-3)
(15 credits each) |
|
Year 3
|
Final Project: Conducting Rehearsal (and Performance – Orchestral)
(60 credits) |
| PgDip (Full-time, one year) |
|
Preliminary Performance
(15 credits) |
Professional Portfolio
(15 credits) |
Performance Matters
(30 credits) |
Final Project: Conducting Rehearsal (and Performance – Orchestral)
(60 credits) |
| PgDip (Part-time, two years) |
|
Year 1 |
Preliminary Performance
(15 credits) |
Professional Portfolio
(15 credits) |
Performance Matters
(30 credits) |
|
Year 2
|
Final Project: Conducting Rehearsal (and Performance – Orchestral)
(60 credits) |