Guitar and lute
Our aim in the Guitar and Lute Department is to equip all our students with the necessary skills to enter a music profession upon graduation. We provide as broad a syllabus as possible, giving each student confidence to diversify into the many avenues available to them as a guitarist and musician.
Tutorial staff
Our expert teaching staff are renowned as leading performers and teachers in the UK and provide exceptional tuition.
Tutorial staffMusic courses
We offer a wide range of music performance degree courses and programmes at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire at undergraduate, postgraduate and short course level.
Music coursesPerformance opportunities
Regular performance opportunities include weekly performance workshops, lunchtime recitals, chamber music concerts and external events.
Upcoming performancesVariety of teaching techniques
The department prides itself on being innovative in its programming at the same time as offering a supportive atmosphere, allowing each student to fulfil their potential in their chosen field.
Tuition will cover the expanse of the repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day and is complemented by regular visits from touring International Artists and Teachers. Additional technique and sight-reading classes will contribute to students training in both modern techniques and Early Music styles, as appropriate.
Students will be introduced to teaching techniques in both Classical and Electric Guitar and to develop and encourage arranging for the guitar initially in a chamber setting.
Chamber music
Chamber Music plays a vital part in every students tuition drawing from expert knowledge in the field from all our tutors. This is through mixed ensembles, guitar ensembles and our guitar orchestra.
If an applicant has a particular interest in chamber music or is part of a guitar ensemble, there is a pathway offering specialist training in these areas as an ensemble, available at postgraduate level.
Creative collaboration is encouraged and is a vital part of a student's training, both between classical, jazz and rock guitarists, and with students from other departments throughout the Conservatoire.
Historical Performance On Plucked Instruments
As a guitarist and lute player studying at RBC, students have access to specialist workshops and lectures. The Transcription class led by Elizabeth Pallett (lutenist, visiting tutor) delves into the skill of reading, understanding and transcribing various lute scripts in their original manuscript form. Discovering areas of lesser known music can provide new and exciting possibilities for players.
Continuo classes and the art of reading a figured bassline is an area of study also offered to students of the guitar, lute and those interested in historical performance practice. These function as workshops and provide the essential skills for accompaniment on plucked instruments. Recent repertoire performed by continuo students include 17th century folk tunes by John Playford, the Italian madrigals of Monteverdi and English Ayres by Henry Purcell.
Guitar students also have the option to sign up for one-to-one lessons with Elizabeth Pallett in historical performance repertoire.
Lute tuiton
Students are able to explore all aspects of the lute and its related instruments. Classes steeped in studying primary sources and experiencing original lute tablature and technique, alongside learning the art of continuo, would be at the heart of this study under the guidance of Elizabeth Pallett, visiting tutor and leading performer in the field.
With a fascinating and rich historical background, the lute and its repertoire spans over four centuries. Students would be able to explore all aspects of the genre. From the early medieval tunes of the 13th century (The Cantigas de Santa Maria codex,) to the lute music of the Italian Cinquecento, there is much to discover!
There are many opportunities to perform both as a soloist and as part of an ensemble. Instruments are available for student use, for example 7c and 8c Renaissance lutes, Baroque guitar and Theorbo.
Staff spotlight
Early on in his performing career, Mark became a laureate of several major national and international competitions including Radio Two’s Young Musician, the Julian Bream Prize, South East Arts Music Platform Award, the Guitar Foundation of America, the Scandinavian International Guitar Competition, and the Alessandria International Guitar Competition, Italy.
He has performed at many of the UK's most prestigious music venues, including the Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre, Fairfield Halls, St George's-Bristol, Bridgewater Hall-Manchester, Sage-Gateshead and the Queen's Hall-Edinburgh. Performances have also taken him to China, U.S.A, the Caribbean and throughout Europe.