Classes & activities
This programme is aimed at students who are professionally active and have the highest levels of technical and artistic expertise. In addition to refining professional standards in work patterns, preparation and performance, the programme encourages students to reflect critically and inventively on their work.
The course is highly flexible so that it can meet the specific and individual needs of students at this advanced stage of development. You will be expected to pursue a series of goals identified at the beginning of the year which might include a range of concerts, recordings, competitions and/or other projects. You will be encouraged to think innovatively about your work, and will be required to self-manage the implementation of your plans.
Your studies will be supported by regular one-to-one tuition with those who can best help you to develop your artistic and professional goals; this might include regular teaching from within your instrumental department, and/or sessions with teachers/coaches from other departments.
Provision will be individually discussed and agreed in consultation with your Head of Department and the Course Tutor at the beginning of the year. You will be given the opportunity to meet and discuss your work with other Advanced Diploma students and also (where appropriate) offered the chance to take part in masterclasses with international visitors.
Advanced Diploma students are encouraged to draw on the Academy’s staff (often across departments) to support the development of their career and artistry, and can expect a flexible schedule that will allow them to pursue a significant portfolio of external professional activity.
For more information see the course specification document.
Department Classes
And Activities
In addition to weekly individual lessons, as a conducting student at the Academy you will participate in:
Conducting and Baton Technique
You will learn and practise beating patterns, and the means to communicate your musical intentions through gesture.
Concerts and Collaborations
The Conducting Faculty regularly collaborates with departments across the Academy. You will work with singers from Royal Academy Opera and from the Vocal Faculty. You will work on twentieth-century and twenty-first-century repertoire, and on premieres of new works by Composition students. You will conduct a variety of ensembles in rehearsals, workshops and concerts within the Academy and have opportunities to organise your own projects.
Rehearsal Observation
The Academy regularly invites highly celebrated and famous conductors from all over the world to conduct orchestral and operatic performances with our students. You will have many opportunities to observe their rehearsals and often the Head of Conducting will organise lessons or discussions with visiting artists, which allows you to meet and interact with leading professionals.
Repertoire classes and Masterclasses
These take place throughout the year and students analyse, discuss and practise core repertoire under the guidance and expertise of Academy professors, Visiting Professors, composers and guest artists. You will study a broad range of styles including contemporary music, early music, concerto and mainstream repertoire.
Aural, Keyboard Skills and Score-reading
In these classes, you will be able to hone some practical skills necessary for good rehearsal technique, such as fluency in instrument transposition and baton technique, as well as studying important sources such as original manuscripts or personal scores belonging to conductors such as Sir Georg Solti, Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Colin Davis. Keyboard skills are not an essential requirement for entry onto the programme but there are opportunities to develop these should you wish to do so.
Seminars
In addition to these regular classes and tutorials, a series of ‘professional development’ seminars are arranged, in which Academy professors and outside experts are invited to work with our conductors for example, in history and performance style, for analysis and for programme building and planning. There are also sessions with Patrick Russill (Fernside Head of Choral Conducting) where you have a chance to gain experience in choral repertoire and conducting.
Discovery events
Discovery Events are the perfect way to find out more about the Academy and whether it’s the right place for you.
