rcs.ac.uk TRADITIONAL MUSIC Our curriculum recognises that the innovative nature of Scottish traditional music today must be embraced, and that the creative development of the individual is the most important way LIKE to ensure traditional music flourishes from one generation to another. You can expect to learn in a busy department where your musical roots and creative artistry will be nurtured NOWHERE ELSE: and developed through one-to-one tuition, academic context, performance opportunities, masterclasses and lots of ensemble work, all aimed at helping you OUR MUSIC IS fulfil your potential. SCOTTISH, BUT OUR DEPARTMENT IS GLOBAL BMus: Four years, full-time “RCS is a world leader in traditional music education with Traditional Music over 20 years’ experience in guiding the next generation rcs.ac.uk/tradmusic of artists. We believe that the creative development of the individual is the key to a thriving traditional music scene.” MMus: Two years, full-time MA: One year, full-time rcs.ac.uk/pgtradmusic

Head of Traditional Music: Joshua Dickson

Within this department, you will explore ’s Why choose us? Your studies Master of Music/Master of Arts unique and dynamic musical traditions as a | The only UK conservatoire to offer a Bachelor of Music with Honours We also offer an MA (one calendar year) or MMus conceptual, critical and creative framework to Bachelor of Music in Traditional Music (Traditional Music) (two academic years) degree in Traditional Music achieve your distinctively personal voice. which nurtures your existing artistic personality. | Opportunity to develop invaluable This programme is based primarily on the Postgraduate study focuses on your individual industry contacts traditional and folk as befits our principal study tuition, with further departmental national conservatoire; however, our emphasis on | High staff-student ratio studies that emphasise professional and artistic the creative development of the individual allows | Excellent teaching staff who are all prolific skills, a knowledge of the contextual and the curriculum to be relevant to aspiring folk/trad in the academic and performing historical foundations to Scottish traditional musicians from anywhere in the world. industries music today. External learning opportunities include an Isle | Benefit from our partnership with the of Skye residency, a Blazin’ in Beauly residency, National Piping Centre teaching placements and work placements in | Dedicated recording and rehearsal studio Scotland and overseas, as well as appearances at | Performance opportunities include the high-profile events, including , world-famous Celtic Connections Festival Cape Breton’s Celtic Colours festival and Piping Live! and Celtic Colours Festival Bachelor of Music with Honours | Collaborations and connections include (Traditional Music - Piping) the National Piping Centre, the Centre This programme shares the same structure for Contemporary Arts, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, and range of contextual curriculum as the DID YOU KNOW? Fèis Rois, the Irish World Academy BMus (Traditional Music) however its range of Teaching staff are prolific in of Music and Dance at University of performance tuition is specifically dedicated to the Limerick, East Tennessee State University, the industry. In 2019, lecturer well-rounded and in-depth development of the KMH Royal College of Music (Stockholm) contemporary exponent of the Scottish Highland was named and the Sibelius Academy, University of Bagpipe. This programme includes solo piping, the Arts Helsinki (Finland) Musician of the Year at the piobaireachd, pipe band work and piping in a folk . ensemble context. Teaching staff Entry requirements Tuition fees and scholarships All our teaching staff have active careers in | Ruairidh MacMillan Fiddler, Teacher and Entrance to RCS is based on talent, potential and Tuition fees can be found at rcs.ac.uk/fees as well as the performing industry and include: member of multi award-winning band Blazin’ ability. We are looking for students who display information on financial support and scholarships. outstanding potential, dedication and ambition. Ross Ainslie, Professor Margaret Bennett, Your audition Jenn Butterworth, Heather Downie, Marc Duff, | Mischa MacPherson Singer, BBC Radio 2 BMus academic entry requirements Professor Joshua Dickson, Marie Fielding, Young Folk Award 2014 We want you to enjoy the audition process and use | Scottish Highers – 3 passes (grade C or above) the opportunity to discover more about RCS and see Professor Fred Freeman, Djordje Gajic, David | Robyn Stapleton Singer, BBC Radio Scotland | A Levels – 2 passes if it is the right place for you. Henderson, Corrina Hewat, Fiona Hunter, Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2014 Ali Hutton, Greg Lawson, Duncan Lyall, Finlay | International Baccalaureate – minimum Most auditions take place on campus, however we | Claire Hastings Singer, BBC Radio Scotland MacDonald, Kevin Mackenzie, Màiri MacInnes, score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level do offer some internationally. Please see rcs.ac.uk Willie McCallum, Mary McCarthy, Alistair Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015 for more details. You can also audition via a video | Recognised equivalences McCulloch, Karen Marshalsay, David Milligan, | Charlie Stewart Fiddler, BBC Radio Scotland recording, please see our website for what to Ian Muir, Findlay Napier, Iseabail T NicDhomhnaill, Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2017 We offer a flexible approach to students taking prepare. Highers over more than one academic year and/ Martin O’Neill, Rod Patterson, Ailie Robertson, | Hannah Rarity Singer, BBC Radio Scotland At your audition you will be asked to perform a or who achieve their qualifications in more than James Ross, Laura-Beth MacCrimmon, John Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2018 programme of approximately 15 minutes on your Somerville, Fraser Stone and Innes Watson. one sitting. | Benedict Morris Fiddler, BBC Radio Scotland principal study, followed by a short interview with Within the minimum academic entry For an up-to-date list of staff and recent Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2019 the panel. masterclasses from industry professionals, requirements, the subjects recommended are: | Ryan Young Fiddler, Celtic Connections Your audition should demonstrate your present please see rcs.ac.uk | History at Higher, Advanced Higher or Danny Kyle Award winner level of achievement and your musical potential, Our graduates Advanced level or equivalent and must be performed from memory and How to apply | English at Higher, Advanced Higher or unaccompanied, with the exception of guitar Our graduates are working in the professional music Before you apply, please go to rcs.ac.uk to read full Advanced level or equivalent or pipe band snare drum, or in cases of self- and related industries; as performers, teachers, accompanying for one or two items (e.g. clarsach details on the music programme you wish to apply | the study of Gaelic and/or another European composers, musical directors, recording artists, player accompanying own singing, or singers to, and the application and admissions processes. language at least to National 4/5 or Standard producers, music therapists, doctoral students, accompanying themselves on another instrument). community project managers and broadcasters. The application deadline is 1 October and, for Grade/GCSE You will be asked to give brief spoken introductions Graduates include: US applicants only, 1 December. Postgraduate academic entry requirements to each item performed and your own compositions All applications must be made through the | Gordon Bruce Piper, Double Silver Medallist | Honours degree (at least 2.2), or its overseas may be included alongside traditional repertoire. UCAS Conservatoires online admissions service: | Cameron Drummond Piper, Double equivalent in a subject area relevant to the ucas.com/conservatoires Full details on what to prepare for are available Silver Medallist demands of the programme. online: rcs.ac.uk Our institution code is R58 and you will find the | Connor Sinclair Piper, Gold Medallist For more specific entry requirements, including specific programme code on rcs.ac.uk | Alastair Henderson Piper, Silver Medallist language requirements, please visit rcs.ac.uk

Junior Conservatoire The Junior Conservatoire of Music programme is for talented and committed young people aged 11–18 who are passionate about music and want to develop their skills and techniques. Junior Conservatoire students benefit from one- to-one tuition from RCS expert teaching staff, performance classes and the opportunity to play in a variety of ensembles every week. Find out more at rcs.ac.uk/junior Short Courses We offer a range of short courses and summer schools for people who wish to develop their skills and passion for music. To see what courses are on offer this year, please visit rcs.ac.uk/shortcourses

Contact us If you have any questions about your application, please contact us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help you.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 100 Renfrew Street, G2 3DB Telephone: +44 (0) 141 332 4101 rcs.ac.uk

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