UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

2019-20
WELCOME LIFE AT THE ACADEMY
When your family, friends or teachers The Academy’s distinctive and stimulating learning environment is made up of four key factors:
ask you why you want to study at the
Royal Academy of Music, your answer TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL PLACE PASTORAL CARE
is probably that you would like to PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT The Academy’s location We offer personal support
become a professional musician. Our One of the biggest influences It takes more than being a in the heart of London on all things social,
internationally respected BMus degree on your development as a superb performer to make affords access to a wide financial and artistic, guiding
can make those aspirations a reality. musician is your teacher; a life in music. Our range of performance you through every aspect
at the Academy you will find professional development opportunities, adding of your study to ensure that
The Academy’s central objective is the very best. And, with over provision teaches you the significant value to your musical wellbeing is
to prepare students for a career in 500 events taking place each practical skills you’ll need to the start of your career. sustained and enhanced by
music. Our collaborative performance year, performance is central build a successful career. everything you do.
environment will nurture your talent, to what we do.
and you will study with distinguished
teachers and visiting professors who Find out more about our
insist on the highest standards of BMus Programme at
musical excellence. www.ram.ac.uk/study

You can expect your four undergraduate Contact our Registry

years here to be challenging, engaging, Department at
motivational, inspirational and, above all, registry@ram.ac.uk or
tailored to your personal interests and 020 7873 7393 with
career goals. You will make friends for any questions.
life and begin rich musical relationships
that will sustain your professional career.
IMAGE CREDITS
CHRIS CHRISTODOULOU cover page, pages 2, 3

Royal Academy of Music © 2018

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information included in this publication is correct at the
time of going to print. Any queries regarding its content should be addressed to publicity@ram.ac.uk

3

‘My violin teacher, Joshua
Fisher, is one of the most
amazing people in the
world. He cared enough
about me and my dreams
to take me on as one of
his students, and I trusted
him enough to move from
Texas to London. The
move was difficult at the
beginning, but I couldn’t
have asked for a better
person to learn from. He is
kind, selfless and supportive,
while also instilling in me
a strong sense of discipline.
Without him I wouldn’t be
where I am today’
Jamie Perry, violin
4 5
OUR VALUES
Artistry, Belonging and Challenge are the ‘ABC’ of your studies at the Academy
ARTISTRY • The possibility of placements Skills, Attentive Listening, Performing
We believe that being a successful with top UK orchestras including Baroque Music, Performing Experimental
and well-rounded musician requires the London Symphony Orchestra, Music and Improvisation. Our
a wide range of skills. Principal Study Philharmonia Orchestra, professional development provision will
lessons are your primary means BBC Symphony Orchestra and build your resilience and self-reliance,
of preparing for a professional London Sinfonietta. teaching you the entrepreneurial
career, and you will need to master • Sessions with principals of the very strategies you will need to turn your
technique and cultivate musical artistry. best European orchestras, including individual skills into a sustainable career.
the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal
Our varied BMus Programme reflects this, Concertgebouw Orchestra and the BELONGING
with exciting opportunities including: Lucerne Festival Orchestra. With a vibrant mix of students from over
• Performance classes with visiting • The chance to perform in concerts 50 countries, the Academy is a truly
professors such as Rachel Podger, under high-profile visiting cosmopolitan place to study. We are
Steven Osborne, Reinhold Friedrich, conductors including Sir Mark Elder, deeply committed to our identity as a
James Ehnes and Patrick Messina. Semyon Bychkov and Trevor Pinnock. global community and value everyone
• Workshops with composers including equally, regardless of background.
Magnus Lindberg, John Adams and Sir To complement your Principal Study
Harrison Birtwistle. activities, you will learn practical and As the UK’s oldest conservatoire, the
• Masterclasses with distinguished professional skills that will help you Academy also has an extraordinary
artists such as William Bennett, become a well-rounded musician. heritage – one that you can be a part
Andrew Marriner, Pascal Rogé, Emily Practical modules include departmental of. Sir Simon Rattle, Edward Gardner,
Beynon and Angelika Kirchschlager. activities (eg string orchestra, big band, Maxim Vengerov, Sir Harrison Birtwistle,
• Chamber music coaching with orchestral repertoire sessions, historically Lesley Garrett, Dame Evelyn Glennie,
ensembles such as the Escher informed performance classes, reed Dame Felicity Lott, Sir Elton John,
and Doric Quartets. making), Conducting Skills, Analytical Miloš Karadaglić, Michael Nyman and

‘This building has been
absolutely at the centre of
everything that I have done,
everything that I have learnt’
Sir Simon Rattle
6 7
Annie Lennox – to name but a few – all
studied under our roof and have gone
on to fill the world’s concert halls, opera
houses and recording studios. Are you
ready to follow in their footsteps?
Our BMus Programme will help you
to explore what it means to belong
to a distinguished lineage, and to
make music today (and tomorrow)
with the support of this distinguished
tradition behind you.
Our library and museum hold significant
collections of scores, performance
materials, manuscripts and memorabilia
that belonged to great musical figures
from Purcell to Kenny Wheeler. These
extensive archives offer a unique insight
into the creative processes of prominent
musicians, helping you to find your
own artistic identity in the context of
the riches of the past.
CHALLENGE
Being a musician is a privilege but also
requires exceptional commitment. As
one of tomorrow’s musicians, you
have a dual responsibility – to deepen
the understanding of musical traditions,
and to develop innovative ways of
making music.
Your Academy journey will be a
demanding and fulfilling one. We will
support your artistic development by
challenging you constantly, rewarding
your success and encouraging you
to explore your musical horizons to
the limit. Our intensive performance
schedule provides numerous
opportunities to perform publicly,
not only in our own performance
spaces but also in world-famous
London venues such as the Royal
Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and
Wigmore Hall. And you will get to
work with our outstanding staff,
visiting artists and guest conductors.
You will graduate from the Academy
a fully equipped citizen of the music
world, ready to challenge the world
as an artist.
‘Melanie Ragge’s inspiring
ideas about colour, tone
and dynamics have strongly
influenced my orchestral
playing. Mel is an oboe
teacher at the Academy,
but I was lucky enough to
experience her teaching
through chamber music
courses and sectionals. She
has helped me to discover
the “hidden sparkle” in
musical passages and has
motivated me to achieve the
highest technical level I can
with my ensemble playing.
Her wisdom and guidance
have been invaluable to
me – without her I certainly
wouldn’t be the musician
I have become’
Guylaine Eckersley, bassoon
Patron
HM The Queen

President
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester GCVO

Principal
Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood CBE

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