Hi I would really appreciate some advice from anyone who attends Leeds College of Music or knows someone who does.

I have offers from all my five university choices, including one from Leeds College of Music. When I attended the open day I personally really liked it, however also like Nottingham.

I want to focus on performance, with singing (classical course) being my main instrument however I would love to hear from someone who goes there or anyone who knows about the reputation of Leeds?

Thanks x

I graduated with a BA (Hons) in Jazz Studies from LCM (ahem) years ago! It was, and probably still is, excellent for jazz and commercial music. The best outside of London.

As for classical, I'm not so sure...

I think things is a-changing on the jazz front, and you'd want an up-to-date opinion on this.

My piano teacher's daughter works at LCM and she still says it's where people go when they've been rejected by everywhere else.

Sadly, this is indeed the case with the few people we know who go/have gone there. It is also the only conservatoire to run a 3-year rather than 4-year undergraduate course, which in turn affects perceptions of the course and the quality of the graduates it produces.

Be careful quoting 'LCM'
This is 'London College of Music'

'CLCM' is for Leeds (City of Leeds College of Music).... this determines the difference between the two!

Phew!

Spoke to my eldest daughter is a Vocal Studies (Classical) teacher and performer. She said that she would not recommend Leeds College.

I f you really are serious you should try out for one of the Royal Conservatoires in particular Royal College of Music & Drama in Wales and Royal Northern in manchester. Trinity college of Music in London has an excellent reputation.

But sadly no, not Leeds for Classical Vocal Studies

Nottingham is probably a better bet in general - it is a very well respected department. Even though Leeds is on paper, a music college, your prospects will probably be far better at a good university. A few singers I know have done undergrad at a uni then postgraduate performance at a college and they have all recommended it highly.

Ah okay
Thanks guys, this clears a lot up for me! (Even though it wasn't what I wanted to hear hahaha)

I had a great time in Nottingham but that was mid 60's. Though I was reading Chemistry, I spent quite a bit of time (more than was good for me!) on musical activities (Professor Ivor Keys!) at the Music Dept. Oh and I met my wife there
Leeds College of Music, , well I go to soem excellent concerts there on Tuesday evenings and also work in the area. Good reputation for Jazz, but not much else.

I live in Leeds, and am hearing disturbing rumours that they have dire money problems

My girlfriend (now wife) studied classical voice (BMus Hons) at Huddersfield Uni whilst I was at CLCM. That had a great department for a uni.

I've heard the same.

Hi Umsie,

I am in my final year at Leeds College of Music, studying on the classical music BA Honours course, and I think it is such a shame about what is being said here in this forum about it.

After reading this, I can imagine you have a fairly bad picture painted of the college but I would like to try and urge you to still consider it. The three years I have spent at LCM have been above and beyond of what I expected.

The first point to consider is the size of a conservative. I see you are a singer and would like to focus on performing. If you are a keen performer, like myself, then one very important point to bare in mind is the opportunities that will be available to you. I have had so many opportunities to perform - in ensembles, as a soloist and in the orchestra ( as a clarinettist and even as a concerto soloist this year). Had I have gone to the other conservatives, say RCM for example, I can safely say that I would have not had as many of these very valuable performance experiences, that have shaped me to become a confident and assured performer, as a soon-to-be graduate. The way I see this scenario is LCM allows you to be a big fish in a small pond whereas, most of the other colleges (maybe not Trinity), attract such a high level of talent (worldwide) that you could potentially be a small fish in a very big pond. Obviously, I am in no way shape or form making assumptions about your ability as a singer - I am just trying to convey to you how important a factor this is in training in performance. I am sure you are excellent. I have found that the key to getting better at performing is just doing it! There are lunchtimes concerts twice a week, master classes / workshops, ensemble concerts, orchestral concerts, and more importantly for yourself, there is an opera put on each year. This year this was held at the brand new northern ballet school building, next to LCM, which I know was quite exciting for everyone involved.
Also, in all three years, we have had a performance practise class each week, which you will be pleased to hear is currently run by one of the classical courses senior staff, who is also a soprano singer. This allows you to perform pretty much as often as you would like, and as a 1st year, this class is really beneficial as the class do useful exercises such as walking on-stage, bowing and how to effectively and appropriately introduce yourself to the audience.
Also in relation to the size of the college, being fairly small, you get to know everyone very easily and everything feels personal. The staff have spare time for you on top of the scheduled lesson time if you need it.

The second main point that I think is worth bearing in mind, is the standard of teaching. If you are trying to compare, then I can't see why any other institution would have better or worse teaching staff. I know a lot of the vocal staff have connections with Opera North and I know from personal experience, Opera North allow you to do work experience, as I have done it myself (in the orchestra). I have met one of the vocal tutors, as she helped a soprano in my trio ensemble last year, and she was very experienced and friendly. I do advise that you contact the course leader at LCM and ask about the different teachers which would be available to you, and google them and find out who you might be interested in so you could arrange a trial lesson. I'm sure they could answer a lot of questions about the course, specifically the vocal side of it.

Leeds College of Music is underestimated, clearly just going by this forum. I understand there are many pro's and con's to all of the music colleges in the UK, but as a graduate of LCM you are not taken any less seriously than the others. I have had interest recently from a top London classical crossover agency and I have been offered a place at the RNCM on the Masters course in September 2011. At the end of the day no matter where you choose to study, you learn all that you can from studying, you absorb all that you can,and you make the most of the college. LCM gives you the opportunity to become a professional musician, in all genres of music. The fact that the college offers all three genres of music, only increases the opportunities that are available to you.

Music industry, in the 2nd year, helps you build a portfolio, such as a website, making business cards, taking professional photographs, learning about tax, how to promote yourself. People from the industry come in and talk to the industry class, for example a member of the Halle Orchestra and a drummer from the pop industry came in and talked to my class about session musicians and the more ?pop? side of being a performer, which is now part of many classical musicians portfolio career. I have to say these people also had time to chat to you personally afterwards, having many valuable contacts. This module combined with knowing fellow students on the production course, allows you to record for free and have a very professional and ready-to-go industry package for when you leave LCM as a performer. I don't know if the other colleges offer this module but I have found it to be most valuable, and will definitely use what I have learnt in the future, as I do at the moment.


I could go on, but I have quite a lot of work to do right now for my dissertation, but please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you would like to know anything about LCM and I will do my best to help you. I just advise that maybe you don't take for face value what people say, especially if they are not on the course themselves. I was a student at the RNCM junior school for many years, and got into the RNCM also for undergraduate, and may also be going there in September for PG and I respect all of the other colleges, but I think LCM and possibly Trinity shape some very fine musicians and you mustn?t be put off exploring all your options by a so-called reputation, which I personally do not agree is accurate.



One last thing to mention, is that I have lived in London temporarily and also Manchester and I am from the Midlands originally, and I have to say Leeds is the most friendly city I have ever been to. Leeds is now my home town, and after living here for three years, I can say it offers just as much culturally as the other main cities. The town hall has world class concerts, as doe the Howard Assembly Room and The Grand Theatre. The price of living if fairly cheap here ? I think I'm right in saying Leeds has the biggest indoor market in the world. Night-life and shopping is also very good also, as the city is quite compact.

I hope this personal account helps you and shines some light on the truth of LCM and being a student in Leeds.


All the best and good luck deciding,

Jen

It does seem to be having a bit of a hammering doesn't it?

I know some one graduated last year from Leeds with a 1st class honours in Jazz. He chose Leeds because he didn't wnat to be too far from home and RNCM don't offer a pure jazz course. He has loved every second of his time at Leeds, and is still living there while doing a Masters in music at another very good Uni.

Jazzwise, Leeds offers opportunities the London colleges do not. The jazz dept is relatively large in comparison, which offers the chance to play with a much wider variety of musicians and there are many performance possibilities in the college and in Leeds generally which has a good reputation for jazz.

Leeds focusses more on producing performers who will actually be prepared for life as a working musician rather than highly accomplished 'hothoused' musicians who are not ready for the competitiveness of real life!(Please don't take this as a criticism in any way of the London colleges, I know they are excellent and prestigious places to study, its just that that sort of environment doesn't suit everybody, and its a very individual choice)

There was a bit of panic a couple of years ago over finances but then it seemed to die down a bit, it would maybe worth looking into the present situation before deciding. I think the classical side of things is not quite so good, but I know little about it myself, although having been to a couple of concerts the standard seemed pretty high to me.

The person I know has done really well and built up lots of contacts in Leeds and in London and even abroad, and met and played with some really top players.

On the downside, he found the office and admin arrangements pretty disorganised and frustratingly slow, and like many jazz depts there was sometimes a slightly old fashioned and stuffy attitude from some of the tutors with a bit of disinterest in the more contemporary styles.

Plese pm me if I you think I can help any further

I heard a fantastic Leeds College student playing the piano on Wednesday. He was stunning.

Did he have a big mop of hair ?? I might have heard him before also.

He had a ponytail. Quite a big chap, with a fabulous touch.

Just wondering whether the OP ended up at Leeds or Nottingham. One of Musicstand's friends is hoping to do jazz at Leeds, he's really looking forward to it.