Hey,

Loads of people have been talking about wanting to go to music colleges so I thought I'd mention it too.

I really want to go to the RNCM (as I'm here in Manchester), I'm going into Year 11 in 2 days and I'm only doing Grade 7 on my Clarinet (first instrument) this November.

I have limited keyboard skills and a Grade 6 on my second instrument and i'm sooo worried because there's going to be sooooooooo many people auditioning. I read that at the Royal Colleges they only accept 4 people of each instrument each year, and you have to apply the September before (so basically a year before you go)!!

Does anyone else find this scary???!!!

36 Degrees xxxx

i know that...and it's surely terrifying..anyway, i'm gonna try out the RCM next year...

That IS scary!!! I don't stand a chance, even though I'm just going into year 10... I haven't taken my grade 8 piano or grade 7 violin yet... and I "only" got a Merit in grade 7 piano... I'm doomed...

well i want to go and do music, am just starting my A levels and i havent done grade 7 yet, so i have even less hope than the rest of you! i would be well chuffed with a merit at grade 7! although i dont want to do performing!

hi there...as i've mentioned before...i've already passed two grade 8s (piano and singing) and planning to do grade 8 theory as soon as possible... anyway, i'm gonna do grade 6 organ next year.... do i stand more chance of getting in the college?

im the same as you Katet, the highest grade ive got is 5 so im reeeeally doomed

hey..... what grades do u actually need to get into music colleges..

Hey,

Oh, I didn't mean to scare people!!! Everyone's got a good chance because a lot can go on interview/personality etc. Also, some people are Grade 8 exam standard but their technique is awful so no one should worry.

QUOTE

hi there...as i've mentioned before...i've already passed two grade 8s (piano and singing) and planning to do grade 8 theory as soon as possible... anyway, i'm gonna do grade 6 organ next year.... do i stand more chance of getting in the college?

OMG! You're amazing, of course you stand more chance...heehee!

36 Degrees xx

thanks for the compliment...i do hope i'll get in...hehe...

QUOTE (36degrees @ Sep 5 2004, 01:21 PM)

QUOTE hi there...as i've mentioned before...i've already passed two grade 8s (piano and singing) and planning to do grade 8 theory as soon as possible... anyway, i'm gonna do grade 6 organ next year.... do i stand more chance of getting in the college? OMG! You're amazing, of course you stand more chance...heehee!

liebe klavier- well done for being such a high standard on all your instruments!

but just to let you all know, being grade 8 on 6 instruments (or even 2) doesn't give you a better chance of getting into music college than being grade 8 on 1 instrument. You only audition on one, and basically the music colleges don't care what else you play apart from the instrument you audition on. After all, the reason you go to music college is to specialise in one instrument (though sometimes you can take a second study), so being a high standard on lots of instruments isn't at all necessary, and won't give you any advantages at all. As for the standard, for most of the good ones you have to be well above grade 8, though you don't need to have taken any exams. I'm thinking of going myself, so I've checked all this stuff out already!

here here horngirl!

thanks very much everyone.... i'm now focusing on my piano...singing is second.... and less 'effort' on organ....

by the way...just being appointed as head of choir...hehe

Hee hee ive only just done grade one on piano, though i play bass guitar and saxophone as well to a much higher standard ive never done an exam on these instruments.

if i applied they would probably think it was somekind of practical joke the rest of you can all sit back and chill methinks

although it's not compulsory to have second instruments, it does help as it shows you're multitalented! but it really doesn't affect your chance of getting in... i have grade 8 violin piano and singing and am going to take grade 5 horn soon and i'm still not sure whether i'll get in or not. it's not about grades, it's about your musicality and your devotion, not to mention your love of music. they can teach you the technique and the development of what talent you already have - i'd say if anyone really wants to get in, they should go for it! (i'm auditioning for RCM RAM and RNCM, if anyone's interested)

QUOTE (liebe_klavier @ Sep 3 2004, 03:48 PM)

hey..... what grades do u actually need to get into music colleges..

They ask for an absolute minimum of a playing level of grade 8 distiction on your main instrument. They don't care much for your other instruments. Also you should be careful about going by grades because they don't really care about if you have done the exams or not, its how you play and interperate the music at auditions.

thanks everyone....for their comment...i shall work hard..

Hi There

All of the Music conservatoires and music colleges have websites that will give you the exact requirements and the dates for the auditions. Most students are restricted by the cost of each audition (approximately 50 quid each) and if they require an overnight stay etc ,. and yes they are a year in advance, so the colleges will be auditoning from NOW for September 2005, and yes the auditon is it. Even if you have an E in A level music, its the Audition every time.

You do not automatically have an auditon e.g. if you have a G4 in Piano and they require a G8 distinction then OBVIOUSLY you wont get invited to an audition. So you do have to have the prerequisite Grades in your main instrument. If you havent taken an exam yet then maybe it might be a good idea to do so! At the very least the G8! Oh and most if not all require a Grade 5 in Theory, so that might be a good one to do if you havent done it yet. Oh and most if not all, require a very good reference from someone who knows your musical ability. So be nice to your music teacher.

At the auditon for RAM, with voice as her first instrument, quite unexpectedly my daughter was asked to play the piano - not one of her favorite instuments. None of the other music Conservatoires asked her to do so and she auditioned for all. So hey be prepared.

No one asked about her flute - her second instrument!

If you are really keen and still young why not try the Junior departments of the Music Conservatoires, even their auditons are good practice runs and they also do consultations prior to auditons.

Dont worry these auditons are not "pop idol" cruel but incredily useful if you are really keen.

Good luck!!

thanks for that...it's really useful...

Also I'd like to mention that the Colleges are not looking for outstanding interpretation really at this point, they are (For undergraduate anyway) looking for people who are technically secure in their playing and they feel they can develop your skills (I know someone who is on a panel at auditions in one of the music schools). They are not asking for you to be playing Rach 3 at this stage but still standards are high so to get the best chance you should just apply to them all, including music departments at Universities to make sure you are at least accepted to one. (Thats my plan anyway)
Talking of the universities, you should look into them. Many have very good music departments with excellent teachers and facillities. If you are aiming for a performing career then it doesn't really matter what kind of degree you get or where from(though it does help of course), I know a professional pianist, and she said the best thing to do is get your Undergraduate degree from a university then go to graduate school at one of the Royal colleges/academies, that way it is cheaper and you don't lose out. But I'm still going to audition for the colleges anyway when the times comes in afew years.

Freedom

And don't worry about the colleges saying that they only take 4 of each instrument!!

They ALWAYS end up taking WAY more and it totally depends on the standard of auditions that year...if there lots of excellent candidates one year, they will take more..if the standard is not so good or there aren't as many people that have what they're looking for, they take less it seems...

As for singers..it also depends on the range of voice types they get..
if you are soprano, there are so many of that voice type, so perhaps the competition is greater but as for tenors..they seem to be like gold dust, so if you're good you probably have a better chance!! The same for mezzo's and alto's, they aren't quite so many around.

thanks so much everyone for the advise..... i love to go to music college.... i just want to.... i'm ready to sacrifice everything for this....