Hey guys, I've got my music college offers (sadly rejected from 1st choice) and I have no idea which is better for cellists, Royal Scottish Academy, or Birmingham Conservatoire - does anybody here have any clue as to which has better cello teachers, better string department, orchestral programme, etc.

Jt =)

Oh sorry I can't help but I just wanted to say
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
for your music school places....

Hope it's the start of a big shiny career for you and Good Luck wherever you go..

hey, thanks very much =) I aint heard from Trinity yet, but I don't really want to go there to be honest. And I really can't decide between RSAMD and Birmingham. I really like the RSAMD in terms of the building and activities going on, but apparently the teaching at both is excellent too =)

Don't go to Birmingham for cello, please!! A good friend of mine went there (and subsequently dropped out because it was so bad), she got grade 8 merit at Easter in the year she went there and turned up as the 4th best cellist in the conservatoire orchestra...
Pick by teacher. Or if you're not hugely bothered about either, take a year out to stdy without someone at RNCM, and you'll get in next year

Well it'd be a lot more expensive for my parents if I took a year out, cos they're very troubled financially. I got a scholarship at birmingham, but I prefer RSAMD, however my parents are trying to talk me into going to birmingham cos of the course scholarship awarded. But thanks very much for the comments, a few more I imagine will help make an informed decision. But of course I'll be having consultation lessons sometime this/next month also =)

Any more info is most certainly welcomed openly =)

Same as, teach?


Congrats!!

haha, thanks very much =) I really want to go to RSAMD, but I've heard good things about Birmingham too, and that scholarship is making it difficult to decide because we're on a tight budget

any more help in my decision making would be appreciated =)

Glasgow's a great city... and the Glaswegians have a beautifully musical accent It's a hugely cosmopolitan city and you'll find anything and anybody you can think of there.

It's also just an hour from Edinburgh which is stunningly beautiful if you like ancient architecture, character of people, history, Royalty(!) and great pubs (I was a student there). You also have all the Scottish orchestras and visiting stars too.

You're also at the gateway to Scotland's wild and woolly natural beauty and to take a breather from your cello you're never too far from a mountain. There's the Highlands and Islands if you're also interested in anything from photography to hillwalking (good for the soul).

You can also learn traditional music in Scotland and discover a whole new employment in ceilidhs if money is tight. Traditional music is part of the RSAMD's offerings. There's always an audience for live music too.

You'll never forget time spent in Scotland... Birmingham can come later for a post-grad....

Ah fab, thanks for the info =) do you know what the college, teaching, etc are like?

Jt xx

Have you tried contacting the RSAMD and telling them that you want to go there but Birmingham's scholarship offer makes Birmingham more attractive. It may be that they could also help financially.

It would also be worth, if time permits, trying to have a trial lesson with whoever would teach you. You don't want to be stuck with someone you don't feel you can gel with. You should also try and find out where last years graduates went. How many went onto post grad study, into playing employment, teaching etc.

The other option, already mentioned, is a year out and reapply to the RNCM if that's where you really want to go. It might be worth finding out how close you were to getting a place and if they'd be happy to audition you again. Could you have an advice lesson with one of the RNCM staff? As to finances is it possible to get a job where you are for a year to support yourself and pay for lessons?

Good Luck with the decision making.

Stringmum

Those are great ideas...

When I applied the Academy was housed in an old building in the centre of Glasgow just beside the railway station.. it was like an old Victorian School. BUT they moved building several years ago and I can't remember but they may have a purpose-built venue now.. they certainly have a bigger space and a new concert hall I think.

I would ask for a trial lesson (or even just a meeting with the staff and a tour of the facilities). There's lots of info at http://www.rsamd.ac.uk/

When I was offered my place all the other colleges knew so they seem to discuss the allocation of places and I think they'd be most helpful if you spoke to the relevant department about your dilemma. (I was offered an undergrad place at RSAMD and post-grad at RNCM without having to re-apply.)

STRINGMUM - that's some excellent advice, I imagine I shall ring RSAMD some time either this or next week about fees, consultation lessons, etc. Do you think I should email them or ring them up and leave a message if necessary?

And I've just checked the fees on the RSAMD website - looks like it's LOADS cheaper than other colleges, the overall total for the 4 years comes to £5,410 rather than £10,000 lol

I would speak to someone or at least email with an attachment that tells you if the email has been looked at. I wouldn't leave a message on an answerphone- too easy to ignore. Keep ringing until you can speak to someone and always get the name of whoever you talk to. Music professors can be forgetful.
I don't know where you live but if you live in England and attend a scottish college there may be a price difference on fees. It's worth checking it out.

I checked that out on the fees page, and the study fees are the same for all students in the UK/EU, doesn't matter whether or not they're Scottish =) It's just overseas students who will have a héll of a time paying, 11 grand a year!! Crikey Moses lol!! I emailed them with my queries, haven't got a reply yet, but that's probably because it's the holidays

Argh, I still have no idea where I want to go! lol, I'm booking some consultation lessons tomorrow (I know it's stupidly late, but I've been very preoccuped unfortunately) so hopefully I'll know where I'm going, and which teacher I like best in the next few weeks. I hope so anyway, I've only got like 24 days left to do it in! lol

Anybody else have any idea which is better for Cello/Strings?

Jt x