So i've heard.. that if you have a diploma on something that when you graduate from university with a music degree that you get an extra hood on your gown.. is this true?

Hi Nomad,
yes it's technically true that you could be entitled to wear 2 hoods; one for the degree and one for the diploma -providing it's LRSM /LTCL or better (to my knowledge the initial level Dips only permit wearing of the gowns??) but its not usual to do so. It's damn uncomfortable for one thing, being strangled from both sides - they are unweildy and akward to wear! Some folk also consider it a bit pretentious and showing off to wear two! My view is that is better to own both if you need to and to choose which is more appropriate for a particular occassion. For a degree ceremony i would stick to the one from your chosen uni only - looks more professional.

I'm entitled to wear 3 different types of hood but possess none, i just use the letters after my name instead.

I have never known anyone to wear 2 hoods at the same time, and have been in environments where academic dress is worn a lot. Yes there would be two hoods which you were entitled to wear - but this doesn't mean wearing them at the same time (unless your university has unusual regulations). It is normal for academic purposes such as congregation to wear the gown and hood for the degree you are graduating from, or from your highest degree if you are in the academic procession rather than attending as a graduand. In other contexts a different hood might be more appropriate. For example, my ex choir director (who is very pretenious and would certainly have worn 2 hoods at the same time if he was allowed to!!) would wear his FRCO hood for things like evensong, but would wear his BA one for anything which was connected with the academic life of the university even if he was also playing or conducting for the event.

However, your university may have less standard regulations, and the best way of finding out what your university allows or expects is to ask them or read through the regulations. If you're at Cambridge then they do have some odd system where, for graduation ceremonies, you wear the gown for your current status and the hood for the degree you're about to have conferred (or it might be the other way round - you'd need to check).

I wouldn't buy a gown or hood unless you are likely to be wearing them regularly (i.e. if you will be at Oxford, Cambridge or Durham universities after graduation and will be involved in something like a college choir). I bought my MA gown and hood because at that stage I was needing a gown twice a week for choir and the hood once every 1-2 weeks. I didn't bother buying a PhD hood or gown because I was unlikely to have any regular use for the items. If you only need a hood/gown occasionally then you can just hire them. I work in an academic environment and the last time I needed a gown/hood was my PhD graduation.

Certainly for ABRSM and Trinity this is the case, I would assume it's also the case for London too, but can't be sure.

The rules will probably vary by University...