Master of Music - Keyboard

Keyboard

Introduction

The keyboard department offers a wide array of postgraduate degrees, catering to a broad range of specialisms, including solo piano, postgraduate advanced accompaniment, dance accompaniment, accordion, harpsichord and organ. Students can pursue a Postgraduate or Masters degree in one year or elect to complete the Masters degree in two years on a credit transfer. Pathways for collaborative piano also exist within the Masters Course. Ample opportunities are available for students to be mentored by the International Fellows and support and performing experience is also provided for those wishing to compete on an international level.

The Academy's postgraduate dance accompaniment course is fast establishing itself as unique in the education sector. This course is run in conjunction with Scottish Ballet, offering students training in accompanying a class, score reduction, improvisation and dance repertoire. Students graduating this course have enjoyed an enviable response from the profession and are in demand professionally.

Entrance Audition:

Postgraduate or Masters Piano, Organ, Harpsichord or Accordion:

A minimum of three contrasting works should be presented at the audition. The panel will hear approximately 25 minutes of playing.

Postgraduate Advanced Accompaniment:

Candidates will be required to accompany a singer and an instrumentalist in works notified to them two weeks in advance.Candidates will also be required to play at sight and undertake a quick study test, which will be given to them shortly before the audition.

Postgraduate Dance Accompaniment:

Selection to the course will be by means of a competitive audition, in two parts, conducted by appropriate members of staff from both the RSAMD and Scottish Ballet comprising of:

Part 1:

• Performance of one short piano work (no longer than 5 minutes in duration) of the candidate's choice.
• Sight-reading from a piano score.
• Performance of prepared ballet excerpts (candidates will be sent a selection of these in piano score form in advance).
• Harmonise a simple melody at sight.
• Basic improvisation, to take the form of simple classroom warm-up exercises to be accompanied by the candidate.
• An interview to assess the candidate's suitability - in terms of knowledge, experience and commitment - for the course.

Part 2:

• Demonstrate the ability to play a prepared excerpt following a conductor's beat.
• Accompanying (through improvisation at the keyboard) a series of exercises in the form of a mini ballet class under the direction of a tutor from Scottish Ballet and Only those candidates who pass Part 1 of the audition process will proceed to Part 2.