Artist Programme in Leadership

The one- or two-year Guildhall Artist Masters programme is offered in the three pathways of Performance, Composition and Leadership and is in two parts: Part One is available in full-time (one year) or part-time (two years) modes, Part Two is available only in full-time mode.

Successful completion of Part One meets all the criteria for a Masters level (level 7) award and a student may conclude their studies at this point and be awarded a Master of Music (or a Postgraduate Diploma, according to the modules taken). Part Two represents progression for the student in terms of depth and breadth of repertoire within a project-based structure that mimics, in a controlled way, professional practice at the highest level. Students who continue to Part Two (progression criteria apply, see below) will be awarded, at its successful completion, a Master of Performance (Guildhall Artist), or Master of Composition (Guildhall Artist), or Master of Leadership (Guildhall Artist).

Both parts of the programme aim at developing, to the highest individual level, each student's technical abilities and artistic vision in each of the three pathways.

Part One builds on the student's core Principal Study specialisms, offering in addition shared Contextual Studies and a wide range of Elective opportunities. Students choose two or three Electives from the following:

• Additional Principal Study
• Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art
• Analysis
• Baroque Studies
• Body matters
• Chamber Music
• Classical Studies
• Conducting
• Creative Voices
• Cross-Arts and/or Trans-cultural Projects
• Electro-Acoustic Music
• Foreign Language Repertoire Projects
• Interpretation through Improvisation
• Jazz Improvisation
• Jazz Composition and Arranging
• Medieval and Renaissance Studies
• Music for Media
• Opera and Theatre (for singers)
• Research in Performance, Composition or Leadership
• Skills for Educational Contexts
• Song Accompaniment (for pianists).

These shared modules allow students to work cross-departmentally so that specific skills, enthusiasms, approaches and areas of awareness of relevance to their growth as musicians can be further challenged and contextualised. Aside from practical work, students develop skills of research and self-reflection vital to professional development as musicians in the twenty-first century.

In Part One, students who decide to concentrate entirely on their Principal Study without taking the elective options, can be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) at successful completion of the year.

Part Two is available to students who pass Part One in full (with electives) and obtain a 70% minimum in Principal Study and approval for a plan of artistic and professional development for Part Two. This year of studies is very strongly focused on developing Principal Study technical and artistic abilities, breadth of repertoire, creative output and professional experience. Students are given considerable autonomy in arranging three assessed concerts and projects that can be at any point in the year. Of these, one is in the School, and one must be in an outside venue of the student's choice and arranged by him or her. One performance should have a collaborative nature, for example chamber music or opera.

These performances are supported by a series of seminars both of an inductive nature, and on specialist topics. Students are also asked to present their artistic and professional experiences to their peer group. These seminars lead towards the students' preparation of an extended critique of their professional development.

Intensive tuition is offered in Principal Study (instrumental, composition or leadership), along with a range of masterclasses and supporting studies. Other areas of specialism such as contemporary or early music are offered where appropriate. For instrumentalists, orchestral and chamber music opportunities are also offered.The Leadership Programme is designed to help professional arts practitioners meet the challenges of the future. It provides a unique opportunity for professional artists to extend the boundaries of performance practice and to explore different creative processes and ways of learning in a practical research environment.

The Programme, offered only on a part-time basis for Part One, provides a forum for skill-sharing, enabling students to develop further the fundamental skills for sustained personal, artistic and professional development in the areas of creative collaboration, flexible performance and communication. Students are encouraged to identify a personal pathway of professional development in artistic leadership, composition, performance and/or as a practising artist in a variety of artistic, cultural, community and educational settings.

The Leadership Programme primarily provides a foundation for fundamental skills in creative collaboration, flexible performance and also communication/leadership skills. This includes a focus on improvisation; voice; body and percussion skills; exploration of non-European and folk-based approaches to arts practice; introduction to cross-arts collaboration; group composition; creative and repertoire-linked projects; performance and workshop-leading for different contexts.

Building on this experience, students will devise, direct and perform their own material in a variety of ensemble and community settings. Students are then given the opportunity to work on Inter-Disciplinary and Inter-Cultural Collaborations with artists and practitioners from a range of disciplines and backgrounds, culminating in performances of newly created work.

In the final semester, students will work on an Independent Practice Enquiry, where they are encouraged to develop and discuss in detail one aspect of their individual artistic identity. Supported by a mentoring framework, this individually structured, practice-based enquiry culminates in a final public presentation.

As a part of the course, students are entitled to two other electives, encouraging them to develop specific skills, attitudes and understanding in relation to their areas of specialism. These electives are taught in small groups and involve a combination of academic and experiential learning approaches.

In addition, placement opportunities are available in educational, community, healthcare and performing arts settings locally, nationally and internationally. There will also be opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations with the Royal College of Art, London Contemporary Dance School and the drama department at the Guildhall School as well as exchanges with students and professional practitioners from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

Exceptional students on Part One of the Leadership Programme will also be given the opportunity to continue their studies into Part Two (Leadership Portfolio). Students undertake a portfolio of three substantial performance events as a Leader, Performer and Creator/Collaborator that are meant to strengthen their own artistic development in these three areas.

Auditions

Auditions for this course are held in February/March of the year of entry and include:

• Instrumental or vocal performance and/or submission of a portfolio of compositions
• Improvisation
• Group activities (practical workshop; group discussion)
• Individual interview