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Woodwind

GB Graeme Brown
Recent Graduate of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
PGDip with Distinction
 
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Woodwind Department is ‘ simply the best’. From the word go opportunities are abound for the aspiring woodwind player – and during my time here I have been given many, which I strongly believe would never have been offered to me elsewhere. The woodwind staff are extremely friendly and supportive in helping you to become the musician you want to be.
 
The early years in the department are a great opportunity to build on existing technique and understand your instrument more, particularly as we are offered a generous weekly 90 minute lesson on our principal study and a further 30minutes on our related instrument (Eb, Piccolo, Bass, Contra etc.). It prepares you well for the growing performance opportunities, and initial appearances in the Royal Conservatoire’s Symphony and Wind Orchestra’s helped me to build my understanding of orchestral technique early on – a valuable skill.
 
As a bassoonist, I was also able to do lots of work on reed-making before it ‘ really mattered’. All double reed players know that making your own reeds is very important and at the Royal Conservatoire the Woodwind Department has some of the best provisions for this in the UK. We have a double reed room which is for the exclusive use of double reed students for personal practice and lessons. It also houses the Conservatoire’s reed-making equipment and is the venue for regular reed-making classes. 
 
As you develop through the course more opportunities arise in the form of competitions, concerto performances, large scale symphonic orchestral programmes with internationally renowned conductors, three professional orchestral training schemes, larger scale chamber music, opera orchestra, contemporary ensembles…the list is endless. Everything, I believe, is here for the aspiring woodwind player – great opportunities in a friendly and welcoming environment.

       

    
Fraser Langton
Fraser Langton
MMus
  
I chose to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland because the quality of the woodwind faculty is amongst the best anywhere. The woodwind staff are top players from Scotland’s professional orchestras and with the orchestral scene buzzing in Glasgow, there are so many chances to see your teachers perform. Already, I have had some fantastic opportunities, which I may not have experienced, had I decided to study elsewhere.  
  
The Royal Conservatoire operates three apprenticeships in conjunction with the RSNO, BBC SSO and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. This has given me the chance to appreciate the subtleties of the profession first hand. Those valuable opportunities include experiencing playing 2nd clarinet in a professional orchestra, taking part in the complete run of a full opera production as part of the Scottish Opera collaboration.  
 
There are also many performance opportunities within the Conservatoire itself. The orchestral programme is diverse and highly developed and there are many other specialist chamber ensembles such as the now established Stevenson Wind Ensemble which brings in leading artists to direct. There are also regular performance classes and masterclasses given by visiting artists within the academy, which heighten your development as a musician.  

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Formerly known as the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3DB
Tel 0141 332 4101 Fax 0141 332 8901
Box Office 0141 332 5057