Masters Woodwind Programme | Postgraduate Course Overview

Introduction

Our audition content is being updated for entry in September 2023 and will be shared soon, if you have any questions in the meantime please e-mail admissions@rcs.ac.uk.

Head of Woodwind, Heather Nicoll DRSAMD MA

The Woodwind department has an international reputation for developing leading musicians. Our team of dedicated staff includes many of Britain’s finest woodwind players, with world-class reputations as soloists, orchestral, and chamber musicians. The department delivers an intensive and dynamic training and provides a supportive and collaborative environment to talented musicians from all over the world. Through our extensive one-to-one specialist care and invaluable performance exposure, the department ensures a challenging and inspiring environment to promote excellence.

Why study here?

Unparalleled one-to-one tuition

Students receive a principal study lesson per week with their tutor.

Performance collaborations with international artists

Weekly tuition is enhanced by regular visits from distinguished guest artists from across the globe. Students benefit from creative collaborations with those artists in addition to the masterclass programme.

Diverse performance opportunities

All woodwind students benefit from the enormous range of performance opportunities. Symphony, chamber and wind orchestra performances, opera productions, wind ensembles and chamber experience are also central to the training of each student. We encourage you to form your own ensembles and offer professional coaching to support your work.

Side-by-side concert series

All woodwind students will have the opportunity from Year 1 to perform alongside professional musicians in our Monday @ 1 concert series. RCS staff members and visiting artists perform in chamber ensembles with our students throughout their training.

Stevenson Winds

The department’s elite ensemble, Stevenson Winds, provides students with intensive coaching from professional players and offers extensive performing experience alongside those professionals in prestigious events across the country.

Unique mentoring schemes

Students are given the best possible start to their performing careers, participating in public performances, TV broadcasts, and worldwide tours with Scotland’s major orchestras and ensembles. We currently run schemes with the BBCSSO, RSNO, Orchestra of Scottish Opera and Red Note Ensemble.

Fantastic concerto opportunities

Annual professional concerto performances with both the BBC SSO and the RSNO are available to students. Further concerto opportunities with the RCS Symphony and Wind Orchestras are available & offer performing experience throughout the country in prestigious venues.

Professional accompanist provision

A professional accompanist is provided for students throughout their training. Weekly rehearsal sessions with Scott Mitchell are available in preparation for performance classes, competitions and examinations.

Woodwind venues

A dedicated reed-making room provides superb equipment and facilities for regular classes in this specialist art and the David Nicholson Room provides flautists with a devoted rehearsal and practice space.

Programme structure

MMus

The MMus programme is designed to refine your Principal Study skills to meet the demanding artistic and technical expectations of the contemporary professional world.

The RCS values its MMus students as autonomous and creative learners and the programme has specialist Principal Study pathways allowing each student to tailor their training to support their own professional ambitions.

Principal Study Pathways

Solo Performance – assessed in a public recital

Orchestral Performance – assessment comprises an orchestral audition and live orchestral performances

Chamber Performance – assessed in a public recital

Concerto – assessed in a concerto performance. Enviable concerto opportunities are available with the BBC SSO, RSNO and RCS Symphony Orchestra (selection by audition).

Studio Recording – assessed in a studio recording comprising repertoire appropriate to the specialisms of the student and a viva examination discussing the values of the recording process and repertoire decisions.

New Work – assessed in a performance or studio recording of a new work and viva examination on the collaborative process with the composer.*

Lecture Recital – assessed in a lecture- recital on a relevant specialist subject

Independent Project – assessed through a practice-based project designed around a particular area of a student’s specialism.

* Students with a passion and aptitude for contemporary performance may wish to work intensively with a student from our composition department to create a new composition for their instrument. Our prestigious contemporary festival ‘PLUG’ offers a public platform to showcase new works.

Supporting Studies comprises the core 1-2-1 lessons, performance and technique classes, (reed-making if relevant), chamber music collaborations, orchestral and operatic productions, ensemble work and masterclasses. MMus students are eligible for all competitions and apprenticeship schemes.

MMus/MA Programme Structure

The MMus/MA programme is divided into Stage 1 and Stage 2. Stage 1 is common to both degrees, and may also lead to the exit award of PGDip. In Stage 2, MMus and MA students follow different pathways leading to their respective degrees.

Stage 1: PGDip

Principal Study 1 — 80 SCQF credits

Supporting Studies 1 — 30, 20 or 10 SCQF credits

Practice Research— 10 SCQF credits

Options — 0, 10 or 20 SCQF credits

Stage 2: MMus

Principal Study 2 — 90 SCQF credits

Supporting Studies 2 — 30, 20 or 10 SCQF credits

Options — 0, 10 or 20 SCQF credits

Stage 2: MA

Negotiated Study (or HIPP dissertation) — 60 SCQF credits

Principal Study

The primary focus of your learning will be the Principal Study. This core activity — and in particular, the individual lesson — will refine the skills essential to meeting the artistic and technical expectations of the programme. It will equip you with many of the skills needed to exercise independent learning and develop the autonomy necessary for a professional career. In the case of the degrees in Performance, and Historically Informed Performance Practice, the Principal Study is your instrumental or vocal discipline; for the degrees in Opera, Conducting, Repetiteurship, Piano for Dance, and Accompaniment, it refers to the full range of skills associated with those roles, including high-level performance skills. For the MMus Composition, Principal Study is the practice of composition, within which you may specialise in acoustic or electroacoustic composition. For the MMus Chamber Music, the Principal Study will comprise the ensemble work of the group. Within the credit assigned for Principal Study, the contact hours are flexibly assigned to suit your particular needs as a student.

Supporting Studies

Supporting Studies incorporates many of the distinctive features of conservatoire study, and contributes towards the creation of a near-professional learning environment. In this module, you will have the opportunity to take part in a range of negotiated activities in support both of your Principal Study and your development as an emerging professional. The emphasis is on working with your peers, whether through the presentation of performance classes or collaborative activities such as chamber music, orchestra or ensemble work. The module also incorporates a series of cohort-wide graduate seminars, addressing such areas as research skills, critical thinking, professional development, reflective practice, health and wellbeing, and equality and diversity.

Practice Research

This module challenges you to examine critically an aspect of your arts practice by means of an individually-negotiated portfolio of research, reflection and/or documentation. Over the course of your studies, with the support of a supervisor, you will assemble a portfolio of documentation and reflective writing that interrogates a self-chosen research focus and communicates your findings.

Options

Options give space within the curriculum for you to engage in studies which enhance your professional versatility, by pursuing areas of interest either close to or far away from your core discipline. The range of modules available is very wide, including otions drawn from the undergraduate programmes in both the School of Music and the School of Drama, Dance, Production and Film. The design of the programme puts no restrictions on the level of the options/s chosen. There is a significant range of choice available in the amount of credit taken in this way, with students free to choose pathways which place greater weight on Supporting Studies.

MMus or MA?

The MA and MMus programmes share many similarities, with the first three terms of the programme being common to both. The chief differences are in the length and volume of study, and in the pattern of delivery in relation to the four terms that make up the academic calendar. There are also some differences in the programme aims and learning outcomes, and in the proportional number of hours available for principal study lessons.

The MA degree is designed for students who wish to achieve a Masters level qualification in one year, with 180 SCQF credits at level 11 (90 ECTS credits). The programme runs full-time for four terms, 43 weeks in total, with the fourth term being dedicated to a largely independent project.

The MMus degree is intended for students who are seeking an extended and thorough professional grounding at Masters level in their chosen area of specialism. This is a two-year, full-time programme, leading to 240 SCQF credits at level 11 (120 ECTS credits). The majority of the teaching and learning takes place in terms one, two and three of both years, to a total of 81 hours across the two years. (Nine extra hours may be allocated to additional study of a related instrument, where appropriate).

Why choose us?

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is in the World Top 10 for performing arts education 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (QS World Rankings)

Diverse and unique performances within RCS and externally with Scotland’s major orchestras and ensembles. Opportunities include radio broadcasts, orchestral tours, educational projects and collaborative performances
A one-to-one lesson on your principal study per week
A rich programme of public masterclasses, chamber coaching coaching and side-by-side performances offer our students a fantastic collaborative and tailored experience with each guest musician
Performance opportunities alongside professional musicians in our Mondays and Fridays at 1 concert series
A professional accompanist is provided for students throughout their training. Weekly rehearsal sessions with Scott Mitchell are available in preparation for performance classes, competitions and examinations.
Work with elite wind ensemble, Stevenson Winds, and receive intensive coaching with its expert players
National and international performing opportunities; students previously toured India with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and annually perform side-by-side with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Winds in a series of live concerts
Facilities include the David Nicholson Room, a dedicated space for flautists to rehearse and practice, and a double reed room, filled with reed-making equipment for this specialist art
100% of postgraduate respondents from the School of Music are in employment or further study (HESA, 15/16)

Teaching staff

Flute
Richard Blake — Principal, Orchestra of Scottish Opera

Katherine Bryan — Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Ruth Morley — Scottish Flute Trio / Red Note Ensemble

Helen Brew — Associate Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Piccolo
Janet Richardson -BA Hons, Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Luke Russell – Principal, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Oboe

Stephen West — ARCM DipPerf RCM, former Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Amy Turner — Principal, Orchestra of Scottish Opera

Peter Dykes – Associate Principal Oboe, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

John Roberts – Visiting Artist in Orchestral Performance and Principal Oboe, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Cor anglais

Henry Clay — Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Stephen West — ARCM DipPerf RCM, former Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Clarinet
John Cushing — Former Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Yann Ghiro — Principal BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Lawrence Gill — Orchestra of Scottish Opera

Timothy Orpen – Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Nicolas Baldeyrou – Buffet-Crampon Visiting Professor in Clarinet

E Flat Clarinet
Josef Pacewicz LRAM, ARAM — Former Associate Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Bass Clarinet
Heather Nicoll DRSAMD MA

Saxophone
Josef Pacewicz LRAM, ARAM

Andrew Somerville

Arno Bornkamp — Visiting Artist in Saxophone http://www.arnobornkamp.nl/uk/

Bassoon
Janet Bloxwich — Principal, Scottish Opera Orchestra

Alison Green — sub-principal, Scottish Chamber Orchestra

David Hubbard — Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Graeme Brown Principal Bassoon No. 2, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Contra Bassoon

Peter Wesley – Principal, BBC Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Paolo Dutto – Principal, Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Accompanist
Scott Mitchell LRAM ARAM

Woodwind Lecturer
Jennifer Stephenson

Facilities

Weekly performance, technique and repertoire classes take place in our world-class recital venues providing the ideal environment for your development.
A dedicated reed-making room houses the highest quality specialist reed-making equipment.
Exclusive use of the David Nicholson Room provides flautists with a dedicated rehearsal and practice space.
The RCS possesses, for student use, a wide-ranging and extensive collection of specialist ancillary instruments for both modern and period performance.
State of the art studios provide our students with professional recording performance experience. Recent Woodwind Department CD’s are available from our box office.

Graduate destinations

Royal Conservatoire Woodwind alumni occupy positions in numerous prestigious orchestras and ensembles worldwide.

Our alumni make an impact across the wide range of specialist areas in the music profession such as education, arts administration, composition, conducting, arranging, research & psychology.

Many graduates are influential tutors in Conservatoire training; specialist, private and local authorities schools; and in leading arts projects and organisations devoted to widening access and participation in music.

Jo Ashcroft & Victoria Lopez Senior Musician & Woodwind Tutor respectively, Big Noise, Sistema Scotland

Alan Bacchetti Head of Wind, Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools

Graeme Brown BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Principal Bassoon No.2 & RCS Tutor

Jay Capperauld Composer & Saxophonist

Gemma Carlin Music Ensembles Manager, RCS

Richard Craig Contemporary Artist & Researcher

Rachel Drury Researcher & Educator

Peter Dykes Royal Scottish National Orchestra associate principal oboe & RCS Tutor

Lindsey Ellis BBC National Orchestra of Wales principal piccolo

Robert Fairley Orchestra of Scottish Ballet principal clarinet

Konrad Fiszer Opera Nova w Bydgoszczy flute and piccolo

Lawrence Gill Orchestra of Scottish Opera clarinet & RCS Tutor

Fraser Gordon Royal Philharmonic Orchestra principal contra bassoon

Alison Green Scottish Chamber Orchestra bassoon & RCS Tutor

John Hall BBC National Orchestra of Wales flute

Michael Hallit Macau Orchestra former principal piccolo

Samuel Hernandez Avila Tenerife Symphony Orchestra clarinet

Lee Holland Freelance Musician & Performance Coach

Gillian Horn Freelance Musician & Arranger

Jennifer Hutchinson BBC Philharmonic Orchestra principal piccolo

Mary James Orchestra of Scottish Ballet oboe

Fraser Langton BBC Philharmonic Orchestra clarinet

Janet Laird Orchestra of Scottish Ballet clarinet

Stewart MacIlwham Royal Philharmonic Orchestra principal piccolo

Michelle McCabe Orchestra of Scottish Ballet flute

Catriona McKinnon Welsh National Opera principal oboe

Kate McDermott Gothenburg Opera co-principal clarinet

John McDougall BBC Concert Orchestra principal bassoon

Lorna McGhee International soloist & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra principal flute

Chris McShane Orchestra Accademia China bassoon

Ruth Morley Scottish Flute Trio/ Red Note Ensemble flute & RCS Tutor

Sinziana Mugea National Radio Orchestra of Romania sub principal oboe and cor anglais

Heather Nicoll Head of Woodwind, RCS

Heather North Scottish Opera, Orchestra Co-ordinator

Andrew Nunn – Choral Conductor

Paul Rissmann Animateur & Composer

John Roberts Royal Philharmonic Orchestra principal oboe & RCS Visiting Artist

Ewan Robertson Orchestra of Scottish Opera flute & RCS Tutor

Lorraine Robertson L’ensemble Orchestral du Loir et Cher principal flute

Matthew Rogers Conductor & Composer

Ian Scott Royal Ballet Sinfonia principal clarinet

June Scott Philharmonia Orchestra flute

Jennifer Stephenson Freelance Musician & Woodwind Co-ordinator, RCS

Kathleen Stevenson BBC Symphony Orchestra principal piccolo

Kenny Sturgeon BBC Philharmonic Orchestra oboe

Ryan Sullivan Head of Primary Music in Doha College

Sarah Turner Gran Teatre Del Liceu Orchestra, Barcelona former oboe

Thomas Voelcker Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra former principal piccolo

Fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for academic year 2022-23

MMus – Scottish Students

£9,927 (full-time)

£4,965 (part-time)

MMus – Rest of UK (RUK) Students

£9,927 (full-time)

£4,965 (part-time)

MMus – International Students (Including EU)

£19,635 (full-time)

£9,819 (part-time)

MA – Scottish Students

£13,464

MA – Rest of UK (RUK) Students

£13,464

MA – International Students (Including EU)

£23,601

From the next academic year (21/22) all EU students commencing study in Scotland will pay fees at the International rate.

Scottish

New Scottish domiciled students may be eligible for a Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan. All eligible students will be able to apply directly to Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for a non-means-tested loan. See the SAAS website for further details of the PSAS scheme.

Scottish domiciled postgraduate students on eligible courses can also apply for a Postgraduate Living Cost Loan to contribute towards living expenses. This is in addition to the existing loan available towards the cost of their tuition fees.

English

Postgraduate students from England can benefit from a postgraduate loan to be used towards tuition fees and/or living costs.

Northern Irish

Students from Northern Ireland may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan to help with the cost of their course fees. Please see the Student Finance NI website for more details.

Welsh

From 1 August 2019, students ordinarily resident in Wales (and those from the EU studying at a Welsh institution) may be entitled to a combination of loan and grant as a contribution to costs while studying a postgraduate Master’s degree course. The total amount of support available is non-means-tested and is paid directly to the student. More information can be found on the Student Finance Wales website.

EU Students

The Royal Conservatoire is resolutely international in outlook and we celebrate and are enriched by the diversity of our community of students and staff. Students from across the globe are welcome and valued members of the RCS community and we continue to welcome applicants from across the EU and throughout the world.

Q: What is the fee situation for EU students?

A: On July 9 2020, Scotland’s Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead announced changes to the fee regime for EU students studying in Scotland. From 2021/22, all EU students commencing study in Scotland will pay fees at the International rate.

Q: I’m an EU student looking to start my studies in 2022-23. How does this impact me?

A: From 2021/22, all EU students commencing study in Scotland will pay fees at the International rate.

Only EU nationals who are ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ in the UK will remain eligible to apply for home tuition fees providing they meet the residency conditions. Other EU nationals and associated groups, starting a course of study in academic year 2021-22 or later, are not eligible to apply to SAAS for tuition fee support. Because of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Republic of Ireland, new students from the Republic of Ireland starting their studies in 2022-23 will be eligible to pay the rest of UK (RUK) fee and will be able to access a tuition fee loan from SAAS.

Please also see the SAAS website for more information.

Scholarships

Any potential student who auditions for a place at the Royal Conservatoire will automatically be considered for a scholarship. They are awarded on a combination of talent, potential and financial need. More information about Scholarships is available on our Fees and Funding page.

Sources of external funding

For more information about alternative funding sources, including external scholarships and bursaries, please visit our Fees and Funding page.

The Conservatoire’s International and Student Experience team are available to advise and assist applicants and current students in respect of queries about funding your studies at the Conservatoire. Please email or telephone +44 (0)141 270 8281/ +44 (0)141 270 8223 for further information.

Entry requirements

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

Academic Entry Requirements

Candidates for both the MMus and MA are normally expected to hold a good honours (at least 2:2) degree, or its overseas equivalent, in a subject area relevant to the demands of the programme.

Language of Study

The language of study is English. Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component) is required of applicants to the School of Music.

Direct Entry

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. If you wish to apply for direct entry, please mark the point of entry on UCAS Conservatoires application as 2.

Non-standard Entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature Students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications. Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

Auditions

All auditions are planned to take place in-person at our campus in Glasgow in November 2022. Should you apply on time, you will be e-mailed directly with details of your audition date and time, and your UCAS Conservatoires track will be updated with this information.

International applicants are welcome to submit a recorded submission via Acceptd. For those submitting a recording, the deadline dates to apply and submit your audition recording can be found in the table below:

	UCAS Conservatoires Application Deadline	Audition Recording Deadline
Applicants	3 October 2022	17 October 2022

Recording Guidelines:

When setting up for your video recording, your body (typically, from about the waist up) and instrument should be the focal point of the frame. The committee wants to be able to see not just your face but how well you navigate your instrument.
The video recording should be provided in ONE continuous shot without separate tracks for different musical pieces.
Please begin the recording by introducing yourself to camera and stating what you will be performing. You can take a little time between pieces so long as your body must remain in the frame.
For any pieces that were written for your instrument and piano accompaniment, you are encouraged to perform with piano accompaniment (whether live or pre-recorded) if practical for you. Be assured, however, that if this is not possible for you, then you will not be disadvantaged in any way.

For more information on recording a video audition, Guitar Lecturer Matthew McCallister reveals his top tips on recording your music audition online below:

All decisions will be posted on UCAS Conservatoires following your audition or recorded submission via UCAS Conservatoires track (you will need your username and password). We aim to post outcomes before Christmas.

Details of the repertoire requested for your in-person audition/recorded submission can be found below:

Applicants will be expected to perform two works: the set concerto for their instrument as indicated below, and a piece of the applicant’s own choice.

Flute

Mozart Concerto in G major (1st and 2nd movements)

Oboe

Mozart Concerto in C major (1st and 2nd movements)

Clarinet

Mozart Concerto in A major (1st and 2nd movements)

Bassoon

Mozart Concerto in Bb major (1st and 2nd movements)

Saxophone

Glazunov Concerto in Eb major

Junior Conservatoire.

Auditioned courses for students aged 1—18

Short Courses.

Open access courses for students aged 1-18