 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2012-02-24 19:06
Can anyone on the other side of the pond fill me in a little on the Royal Academy of Music in London and its graduate clarinet program? Good points, week points, anything would be useful.
Many thanks,
'
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: howarth
Date: 2012-02-25 10:28
Highly recommended for the teachers, but as is every other main music college in the U.K. Main teachers are Angela Malsbury, Chi-Yu Mo (London Symphony Orchetra) Mark van de Wiel (Philharmonia) Andrew Marriner (LSO) Tim Lines (for both contemporary and classical clarinet), visiting professor at the moment is Patrick Messina.
The good point for me is that they only accept a limited amount of student per year so there are many opportunities for all clarinettists, so audition process is tough but fair. Possible bads points is the lack of rooms for practise, but you can always do that in your house :-)
Excellent location in London, right next to Regents Park
It's also quite close to Howarth of London.
Howarth of London
31-35 Chiltern Street
London
W1U 7PN
clarinet@howarth.uk.com
www.howarth.uk.com
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2012-02-25 17:27
I wad there for an undergraduate course from 2001-2005.
I had a great time - amazing teaching (I was with Angela Malsbury for all four years, and went 50/50 with Nick Rodwell for my last two) I also had Eb/bass and saxophone lessons with Richard Addision.
Good masterclass opportunities - in my time we had Alan Hacker, Sabine Meyer, Karl Leister, Henri Bok and many others - as well as the termly visits from Andrew Marriner.
The practice rooms situation was (and probably still is) a joke, booking involved queuing for ages (sometimes up to an hour) but I know there was a plan to put online booking in place.
I also went on to another UK Conservatoire, so can offer some thoughts on things the Academy does well over at least one other institution...
Concert Orchestra is excellent preparation for working out there in the profession - one or two rehearsals followed by a concert. This happens a couple of times a term. Working with some big name conductors was a great experience in all the orchestras.
Orchestral placement is based entirely on audition - meaning that if younger students out perform the older ones in an audition then they get the better pieces and parts. There was some resentment of this while I was there - those who were paying massive postgrad fees expected to get all the good stuff, I was please it didn't happen like that.
Competition is stiff - but fair. Any catty-ness is quickly squashed by other students and the staff. The clarinet department (which was around 20 of us in my time) was always particularly close - regular get togethers (clarinet curry and clarinet cocktails both highlights) and this continued to the rest of the ww department as well.
The structure of the courses is good - you're assessed on three main elements (end of year recital, scale exam and orchestral extract exam) although last year students forgo the last two to be able to concentrate on recitals. You are also required to perform at least two chamber music concerts a year - and these are assessed. This is all based on my experience as an undergrad, but the postgrad courses work in a similar way to the higher years of the undergrads. We also had classes in business (sometimes useful), keyboard skills, Technique and Analysis, aural skills and then electives as well (I took Orchestration and Recording).
Something they could learn from other colleges is the amount of time you have to work with accompanists - at the Academy you even have to pay the accompanists for your end of year exams, at other institutions you get free time thrown at you.
Overall - I'd highly recommend the place to anyone and particularly clarinettists.
Having Howarths down the road is also a genuine help - I remember once having to get an instrument repaired in the break of a rehearsal as a horn player kindly kicked my bass of its stand while getting onto the platform, thank goodness for Howarths!
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2012-02-25 20:57
What is the difference between the Royal Academy and the Royal College??
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2012-02-25 21:40
Two entirely separate educational establishments.
Both are included in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music - along with the Royal Scottish Academy and Royal Welsh and this board operates a system of graded examinations across several countries.
The Academy is the older institution and found near Regent's Park - the Royal College is found near the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park. Both compete to draw in the best undergraduate and postgraduate students and some would say that there's something of a rivalry between the two.
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