Overview
Our four-year Bachelor of Music (BMus) undergraduate degree programme attracts talented young musicians from across the world to study with today’s finest musicians and teachers.
The BMus combines focused study in performance with supporting academic studies. Every aspect is designed to help you towards realising your full musical potential, and to prepare you for your career in music.
You will have at least one hour of one-to-one tuition per week in your Principal Study and numerous performance opportunities. We offer a wide range of activities, events, training sessions and modules for you to hone your skill in such things as studio recording and editing techniques, self-promotion and marketing, writing CVs, making funding applications, understanding the music business and working in arts management.
At the end of your third and fourth years, you submit a portfolio of materials to help prepare you for professional life after the Academy.
BMus Entry Requirements
- Performance/Composition: High standard of performing potential or composition, strong musicianship, and good aural skills.
- Music Exams: Formal exams are not required, but successful performers are typically at a Grade 8 Distinction level or higher.
- Music Theory: Grade 6 level knowledge is recommended before starting if you aren't taking school music exams.
- Keyboard Skills: No formal minimum required (unless it's your Principal Study), though Grade 5 piano is desirable to support general musicianship.
See Entry Requirements for full academic and international criteria.
Modules
Undergraduate students take weekly academic classes in addition to their principal study. The classes are designed to complement and add to every student’s creative development as performers.
Core Modules - Years 1 and 2
- Analytical Skills 1
- Analytical Skills 2
- Performing In Context 1
- Performing In Context 2
- Aural Skills 1
- Aural Skills 2
- Score Reading
- Artist Development
Elective Modules - Years 3 and 4
- Analysis of Post-Tonal Music
- Approaching the Great Luthiers
- Aural Skills, Further
- Baroque Performance on Historical Instruments
- Baroque Performance on Historical Instruments, Advanced
- Compositional Techniques of the Germanic Traditions c.1780-c.1880
- Conducting, Advanced
- Conducting, Intermediate
- Contemporary Music Workshop
- Crossing Cultural Frontiers
- Free Composition for Performers
- Free Composition for Performers, Advanced
- Fugue
- Listening to Mozart, Thinking about Mozart, Playing Mozart
- Maestro: a History of Conducting through Film, Recordings and Marked Scores
- Messiaen in Context
- Methods in the Analysis of Tonal Music, Advanced
- Mozart’s Operas
- Musical Aesthetics and Criticism
- Open Academy
- Open Academy. Advanced
- Performing Baroque Music (with a focus on Handel)
- Performing Experimental Music
- Repertoire Studies
- Research Project
- Silent Film Improvisation
- Song Accompaniment
- Studio Performance
- Worldwide Repertoires
Classes and Activities
Undergraduate students take weekly academic classes in addition to their Historical Performance studies. Classes such as Techniques and Analysis, Conducting, Technology, Keyboard Skills and Western Music History are designed to complement and add to your creative development as a performer.
In addition to weekly individual lessons, both undergraduate and postgraduate Historical Performance students participate in the following activities:
Performance Classes/Masterclasses
Performance Classes are led by renowned musicians from around the world and give you an opportunity to experiment and explore communication skills in solo repertoire and to receive direct feedback about all aspects of your performance.
Chamber Music
Chamber music is at the heart of the Historical Performance Faculty and you will have opportunities to perform in several mixed ensembles, playing repertoire from Renaissance to Romantic. There are also opportunities to join the recorder consort, oboe band, viol consort and other ensembles. All groups are coached by Academy professors or visiting guests who help guide and prepare students for assessed performances and frequent public concerts.
Repertoire sessions
We hold dedicated classes for learning and preparing standard professional repertoire such as Passions, masses and other orchestral works to ensure our students are already familiar with major pieces when playing in gigs and professional ensembles.
Baroque Dance
You will take part in dance projects. All of our students learn to play dance music, in order to work effectively with dancers and to appreciate dance elements in instrumental music. Most of our students also learn to dance, but anyone with any physical issues is able to set their own pace.
Basso Continuo
Whatever instrument you play, you will have lessons in keyboard continuo playing and realisation depending on your individual experience, expertise and interest. You will learn what to listen for, and what to ask for, from continuo players.
Lecture Workshops
Lecture Workshops are held throughout the year and discuss the main areas of historical performance practice from the Medieval to the Romantic. Classes combine theoretical explanation and discussions with practical application to relevant repertoire.
Orchestra and Ensemble Performance
Students gain unrivalled experience in ensemble playing on historical instruments through orchestral opportunities at the Academy and beyond. You will rehearse and perform regularly and concerts are often led by members of the Academy’s own team as well as visiting artists.
Auditions
We view your audition as a creative performance rather than a strict examination. Our panel of early music specialists is eager to see your musical potential, your curiosity for historical performance practices, and your unique artistic voice. Relax, trust your preparation, and share your musicality with us.
Your Audition Repertoire & Setup
For your undergraduate audition, you must prepare a short performance programme that highlights your stylistic fluency and technical capability.
Repertoire Guidelines:
- Selection: Prepare two or three contrasting pieces of your own choice.
- Duration: Your total selected music must be between 8 to 10 minutes long.
Instrument Tuning & Venue Specifics (London Live Auditions)
Our live audition rooms are optimized for period-accurate performance:
- Harpsichord: A harpsichord tuned to A=415 is standard and automatically available in the audition room.
- Fortepiano or Modern Piano: A fortepiano tuned to A=430 or a modern piano tuned to A=440 can be provided upon request. If you require either of these instruments, you must contact admissions@ram.ac.uk at least two weeks before your audition date.
Please note: Due to venue limitations at our regional hubs outside the UK, it may not be possible to hold live Historical Performance auditions at international centres. Please email admissions to verify capability before planning travel.
What to Expect on Audition Day
1. Delivery Options & Requirements
- In-Person (London): You will perform your repertoire live for our panel. If your pieces require keyboard accompaniment, the Academy will provide a professional historical accompanist. You will be sent a link approximately two weeks before your audition to upload PDF copies of your specific sheet music editions.
- Video Auditions: If you are auditioning remotely, you must upload your video recordings to the Acceptd portal (individual pieces may be recorded as separate video files). Your profile must also include a written statement outlining your musical background, training, and career ambitions.
- The Spoken Video Introduction: As part of your digital profile, your spoken English introduction should specifically address your choice of audition repertoire, how it suits your playing style, and how your knowledge of historical performance practice has influenced your interpretation.
2. Academic Interview & Aural Skills Assessment
All undergraduate candidates will have a subsequent interview with a member of our academic staff. This is a conversational session to discuss your future study plans, musical interests, and goals.
During this session, you will explore a short extract of music and complete an Aural Skills Assessment to evaluate your fundamental musicianship:
- Sight-singing a short test melody.
- Singing the middle notes in a played chord.
- Identification of musical intervals.
- Sight-reading of rhythms.
- Simultaneous polyrhythms: Sight-reading two different rhythms at the same time (singing one rhythm while clapping the other simultaneously).
Please note: Specimen tests are not published or distributed in advance.
For more information see auditions.