Piano
Piano Solo
We are an international department, with around 100 young solo pianists from over 30 countries. Whether you’re studying for an undergraduate degree, a Master’s, a Professional or Advanced Diploma or a doctorate, you will focus on developing your artistic and professional potential.
We welcome pianists who are talented, creative, energetic and committed. As well as building a large core repertoire of solo works and concertos, you will be encouraged to explore early and contemporary music and chamber music, and collaborate with composers. We run two major piano festivals in the Autumn and Summer terms, which showcase the many activities and classes going on throughout the year.
We will help you develop the many skills necessary for a 21st-century career: to curate festivals and concert series; to create recording opportunities; to have the confidence to compose and improvise; to explore early keyboards; to conduct and to direct rehearsals; and to determine your artistic personality and creativity by commissioning music and working with artists of all kinds. We want you to be a trailblazer.
Head of department: Professor Joanna MacGregor, CBE
Piano Technical Department and instrument facilities
The Royal Academy of Music owns all its pianos and currently has an inventory of over 160 – more than most other European conservatoires. Instruments range from Steinway concert grands in the performance venues to smaller grands and uprights for teaching and practice, all of which are maintained to the highest international standards. The Academy’s own team of technicians, led by Clive Ackroyd, carries out the restoration of all pianos in an on-site workshop.
Do you want targeted help to make the leap from being a student to a fully established professional?
Do you have a particular career path in mind and need help preparing to negotiate it?
Do you have a professional niche you want to develop?
Read more about our highly focused, one-of-a-kind Professional Diploma.
See also
Performance, the central driving force behind all Academy studies
Fees and Financial Support
Open Days
Contact
Sam Batchelor, Department Administrator
Telephone 020 7873 7405 / Email keyboard@ram.ac.uk

Head of Piano: Professor Joanna MacGregor CBE
World-wide reputation as a concert soloist
Over 30 solo recordings
Experienced Curator/Director, most recently of Dartington International Summer School
Founder of her own label, SoundCircus
Studied at the Royal Academy of Music; Head of Piano here since 2011