Classes & activities
The Advanced Professional Diploma in Performance (APD) is for students seeking a final-stage bridge to professional work. The course supports development of a range of industry-related skills (as appropriate to the individual profile) with course supervision provided in addition to one-to-one lessons (see list of possible specialisms below).
Successful applicants will have highly developed performance or compositional skills and a detailed understanding of their individual professional development needs. This will need to be articulated in the form of a deliverable set of outcomes/goals for the work during the course. [See written requirements].
APD students will be supported in developing a high degree of independence in their work through the course, in order to be able to meet professional expectations. The course is at level 8 of the FHEQ, which demands a high level of autonomy and initiative.
This course is right for you if you are almost ready to enter the profession and have a strategy for refining or developing specific skills to make the transition. It is designed to enable students to make the most of the artistic and educational opportunities afforded by the Academy and its location in the heart of London.
Specialisms
- Side-by-side activity alongside internal and/or visiting professors. (Workshops and rehearsals as well as concert activity.)
- Developing critical and verbal skills for teaching and/or entrepreneurship and/or public communication, choosing from a range of PG electives as appropriate; minimum class attendance will be required.
- Chamber music – either as member of an existing ensemble(s), or with the aim of establishing new collaborations.
- Leadership: ensemble direction, principal roles in orchestra, other aspects of mentoring.
- Recording focus – enrolment on Self-recording and Self-editing elective mandatory.
- Performer embedded in Composition and Contemporary Music Department.
- A specific project (or projects) resulting in live performance(s) and/or a recording.
- Ensemble piano partnership development
- HiP specialisms (repertoire and/or instruments)
- Extended instrument family specialisms (bass clarinet, etc.)
- Any compositional specialism
Students completing the Professional Diploma (PD) in June will also be eligible to apply to the APD as a nine-month enrolment starting the following September in Year 2 of the course. (The first year of the APD is identical to the PD, meaning that the PD will be a potential exit award for students unable to continue into, or complete, the second year of the APD.)
Department Classes
And Activities
Individual Lessons
You will receive specialist collaborative piano lessons and can also opt to receive a portion of tuition from a solo piano professor. Instrumental chamber music tuition is an integral part of the course.
Concert Performances
In addition to the weekly Accompanists at 5 concert, attended by all collaborative piano students, there are numerous external performance opportunities including recitals with the Academy’s prestigious ensemble Song Circle at the Wigmore Hall, Oxford Lieder Festival.
Masterclasses
Accompaniment students benefit from the vast range of expertise available within the Academy. Visiting Masterclasses are also given by distinguished artists such as Helmut Deutsch, Hartmut Hὂll and Graham Johnson.
Song Classes and Language Tuition
Students give prepared performances in weekly song classes (Lieder, French and English) taken by members of the Academy's Vocal Faculty. It is also possible to participate in language classes offed to vocal students.
Répétiteur Skills
Collaborative piano students have the opportunity to participate in Repetiteur Classes and to play for Vocal Faculty Opera Scenes.
Skills Test preparation
In preparation for the Skills Tests Exam in the final year, students receive tuition in Harpsichord playing, Sightreading, Transposition and Vocal Coaching.
Discovery events
Discovery Events are the perfect way to find out more about the Academy and whether it’s the right place for you.
