Harp

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

1. Side-by-side activity alongside internal and/or visiting professors. (Workshops and rehearsals as well as concert activity.)
2. 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.
3. Chamber music – either as member of an existing ensemble(s), or with the aim of establishing new collaborations.
4. Leadership: ensemble direction, principal roles in orchestra, other aspects of mentoring.
5. Recording focus – enrolment on Self-recording and Self-editing elective mandatory.
6. Performer embedded in Composition and Contemporary Music Department.
7. A specific project (or projects) resulting in live performance(s) and/or a recording.
8. Ensemble piano partnership development
9. HiP specialisms (repertoire and/or instruments)
10. Extended instrument family specialisms (bass clarinet, etc.)
11. 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.)