Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB
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Course contact details
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Email:admissions@rcs.ac.uk
Phone:0141 332 4101
Fax: 0141 332 8901
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Musical Direction (Taught)
- Study level:
- Postgraduate
- Scheme:
- UCAS Conservatoires
Course summary
This one-year programme is designed to teach you the core skills and processes required to progress into the industry or on to full-time master’s study. Studying within a safe and collaborative environment, you will have the opportunity to work closely with key skill practitioners, performers, actors, musicians, and other artists from across RCS.
This one-year programme is designed to teach you the core skills and processes required to progress into the industry or on to full-time master’s study. Studying within a safe and collaborative environment, you will have the opportunity to work closely with key skill practitioners, performers, actors, musicians, and other artists from across RCS.
The design of this programme is weighted towards skills, with a focus placed on grounding, developing, and gaining fresh insight. By allowing space to prepare and learn from each session, students are given the opportunity to ground and develop the essential skills needed as a growing Musical Director.
These skills are structured into the 5 areas highlighted below:
*Keyboard skills
*Conducting skills
*Scoring and arranging techniques
*Vocal technique and repertoire coaching,
*Programming and Sound
Once confidence and consistency are gained in each area, project preparation sessions are then introduced. These sessions are designed to break down and explore the process of Musical Directing out with a larger process, before giving the opportunity to integrate this learning into a small project.
These sessions will include:
*Note learning sessions
*Voice warm-ups
*Keys depping processes
*Conducting small and large ensembles
*Techniques for coaching the voice
*Working with a creative and production team
You will work with specialist project and Industry mentors to support your individual aims and goals, and to gain insight into how your artistic practice relates to musical theatre more broadly. Opportunities to observe, assist and lead on projects will be explored as you grow in skill and experience, with the aim of supporting the next generation of innovative and highly skilled musical directors.
Curriculum Review
We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate programmes starting in 2026, these courses are currently designated 'subject to validation'. This is standard practice during curriculum review periods. The outcome of this process, may mean there are some changes to how your programme is delivered.
Course details
Principal study options
During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:
Main specialism
Only one specialism is studied. It may be possible to study a further instrument, but this will not contribute towards the qualification.
Instrument/specialisms
For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.
Primary instrument/specialism
- Drama Performance
Modules
Please see our departmental web page for more information about the course.
Assessment method
Please see our departmental web page for more information about the course.
How to apply
This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.
If you are an international applicant, or you are applying for a postgraduate course, or are choosing certain assessment locations, the 'on time' deadline may be later in the year - please contact the conservatoire directly.
Apply by
14 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- 705F
- Institution code:
- R58
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Currently around 20% of our students come from outside the UK. Between them, they represent over 55 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire. To find out more please visit: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/
Entry requirements
Applicants are normally expected to hold an appropriate undergraduate degree, or its overseas equivalent, in a subject area relevant to the demands of the programme.
Additional entry requirements
- Audition
- Details of what to prepare for each section of your audition can be found on our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/professional-graduate-diploma-in-musical-directing/#how-to-apply
- Interview
- The candidate will be asked a series of questions in relation to their skills, knowledge, and experience as an emerging Musical Director. Focus will be placed on areas of communication, knowledge, and awareness of style and genre shown by each candidate.
- Portfolio
- A Folio Submission including your CV, and the required set arrangements is required as part of the audition process. Details of the set pieces can be found on our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/professional-graduate-diploma-in-musical-directing/#how-to-apply
- Other
- Consultation Piano Lesson (approx. 30 minutes) You will be given a consultation piano lesson working through varying pieces of repertoire chosen by them. This session will explore a range of varying keyboard skills through a one-to-one workshop. In-person candidates will be asked to bring a small selection of song accompaniments for this session; online candidates will have this lesson via an online platform. Please see our website for full audition details under the 'how to apply' section: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/professional-graduate-diploma-in-musical-directing/
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7.5 | 7.5 with a minimum score of 7.5 in speaking and no component below 5.5 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 102 | Overall score of 102, with minimum scores of: Reading -18, Listening -17, Speaking -27, Writing -17 |
| PTE Academic | 76 | Overall score of 76 with a minimum of 76 in speaking and 59 in all other components (reading, listening, writing) |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Overall score of 191 with a minimum of 191 in speaking and no component below 162 | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Overall score of 191 with a minimum of 191 in speaking and no component below 162 |
More information about our language requirements can be found at the weblink. https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands | £11496* | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £11496* | Year 1 |
| EU | £18208* | Year 1 |
| England | £11496* | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £11496* | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £11496* | Year 1 |
| Wales | £11496* | Year 1 |
| International | £18208* | Year 1 |
* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
All new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies.
For more information on fees, funding and Scholarship, please see our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
Sponsorship information
The School of Stage and Screen scholarships are awarded for a mixture of financial need and merit. Scholarships are applied for and awarded on an annual basis. If you are offered a place at the Conservatoire, you will be forwarded the link to apply for a Scholarship- https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/scholarships/
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