Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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Piano for Dance (MA) (Taught)
- MA (PG)
- 1 Years
- Full-time
- 22/09/2025
- Postgraduate
- Main Site
- Course scheme
- UCAS Conservatoires
Course summary
Utilising the resources and facilities of both RCS and Scottish Ballet, this programme offers a unique mix of professional tutelage and practical application, aimed at supporting the needs of each individual student. Pianists aspiring to work within the professional dance sector receive regular mentoring from industry-established dance musicians and teachers. The programme also offers the opportunity to gain a wide range of appropriate experience, working within a professional environment alongside Scottish Ballet’s artistic staff and dancers.
From the earliest stages of training, students accompany all aspects of work with RCS and Scottish Ballet, in dance classes, rehearsals and education projects.
Additionally, you will study exam syllabus work, accompaniment skills, dance forms, dance vocabulary and core ballet and class repertoire. This helps you to develop the skills needed to give the dancers and teachers the necessary musical support in class work and rehearsals.
Solid piano technique is vital and you will also have access to regular lessons with tutors from the Keyboard department, reinforcing aspects of piano technique, keyboard harmony and repertoire.
The Piano for Dance course provides a balance between supported learning and practical application. Our partnership with Scottish Ballet allows our students to experience the realities of the professional world, whilst having the security of the experienced teaching faculty to support their continued learning.
There is a chronic lack of skilled dance pianists and it is gratifying that all our previous students have found work within the dance world.
Please note, the international deadline for this programme is the 2nd December 2024, but we would encourage applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2024 to be guaranteed consideration for the first round of scholarship.
Curriculum Review
We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate music programmes starting in 2025, 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
- Piano
Modules
More information about what the course entails can be found on our website.
Assessment method
More information about what the course entails can be found on our website.
How to apply
This course is closed for the 2025 academic cycle. Please contact the provider or view the 2026 courses.
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
2 October
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:
- 802F
- 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 60 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire.
Entry requirements
Candidates for both the MMus and MA are normally expected to hold a good honours (at least 2:2) degree, or its overseas equivalent, in a subject area relevant to the demands of the programme.
Additional entry requirements
- Audition
- Video submissions are to be uploaded to our Acceptd platform. Performance of one short piano work of your own choice (approximately five minutes in length) Performance of prepared ballet excerpts (which will be emailed to you once your application has been received) Basic improvisations, which take the form of simple classroom warm up exercises set by a member of the ballet staff for you to accompany (videos will be emailed to you by the submission date) Please refer to our departmental webpage under the 'how to apply' section for more information about the audition process - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/mmus-ma-piano-for-dance/
- Interview
- An interview may be required for this course, once video submissions have been reviewed
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | 6.0 with no component below 5.5 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 80 | Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17 |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Overall score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all components (reading, listening, speaking, writing) |
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 | £17875* | Whole course |
| England | £17875* | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £17875* | Whole course |
| Scotland | £17875* | Whole course |
| Wales | £17875* | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £17875* | Whole course |
| EU | £35090* | Whole course |
| International | £35090* | Whole course |
* 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
Please note, fees are subject to change for AY25 entry
Associated programme costs may be required for this programme for any new student at the start of their studies. For more information on please see our website - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/fees/
Sponsorship information
The Royal Conservatoire is able to offer a number of entrance scholarships which are awarded as part of the audition/selection process on the basis of merit and financial need. Please see our website for more information - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/scholarships/
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