Master of Arts (Accompaniment) MA (PG)

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

The MA degree is designed for students who wish to achieve a Masters level qualification in one year, with 180 SCQF credits at level 11 (90 ECTS credits). The programme runs full-time for three trimesters, 45 weeks in total, with the third trimester being dedicated to a largely independent project. 30 weeks of one-and-a half hour prinicpal study lessons are offered, to a total of 45 hours. (15 minutes a week extra may be allocated to related study, where appropriate).

Piano Accompaniment is a varied and challenging postgraduate programme, led by lecturer and piano accompanist, Scott Mitchell, alongside a team of highly experienced professional accompanists and chamber musicians. You will engage in a wide range of collaborative opportunities to prepare you for this demanding profession working with students and lecturers from all departments at RCS.

Developing core accompaniment skills form the foundation of the programme. In addition to the extensive development of standard accompaniment repertoire, additional supporting skills are also cultivated in weekly group classes including; sight-reading, orchestral reductions, transposition, figured bass, choral accompaniment, vocal and instrumental coaching and languages.

MA/MMus Accompanists also enjoy extensive performing opportunities, whether in concerts, competitions or accompanying students. The programme provides a wide range of choice for assessment, including studio recordings, commissions of new collaborative works, independent projects and full-length recitals.

Students who have graduated in this course have gone on to have professional careers as accompanists and work for a wide range of institutions and organisations throughout the world. Graduates also work in the fields of music education, arts management and administration, and music in the community, where an MMus degree is highly valued.