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Professional Studies

Professional Studies (ProfS) provides you with a range of career-related activities which complement Principal Study and Academic Studies. It is fundamental to the way the RNCM equips you for the kind of portfolio career you can expect as a musician, in which you may find yourself combining several activities such as teaching, performing and community outreach.

Within the Professional Studies strand there are opportunities to audition for a number of Professional Experience Schemes (PES). These include the BBC Philharmonic, Hallé, Manchester Camerata and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras and the Black Dyke Band. You receive mentoring support from a professional player and rehearse and/or perform with the ensemble. In Year 3 and 4, you have a choice of options or pathways including Chamber Music or the RNCM's pioneering Performer-Teacher pathway leading to Qualified Teacher Status.

Years 1 & 2

Portfolio Activities 1 & 2: You participate in a range of activities organised in-School and cross-School (e.g. small ensembles and Chamber Music) and through the programme of events organised by the Performance Department. A series of Health and Wellbeing seminars are core for Year 1.
School Activities: You participate in a school-specific activity in each year the details of which are available on the Intranet.
Assessment: For the Portfolio Activities, you submit a portfolio towards the end of the Academic Year in which you reflect on and review your participation.

Years 3 & 4

Route A: Specialist route
You can choose one of three specialist pathways: Chamber Music, Music in Education and the Community, or Performer-Teacher leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Route B: Choice of options
This route provides you with a wide range of optional activities alongside some core activities. School-specific options are listed on the relevant School page.
Assessment: mode of assessment relates to the option selected. 

Options available to all

  • Advanced Jazz Improvisation
  • Education/Community options such as Creative Leadership Skills and Performance Project
  • Chamber music
  • Conducting (Year 4 only)
  • Independent Project
  • Work-based learning e.g. Education Event Management, Engagement Management, Event Management, Theatre Management, Music for Health, Music Marketing, Music Programming, Orchestra Management, Professional Attachment (PES) and Recording Processes.

Assessment: Mode of assessment relates to the option selected.

For further information, please contact Kate Buchanan, Director of Professional Studies,
T 0161 907 5420 or E This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it