Conducting Electives

If you’re not a Principal Study conducting student, the RNCM has an unrivalled range of opportunities to develop your skills in this specialism.

Postgraduate

We offer a 30-credit conducting option to all postgraduates from other disciplines. We also provide specialist classes, ensemble sessions and the opportunity to observe sections of the full postgraduate and Junior Fellowship conducting programmes.

A group of postgraduate students in casual clothes play violins in a studio while a conductor conducts.

Undergraduate

In keeping with all UK conservatoires and universities, we don’t offer conducting as a Principal Study option within our undergraduate programmes. However, the newly revalidated Bachelor of Music with Honours degrees contain a vastly expanded range of conducting options with a structured pathway from beginning to end.

  • All Year 1 students receive an introduction to conducting.
  • In Year 2 there is a 10-credit option where basic technical foundations are taught.
  • In Years 3 and 4 there are a range of 20-credit electives in Instrumental Conducting, Choral Conducting and Vocal Leadership.

Those with a serious interest, perhaps with a view to postgraduate conducting study, can elect to take a Further Conducting course and a pathway option. Should a student select all available options across Years 3 and 4, 100 credits out of 240 could be in conducting subjects.

Observation

Being at the RNCM means there is always something to do with conducting happening. As a student at the College you’re welcome to observe any classes, masterclasses and rehearsals.