Junior Department of the Royal College of Music

Infobox University
name = Junior Department of the Royal College of Music


image_size = 80px
director = Peter Hewitt cite web| url=http://www.rcm.ac.uk/Studying/Courses/RCM+Junior+Department|title=RCM JD Home|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=HTML]
established = 1882
type = Public
city = South Kensington, London
country = England
students = 300
website = http://www.rcm.ac.uk/Studying/Courses/RCM+Junior+Department

The Junior Department of the Royal College of Music is one of the few organisations in Great Britain which offers conservatoire facilities. These facilities are open to paying pupils of school age on Saturdays. The Junior Department of the Royal College of Music (RCM JD), admits students from the age of 8 Years, until the end of secondary schooling, which is usually at age 18. [cite web|url=http://www.rcm.ac.uk/Studying/Courses/RCM+Junior+Department/How+to+apply|title=How To Apply to RCM JD|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=HTML]

Background

The Junior Department of the Royal College of Music, is physically in the same place as the Senior Department, in South Kensington, London. The Junior Department was founded in the years between the two world wars. The current Director od the Department is Peter Hewitt BA, PGCE, HonRCM, FRSA.

Aim of the Department

The Department aims "to train students to a level where they may apply with success to study music at conservatoires or universities in the UK or abroad." This is done through trainign the pupils through their Junior Department Curriculum.

Curriculum

The Curriculum is focused around the first study of the pupil. This will be, a Keyboard or orchestral instrument, voice or composition. The First study is allocated a 45 minute lesson each week, or, for a fee a one hour lesson each week. (See Fees Below). Although, in the past is has been compusary to study Piano as a second study (if it is not the first), due to a rise in fees in 2005, this is no longer require,d although it is still highly recomended in the form of the "Full Curriculum".cite web| url=http://www.rcm.ac.uk/Studying/Courses/RCM+Junior+Department/Costs|title=RCM JD Costs|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=HTML] The "Reduced Curriculum is the one which pupils not choosing to take a second study take part in.

Both the Full and the Reduced Curriculum allow pupils to take part in ensemble and orchestral tuition, in one or more of the many groups available to the students. These ensembles are listed here.

All pupils are required to reach a standard of at least Grade 6 in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) exam system. This is done through weekly lessons in Musicianship.cite web |url=http://www.rcm.ac.uk/Studying/Courses/RCM+Junior+Department/Musicianship+Classes|title=Musicianship at RCM JD|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=HTML] One this has been achieved, pupils are given the option to continue studying for music theory grades, or to branch out into such fields as Composition, Musical analysis, World music and Improvisation

Fees

In September 2008 the fees for:
*A Full Curriculum were £1,030 Per term, with three terms a year.
*A Reduced Curriculum were £814 Per term, with three terms a year.
*For an extended lesson, a cost of £108 per term for every 15 minutes added per lesson.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance is available for families wishing to send children to the Junior Department in the form of Bursaries and Local Authorities Junior Music Awards.

Orchestras

The most prominent forms of Ensemble work at the Royal College of Music are the orchestral ensembles of which there are fivecite web |url=http://www.rcm.ac.uk/Studying/Courses/RCM+Junior+Department/Orchestras|title=Orchestras at RCM JD|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=HTML] :
*Symphony Orchestra - This is the most senior ensemble at the Junior Department.
*Chamber Orchestra - The most senior string ensemble at the Junior Department.
*Sinfonia - The more junior level symphony orchestra.
*String Orchestra - A full strength Sting orchestra, aimed mainly to the younger students at Junior College.
*Symphonic Wind Orchestra - A Full Wind Orchestra, comprising mostly of younger members of the Depertment.

Ensembles

Chamber music

At the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music, there are over 60cite web |url=http://www.rcm.ac.uk/Studying/Courses/RCM+Junior+Department/Chamber+Music+and+Ensembles|title=Chamber Music and Ensembles at RCM JD|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=HTML] chamber groups which include:
*Piano trios, quartets, and quintets,
*String trios and quartets
*Wind quartets and a wind octet
*Piano groups (from 4 to 8 hands)
*Saxophone ensembles.

Brass ensembles

There are a selection of brass ensembles at the Junior Department, an some years there are both a Big Band and a Brass band.

=Percussion ensemble=

The RCM JD, has a Percussion Ensemble nominaly named "Impact" although it is usually billed simply as the RCM JD Percussion Ensemble, and this is how it is usually known. [cite web|url=www.philipday.110mb.com|title=homepage of Percussionist Philip Day|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=HTML]

=Jazz ensembles=

The department had two jazz ensembles in 2008, both of which follow similar instrumentation, based around the drum kit, piano, and the bass, with other instruments such as clarinets and saxophones taking part.

Clarinet choir

This ensemble, formed in 1991, allows Clarinetists an opertunity to practice playing the less common clarinets in an ensemble environment, whilst playing at a high level, to include national and international performances.

Early Music ensebles

There are several early music ensembles mainly concentrating on, but not exclusive to, the Baroque era. These small ensembles regularly take part in Chamber and Early Music concerts.

Guitar, Harp and Saxophone ensembles

These ensembles are primarily an oppertunity to paly with other people in an ensemble environment, although they do occasionally perform in College concerts, and rarely outside of college.

Choirs

The Junior Department takes singing as part of training someone in Western Classical Music seriosuly enough that nearly all pupils are a member of at least one of the five choirs.

References

ee Also

*Royal College of Music
*Conservatoires UK

External Links

*http://www.rcm.ac.uk/
*http://www.rcm.ac.uk/studying/courses/RCM+Junior+Department/
*http://www.philipday.110mb.com/