Music uni?

Hi there! I’m also a flute player so I think I can offer some advice. Firstly it depends on whether you want to study music on an academic level ie at a traditional university such as Durham, Birmingham, Oxford etc or whether you want to study music performance at a conservatoire so somewhere such as the RNCM, RAM, RCM, Guildhall etc. They both have very different requirements. If you want to study it academically at university being grade 7 level will be perfectly adequate as long as you can achieve some good grades at A level(quite often AAB or something along those lines-for a reputable uni anyway). However getting into conservatoire is a different story. Many players there have studied at junior conservatoire for years and been in many many national ensembles, but really everything comes down to audition and only the best players get an offer. As conservatoire offers a performance based degree once you’ve demonstrated potential at audition they don’t really care about your academic grades at A level-2 E grades is the standard requirement! As a flute player myself I’ve studied at junior conservatoire for 4 years and passed my grade 8 at age 11 and have since completed 3 diplomas in flute performance. I know many people similar to me that STILL weren’t able to achieve places at conservatoire because a lot of foreign students apply too so the competition is fierce. Is is academic or conservatoire you are looking at?

Thank you loads!! You answered so many questions that I have been wondering for so long!

What are the differences exactly between a conservatoire and university? Does uni have classes on your own instruments? And what can I do after graduating in terms of both of the options? So far I just know that I would like to study music after highschool, but according to your advice I think I am leaning towards the uni side as there is probably a bigger chance for me to enter in.

At a normal university you’ll still get instrumental lessons but the focus is mainly academic so you’ll be writing lots of papers based around music theory and music history. The academic music degree isn’t preparing you to be a performer so if you’re interested in careers in performance such as playing in orchestras then conservatories are more suited. Conservatoire study however focuses mainly on performance so you get many more hours of practical teaching such as orchestral lessons, chamber music coaching and lessons on your auxiliary instruments so for flute that’s piccolo lessons. At conservatoire they say about 70% of teaching is practical and the other 30% is academic but at university it’s the other way round(70% academic, 30% practical). Music in general is considered by most to be a somewhat difficult degree in terms of securing jobs afterwards. Because studying at conservatoire is so performance based many places of employment don’t consider it a “proper degree” because it doesn’t have the same academic rigour, however the discipline you have to show with heavy practice schedules is desirable. Conservatoire certainly wouldn’t be for you if you wouldn’t be prepared to buy in hours of practice a day! Do you have any idea what you’d fancy as a career? There’s definitely pros and cons of studying at uni or conservatoire it really is up to you! Because I’ve been at junior conservatoire I know lots about conservatoire study however I also have lots of close friends who have studied academic music, so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask!

Thanks for your help! So far I think I ran out of questions but coming back to you when I have more

Hello!

I am a year 11 student who did music gcse and about to start music hl in ibdp and I am wondering if I am able to enter music uni, I have been playing the flute for nearly 10 years and about to do the abrsm grade 7 exam. However, I noticed that people around my age or even younger are a lot more advance than me. Plus I only participated in competitions and orchestras for a few years when I was younger. Is it possible for me to enter music uni? How should I improve?