The Student Room Group

Choosing music college

I applied to music colleges and have gone through the audition process and have received my offers. I'm now deciding between two (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Northern College of Music) and I really don't know which one to choose. I've been offered a scholarship for Birmingham and really like the atmosphere and how the place operates, but I equally like the Northern a lot and know it has more of a reputation. I've been to offer holder days for both and have had 3 consolation lessons which I feel all went really well which is honestly upsetting since it just makes my decision harder.
Originally I was swinging all the way to the Northern as I had two consultation lessons there which were very informative and the overall feel of the place was very positive. But now I've been to the Birmingham offer holder day (which had a lot more events for me to attend) I'm honestly torn. I spent a lot of time playing at Birmingham whereas I only played for my consultation lessons at Manchester so I feel like I know more about Birmingham and what a typical day of studying there would look like. The consultation lesson in Birmingham was also very good as I spent a whole hour with one teacher and made more overall progress (in Manchester I had two 30 minute lessons with different teachers).
The Royal Northern to me felt more professional while Birmingham felt more relaxed (in a professional way) which are both ideal.
If anyone is able to give me any advice so that I can inform my decision, I'd be very appreciative!

Reply 1

Original post
by Benf2008
I applied to music colleges and have gone through the audition process and have received my offers. I'm now deciding between two (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Northern College of Music) and I really don't know which one to choose. I've been offered a scholarship for Birmingham and really like the atmosphere and how the place operates, but I equally like the Northern a lot and know it has more of a reputation. I've been to offer holder days for both and have had 3 consolation lessons which I feel all went really well which is honestly upsetting since it just makes my decision harder.
Originally I was swinging all the way to the Northern as I had two consultation lessons there which were very informative and the overall feel of the place was very positive. But now I've been to the Birmingham offer holder day (which had a lot more events for me to attend) I'm honestly torn. I spent a lot of time playing at Birmingham whereas I only played for my consultation lessons at Manchester so I feel like I know more about Birmingham and what a typical day of studying there would look like. The consultation lesson in Birmingham was also very good as I spent a whole hour with one teacher and made more overall progress (in Manchester I had two 30 minute lessons with different teachers).
The Royal Northern to me felt more professional while Birmingham felt more relaxed (in a professional way) which are both ideal.
If anyone is able to give me any advice so that I can inform my decision, I'd be very appreciative!

Which instrument will you be studying while there?

Reply 2

Original post
by jakie-boyy
Which instrument will you be studying while there?


Clarinet

Reply 3

Ahhh. Unfortunately I know nothing about wind instruments 😅. But I will hopefully be going through this process this time next year, so I can say what I'd do in your position.
Prestige is nice, but just because something has a better reputation, does not always mean it will make you into a better musician. It is always about the teacher - you said you'd had lessons with a few, and liked them all. Which one do you see yourself studying with for the next 4 years? Does your current teacher have any suggestions, one way or the other?
One of my good friends studied at RBC (albeit on the violin), and he is one of the best players I know.

Reply 4

Original post
by Benf2008
I applied to music colleges and have gone through the audition process and have received my offers. I'm now deciding between two (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Northern College of Music) and I really don't know which one to choose. I've been offered a scholarship for Birmingham and really like the atmosphere and how the place operates, but I equally like the Northern a lot and know it has more of a reputation. I've been to offer holder days for both and have had 3 consolation lessons which I feel all went really well which is honestly upsetting since it just makes my decision harder.
Originally I was swinging all the way to the Northern as I had two consultation lessons there which were very informative and the overall feel of the place was very positive. But now I've been to the Birmingham offer holder day (which had a lot more events for me to attend) I'm honestly torn. I spent a lot of time playing at Birmingham whereas I only played for my consultation lessons at Manchester so I feel like I know more about Birmingham and what a typical day of studying there would look like. The consultation lesson in Birmingham was also very good as I spent a whole hour with one teacher and made more overall progress (in Manchester I had two 30 minute lessons with different teachers).
The Royal Northern to me felt more professional while Birmingham felt more relaxed (in a professional way) which are both ideal.
If anyone is able to give me any advice so that I can inform my decision, I'd be very appreciative!

If playing in wind band is important to you, RNCM may be the right choice. The RNCM wind ensemble has an extensive recording history with major conductors and is really one of the leading conservatoire ensembles of the world

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