offered a place at leeds conservatoire with foundation year?

i got an offer from leeds conservatoire for popular music which is great because its where i wanted to go but they offered me the foundation year and i just dont want to do a foundation year. do they automatically give people the foundation year just in case? or was my audition just not good enough for the first year? im a little bit disappointed honestly but will probably go either way

Reply 1

sareily

They usually offer foundation years if your academic grades don’t meet the entry criteria academically so I doubt it was because of your audition. Either way I wouldn’t worry about it, I also did a foundation year but for a different course and I found it really useful to get used to the change of uni life and it prepares you really well for the first actual year when most people are joining and feel anxious or get lost, you’d have that extra year of experience. Plus on your CV you don’t need to mention you took a foundation year if you don’t want to.

Reply 2

welcometotherock

My son did a Foundation Year on the same course.

They offer it for one of several reasons, either your academic grades are not high enough, you have potential but your standard of playing isn't high enough or, (this is very common) your music theory standard isn't high enough, usually around Grade 5.

For my son he began playing his instrument at age 14 and when he auditioned he played a Grade 7 standard piece whereas they like you be around Grade 8 standard. He graduates this year and is already getting paid, professional work so it didn't hold him back. You also have to remember that most other conservatoires such as Royal Northern the courses are 4 years as standard.

Reply 3

skeletonised

Original post

by welcometotherock

My son did a Foundation Year on the same course.
They offer it for one of several reasons, either your academic grades are not high enough, you have potential but your standard of playing isn't high enough or, (this is very common) your music theory standard isn't high enough, usually around Grade 5.
For my son he began playing his instrument at age 14 and when he auditioned he played a Grade 7 standard piece whereas they like you be around Grade 8 standard. He graduates this year and is already getting paid, professional work so it didn't hold him back. You also have to remember that most other conservatoires such as Royal Northern the courses are 4 years as standard.

i know my grades are good. im getting a distinction in music performance, a merit in music production and a pass/merit in games design so im pretty sure my grades arent the issue. im not formally graded on singing but ive been getting singing lessons for a year and a half and we're at the point where she doesn't have much else to give me in terms of technique. i think most likely it was to do with music theory since i havent done it in years

Reply 4

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Original post

by sareily

im pretty sure my grades arent this issue, im doing really well, and its most likely that my music theory knowledge isnt the best. im gonna try be positive about the foundation year. i know it will likely be good for me since i am neurodivergent and have separate mental health issues and often need to go a little bit slower

Reply 5

welcometotherock

So what will happen is that you will be given a music theory test. My son's was online. If you pass then you get to chose from a range of modules alongside the compulsory ones. If you don't then you have to do a catch up music theory module.