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.[1] The current Director od the Department is Peter Hewitt BA, PGCE, HonRCM, FRSA. [1]
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."[1] This is done through trainign the pupils through their Junior Department Curriculum.
The Curriculum is focused around the first study of the pupil. This will be, a Keyboard or orchestral instrument, voice or composition.[1] 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".[3] The "Reduced Curriculum is the one which pupils not choosing to take a second study take part in. [3]
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.[4] 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.[4]
In September 2008 the fees for:
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. [3]
The most prominent forms of Ensemble work at the Royal College of Music are the orchestral ensembles of which there are five[5]:
