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Graduate Diploma in Music Performance Young Artist Programme Student Exchange Programmes Joint Degree Programme Bachelor of Music (Hons) Degree The Conservatory's Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree is a four-year, full-time programme focusing on performance, composition and recording arts with appropriate supporting academic studies. The programme is modular-based with the degree comprising the following principal elements: Major Study The programme is designed to prepare performing and creative musical artists for a diverse range of relevant graduate or professional opportunities, both in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. The programme aims to help students achieve musical excellence in their specialisation by developing their self-awareness, intuition, imagination and capacity for effective communication. Currently, the major studies offered at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music include the following: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass,
Comprising slightly more than half of the degree requirements, the Major Study is taught through a combination of one-to-one lessons and studio classes, augmented by ensemble or class activities tailored to the needs of the specific instrumental discipline. Technical skills and competencies are expected at the appropriate levels and an individual performance will be required during the second semester of every academic year. For composition students, lessons are designed for studies on composition techniques relating to notation, rhythm, harmony, form, melodic lines, exploration in texture and timbre. These studies expose students to a broad range of contemporary composition techniques as well as historical stylistic practices. An additional component of the major study relates to Professional Development, ensuring that students are equipped with the requisite skills, values and attitudes necessary to establish themselves in the The Conservatory Orchestra and the Conservatory New Music Ensemble are the Conservatory’s two principal large ensembles. Participation in orchestra provides comprehensive orchestral training and performance experience, exposing students to a wide range of musical compositions. Each season, the Conservatory Orchestra performs a minimum of four public concerts, with programmes including a cross-section of standard orchestral repertoire and contemporary orchestral literature. The orchestra has rehearsed and performed with notable guest conductors such as Lan Shui, Claus Peter Flor, Christopher Adey, Barry Tuckwell, Yip Wing-Sie, Leon Fleisher and Alan Gilbert. The New Music Ensemble focuses on works written during the last 40 years. Each season, the ensemble performs a minimum of two concerts, with a repertoire that includes iconic works of international significance, new works by international and Singaporean-based composers, as well as first performances of pieces by student composers. Seating arrangements in large ensembles are rotated as much as possible so that students learn to take on different roles in ensemble performance. The T’ang Quartet, the Conservatory’s Quartet-in-Residence, and other members of the artist faculty provide coaching to the Chamber Music programme. The various ensembles have opportunities to perform in chamber music concerts and masterclasses by visiting artists throughout each semester.
Approximately a quarter of the degree requirements are focused on core academic music modules (Musical Concepts & Materials, Communicating About Music, Music History and Professional Development). These subjects align closely with the individual student’s performance or compositional ambitions by ensuring that the student has a solid skills base as a musician, as well as an appropriate level of stylistic and contextual awareness from which to draw upon in making their creative and/or interpretative decisions. 1. Musical Concepts and Materials (four modules across the first two years) develops the student’s musical awareness by introducing key musical concepts and examining the materials underpinning musical creation. Works from a variety of genres and time periods are examined. The aim is to develop the students’ capacity to create meaningful musical realisations by addressing broad musical concepts along with specific theoretical concepts, and developing important musicianship and technological skills. A series of computer learning and assessment components cover basic skills in aural awareness and musical rudiments. These skills are utilised and further developed in class meetings and assignments as tools for exploring key musical concepts. 2. Communicating about Music (two first-year modules) aims to develop a student’s expressive and critical capacities in relation to music through oral and written discussionson a range of stylistically-diverse repertoire. 3. Music History (two compulsory second-year modules) focuses on music and its context. The first module offers a study of central figures, genres, representative works and stylistic developments in music before 1830, with an emphasis on music of the Baroque and Classical eras. The second module explores works from 1830 to the present in terms of the socio-cultural 4. The Professional Development component includes interactive seminars with tutors which support students engaging with projects in external community settings (i.e. local primary schools), presenting performances of established repertoire, and of new material (either newly created or specially arranged) developed through group interactions. Augmenting these activities, visiting professionals in health and well-being, public presentation, or other music genres offer one-off presentations and lectures.
By the completion of their studies, all students are expected: Graduate Diploma in Music Performance The Graduate Diploma in Music Performance is a two-year, full-time programme of study designed to provide specialised training for accomplished graduate-level instrumental performers who wish to pursue more performance-intensive goals. The programme comprises of the following components in curriculum: Applied Studies Large Ensemble (or equivalent for piano majors) Chamber Ensemble Recitals The Graduate Diploma in Music Performance programme includes 1 hour per week of private lessons in Applied Major Study. Students who major in orchestral instruments must participate in Large Ensemble and a chamber ensemble during each semester of enrolment. Students are required to perform one major recital per year comprising 60 to 70 minutes of music. Back to Top Young Artist Programme The Conservatory currently runs a Young Artist Programme for teenagers who demonstrate outstanding performance abilities during the auditions for admission to the Bachelor of Music Degree programme, but were not offered admission based on the academic requirements of the National University of Singapore. These students are expected to be enrolled in Singapore schools and are normally aged 15 to 17. The programme is conducted by Conservatory faculty members and provides professional training in musical performance with supporting academic study. Students receive 1 hour per week of private lessons in their applied study, 2 hours per week of studio class, and have opportunities to participate in masterclasses, concerts, chamber music and orchestral sessions as agreed with the studio teacher and relevant module director. The academic component of the course includes weekly two-hour classes over four semesters, designed to foster musical understanding and appreciation from a range of different perspectives. The programme provides a place to groom these young students up till the point when they become eligible for enrolment, so the course duration is from the time they enter the programme until they transfer to the undergraduate programme. Student Exchange Programmes As part of the collaboration with The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, students from Peabody Institute have the opportunity to spend one academic semester undertaking equivalent studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music as an exchange student. Similarly, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music Degree programme at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory can apply to study at the Peabody Institute for one semester during their third year, with substantial financial support from the Conservatory. The Conservatory also has an exchange agreement with the Lausanne Conservatoire, enabling students to undertake a semester’s exchange in Switzerland. Students from other music conservatories may also apply to study at the Conservatory for a semester as exchange students. Arrangements will be made for successful candidates on a case-by-case basis. Joint Degree Programme In conjunction with The Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music offers a Joint Bachelor of Music Degree for a small number of selected students at both institutions. Of the 8 semesters in the B.Mus, Conservatory students spend 5 semesters at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory and 3 semesters at Peabody. Applicants are required to have a combined CAP score of at least 4.1 at the end of their first year of study. In addition, students must demonstrate excellent English language skills as well as obtain the recommendation of their major study teacher. Incoming first-year students who are interested in the Joint-Degree programme should contact the Conservatory Academic Affairs Office as soon as possible during their first year of study at the Conservatory. Students selected for the Joint Degree Programme will spend five semesters in their home institution and three semesters in the host institution. The structure of the programme is as follows: • Students will follow the standard requirements for their home institution during their first year of enrolment. • Normally, students will then undertake study at the host institution in Semester 1 of their second year of study, and return to the home institution for Semester 2 of their second year. • Students will then return to the host institution for their entire third year of study (both Semesters 1 and 2), and complete their study with the entire fourth year at the home institution. This format provides the opportunity for students to explore the joint-degree option in their second year of enrolment to evaluate the value-added benefits of overseas study. • If at the end of Semester 1 of their second-year student decide that they do not wish to continue in the joint degree programme, they will have the to return to the traditional programme of study at their home institution, with the “semester away” credited as an exchange semester. Candidates will follow the rules and regulations of both the host and home institutions relating to student conduct during their periods of candidature at each location, unless the Joint Degree Committee has granted prior approval of alternative arrangements. Students who complete the joint B.Mus degree successfully will be awarded a Joint Degree: Bachelor of Music. Students will have their degree conferred jointly by the home and host institutions, but will have their degree presented in the home institution. |
