Study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England - RNCM Applications for 2009

Click here to download the photos and questionnaire of this years (2008-09) RNCM euphonium and baritone students

as an excel file:

http://85.17.117.191/download.php?id=18

as a pdf:

http://85.17.117.191/download.php?id=19

With several very high flying students and a good deal of all round talent the excellent reputation of the RNCM is enhanced further by this years department, with students from the UK, Luxembourg, Malta, and the first euphonium student China, Gong Hong Liang.

 

http://www.rncm.ac.uk/

The RNCM is widely regarded as the number one music conservatory in the UK to cater for the euphonium and baritone. With Steve and David Thornton as tutors there is so much to learn and huge opportunities offered within the walls of the RNCM and in the surrounding areas of Manchester. Many of the UK's top brass bands are located within a 40 mile radius of the RNCM and virtually all students find themselves a good band within weeks of coming to Manchester. As well as 1:1 lessons there are two specialist euphonium/baritone classes per week, one with Steve and one with David as well as organised ensemble work, brass and wind band opportunities as well as regular classes, depending on the course you are on. The early morning warm-up classes which proved so popular in 2006/7 will continue too.

The atmosphere is competitive, as it should be, but there is always a strong sense of camaraderie between students and life-long bonds of friendship happen here. With the tutors' expertise and close connections with composers, brass and wind bands, leading music festivals, competitions and the media, there are countless reasons why you might consider studying at the RNCM. The facilities at the RNCM can hold their own with any comparable music institution in the world, with a large concert hall, theatre, at least 8 major studios, soundproof teaching and practice rooms, a well equipped library, recording department, and a large café/refectory/restaurant with its own licensed bar (unbelievable to many students, specially Americans!). Right next to the main buildings of the RNCM is the vast 7 storey Charles Groves Hall of Residence, allowing a student to leave his/her room and be in a lesson or lecture within two minutes. Practice is allowed in these flats/apartments from 9am to 9pm making life so much easier for the talented students who make it to the RNCM.

If you can visit one of the open days you will get to see all aspects of college life and meet some of the students. Visit the RNCM website www.rncm.ac.uk for full information on open days, admission procedures, scholarships, exchange programmes, fees, concerts and music. If you are thinking of applying to the RNCM for admission in September 2008 you can drop me an email or give me a call (+44 7971 843668). I can advise and help. So many RNCM students go on to make it to the top once they leave, be it in the UK or returning to their country of origin.

Tell your other musician friends too, the low brass department is brimming with talent ,both tutorial and students.

The time to apply for 2008 is now. Hope to see you there.
- Steven Mead - Senior Tutor, RNCM

 

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1. RNCM student profiles for 2006-2007
2. Want more information about studying with Steven at the RNCM? Use this link to visit the RNCM website
3. Could you cut it as a Mead student at the RNCM? Here we provide a list of required materials for examination purposes at the RNCM.
4. Steven Mead Playing Tips

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Royal Northern College of Music
Euphonium/Baritone Studies and ExcerptsThe following is a list of studies and excerpts for examination purposes.

A: Studies – Euphonium/BaritoneYear 1You must select and prepare four (as varied as possible), from which two will be selected by the examiners

1. Arban Grand Studies No. 1 (Boosey and Hawkes )
2. Arban Grand Studies No.6 (Boosey and Hawkes )
3. Rochut Melodius etudes Bk. 1 No. 30 (Carl Fischer)
4. Rochut Melodius etudes Bk. 1 No. 53 (Carl Fischer)
5. Trognee 30 Etudes Melodiques No.1 (Editions BIM
6. Trognee 30 Etudes Melodiques No.28 (Editions BIM)
7. Blazhevich Studies in Clefs No.73 (International Music Company
8. Blazhevich Studies in Clefs, No.82 (International Music Company)
9. V.Reynolds 48 Etudes for Trumpet, No.4 (Schirmer)
10. Reflections (D.Court) from New Concert Studies for 12. Euphonium Vol.1 (deHaske)
11. Steeplechase (J.curnow) from New Concert Studies for Euphonium Vol.1 (deHaske)
12. Freewheeling (M.Ellerby) from New Concert Studies for Euphonium Vol.1 (deHaske)
13. Energy Burst (A.Vizzutti) from New Concert Studies for Euphonium Vol.1 (deHaske)
14. Arpegietto (J.Van der Roost) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (de Haske)
15. Facile (S.Bulla) from New Concert Studies for Euphonium Vol.1 (deHaske)

Year 2You must select and prepare four (as varied as possible), from which two will be selected by the examiners

1. Arban Grand Studies No.2 (Boosey and Hawkes )
2. Arban Grand Studies No.12 (Boosey and Hawkes )
3. Rochut Melodius etudes Bk. 2 No. 68 (Carl Fischer)
4. Rochut Melodius etudes Bk. 2 No. 82 (Carl Fischer)
5. V.Reynolds 48 Etudes for Trumpet, No.16 (Schirmer)
6. V.Reynolds 48 Etudes for Trumpet, No.24 (Schirmer)
7. L.J. Vannetelbosch 20 Etudes, No. 17 (Alphonse Leduc)
8. E.Paudert 24 Studies No.21 (Southern Music Company)
9. F.Bodet, 16 Etudes de Virtuosite, No.2 (Alphonse Leduc)
10. Contemporary Studies Bk.8 No. 6 (Gerard Billaudot)
11. Burlesque (J.Hadermann) from New Concert Studies for Euphonium Vol.1 (deHaske)
12. Play Time (J. De Haan) from New Concert Studies for Euphonium Vol.1 (deHaske)
13. Cyberspace (P. Graham) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (deHaske)
14. Chain (P. Swerts) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (deHaske)
15. Smooth Operator (M. Ellerby) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (deHaske)

Year 3You will be required to play three (those to be played will be posted at least two weeks prior to assessment)

1. Arban Grand Studies No.14 (Boosey and Hawkes)
2. Arban Grand Studies No.11 (Boosey and Hawkes)
3. Rochut Melodius etudes Bk. 3 No. 100 (Carl Fischer)
4. Rochut Melodius etudes Bk.3 No. 109 (Carl Fischer)
5. L.Milde 75 Etudes (Bassoon) No.26 (Gerard Billaudot)
6. L.Milde 75 Etudes (Bassoon) No.31 (Gerard Billaudot)
7. V.Reynolds 48 Etudes for Trumpet, No.17 (Schirmer)
8. F.Bodet, 16 Etudes de Virtuosite, No.15 (Alphonse Leduc)
9. Contemporary Studies Bk.8 No. 9 (Gerard Billaudot)
10. L.J. Vannetelbosch 20 Etudes, No. 19 (Alphonse Leduc)
11. El Moncayo (J. Hadermann) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (deHaske)
12. Time Zones (P.Graham) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (deHaske)
13. Counterattack of Godzilla (H.Kuwahara) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (deHaske)
14. False Relations (M.Ellerby) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (deHaske)
15. The Quest (K.Schoonenbeek) from Advanced Concert Studies for Euphonium (deHaske)

B: Excerpts (for March exam)EuphoniumThese lists cover the broad range of the instruments repertoire and is a mix of brass band and orchestral excerpts. The list of those excerpts required for the exam will be posted at least two weeks before the exam.Year 1Brass Band:

• Belmont Variations* Sir Arthur Bliss Arr. F.Wright)
• Dances and Arias* E.Gregson
• Diversions on A Bass Theme* G.Lloyd
• Journey into Freedom+ E.Ball
• Kenilworth* A.Bliss
• Land of the Long White Cloud* P.Sparke
• Resurgam+ E.Ball
• Sinfonietta* E.Leidzen
• Triumphant Rhapsody+ G.Vinter
• Sovereign Heritage* Beaver

Orchestral:

• Bydlo from Pictures at an Exhibition~ Mussorgsky
• Third Essay for Orchestra~ S.Barber
• The Planets~ G.Holst
• Pines of Rome~ Respighi
• The Bolt~ Shostakovich

Year 2

Brass Band:

• Harmony Music P.Sparke
• Odin* A.Butterworth
• Fireworks* E.Howarth
• Variations on a Ninth+ G.Vinter
• Of Men and Mountains* E.Gregson
• Le Roi DyÕs* Lalo Arr. F.Wright
• Carnival Romain* Berlioz
• Variations on Shining River* E.Rubbra
• Land of the Long White Cloud* P.Sparke
• Benvenuto Cellini+ Berlioz
• Sinfonietta* E.Leidzen

Orchestral:

• Kossuth~ B.Bartok
• 7th Symphony~ G.Mahler
• Ein Heldenleben~ R.Strauss
• Fantasia on British Sea Songs~ H.Wood
• Capriccio+ Janacek

Year 3Brass Band:

• Between the Moon and Mexico+ P.Sparke
• Revelation+ P.Wilby
• Paganini Variations+ P.Wilby
• Blitz* D.Bougeois
• Journey into Freedom+ E.Ball
• Rhapsody in Brass* D.Goffin
• Diadem of Gold* G.Bailey Arr. F.Wright
• Variations on a Ninth+ G.Vinter
• Variations on an Enigma+ Sparke
• New Jerusalem+ P.Wilby
• Masquerade* P.Wilby

Orchestral:

• Don Quixote~ R.Strauss
• Pini di Roma~ O.Respighi
• Credendum~ W.Schuman
• Symphony No.7~ R.Harris
• Symphony No.7~ G.Mahler
• Ein Heldenleben~ R.Strauss

* = as written in Our Heritage Vol. 2
+ = to be played from the brass band/orchestral part , with cuts as directed by. S.Mead
~ = as written in Orchestral Excerpts for Euphonium and Bass Trumpet
BaritoneThese lists cover the broad range of the instruments repertoire and is a mix of brass band and orchestral excerpts.
The list of those excerpts required for the exam will be posted at least two weeks before the exam.N.B. There are passages in some excerpts that require a 4 valve Baritone. If the student plays a 3-valve instrument, these passages may be omitted.Year 1Brass Band:

• High Peak E.Ball
• Fantasy for Brass Band M.Arnold
• Variations for Brass Band R.Vaughan Williams
• Salute to Youth G.Vinter
• Triumphant Rhapsody G.Vinter
• Resurgam E.Ball
• Severn Suite E.Elgar
• Journey into Freedom E.Ball
• Moorside Suite G.Holst
• Comedy Overture J.Ireland
• Cloudcatcher Fells J.Mc Cabe

Orchestral:

• 7th Symphony - G.Mahler
• Bydlo from Pictures at an Exhibition - Mussorgsky

Year 2Brass Band:

• Of Men and Mountains E.Gregson
• Tristan Encounters M.Ellerby
• Pagentry H.Howells
• Downland Suite J.Ireland
• Isaiah 40 R.Redhead
• Year of the Dragon P.Sparke
• Theme and Co-operation J.Horovitz
• Ballet for Band J.Horovitz
• Connotations E.Gregson
• Frontier Overture M. Ball
• Songs for BL E.Howarth
• Fireworks E.Howarth

Orchestral:

• Ein Heldenleben~ R.Strauss
• Don Quixote~ R.Strauss

Year 3Brass Band:

• Montage P.Graham
• Life Divine C.Jenkins
• Dove Descending P.Wilby
• Variations on a 9th G.Vinter
• Between the Moon and Mexico P.Sparke
• Blitz D.Bourgeois
• Cambridge Variations P.Sparke
• Harmony Music P.Sparke
• Variations on a Enigma P.Sparke
• Lowry Sketchbook P.Wilby
• Jazz P.Wilby

Orchestral:

• The Planets~ G.Holst
• Capriccio~ Janacek

~ = as written in Orchestral Excerpts for Euphonium and Bass TrumpetAll others to be played from the brass band 1st baritone part , with cuts as directed by S.Mead and B.ChildsList of Suggested Solo RepertoireP= piano CO= chamber orchestra WB= wind band U=unaccompanied Or= Organ
B= brass band Str.O= String orchestra SO=symphony orchestra V=vibraphone
PE=percussion