During my time here, I organised an international conference based around my subject involving delegates from 4 continents
Emily Baines
DMus, ‘Mechanical Musical Instruments as a Source for Historical Performance’
The teaching staff encourage the diversity that Guildhall is known for…there is something for everyone, regardless of style and influence
Oliver Leith
MMus Composition
The research community at Guildhall is a really interesting place to be
Stefania Donini
PhD
I found it very beneficial to take a break from a busy teaching career to think and reflect on my teaching value, principle and strategies
Yushan Li
PGCert Performance Teaching
Studying at Guildhall is really cool because you are in a setting where the arts are valued by an entire community
Natasha Mbwana
BA Performance & Creative Enterprise
The projects we work on are real - we are in effect constantly getting work experience
Laurie Lumley
BA Video Design for Live Performance
Guildhall is an institution that knows it has to be connected to the outside world - that's the key thing. It's not a bubble. It has roots in the city and in the world.
Jonathan Ferrucci
Artist Diploma Piano
One minute you could be playing in the Guildhall Studio Orchestra with jazz musicians, the next you could be playing in the opera pit, then the next minute you'll be with actors doing the musical and then playing a symphony in the orchestra.
Millie Ashton
BMus Violin
I had access to people I would never have been able to meet as a young composer starting out.
Find out more about the PGCert Performance Teaching from Programme Leader Carlos Lopez-Real. The video starts with an introduction to Guildhall, with information on the PGCert Performance Teaching from 5m. Please note that this video was from the Jan 2019 and the fees and funding information has since been updated.
PGCert Performance Teaching
One year part-time or two years part-time
The Post-Graduate Certificate (PGCert) in Performance Teaching is a Masters-level course is designed to support professional musicians, actors, production artists and dancers who teach as part of their practice, either as their main employment or as part of a portfolio career. It offers a unique opportunity to develop creative and reflective practice in teaching performing arts either in person, or online. You will be encouraged to identify a personal pathway for your development, focusing on the pedagogy of performance and creative practice in the performing arts, in specific contexts that are most relevant to your career aspirations.
There are two pathways: PGCert and PGCert (HE). If you already have appropriate experience of teaching at HE level you may have the option of taking the PGCert (HE) pathway which will lead to additional professional recognition – Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. In order to be eligible for the PGCert (HE) pathway, you need to be able to draw on at least 50-60 hours of authentic HE Learning & Teaching practice whilst doing the course.
‘I am getting so much inspiration from the course. It's boosted my confidence a lot and given me so much to think about.’ – Gail Macleod, Module Leader, Barbican-Guildhall Creative Learning
Podcast
Listen to Vanessa Lingham and Sue Dent, Guildhall staff and also students on the PGCert Performance teaching, discuss the programme and the pedagogy of performance in our podcast.
PGCert students in a workshop
Ethos
We take your existing experience and expertise as a starting point, enabling you to bring practice and theory together, through engaging with cutting-edge pedagogy. You will be part of a community of artist-educators, learning from each other and building practical skills. Transformational learning involves trust and rapport with your students, openness to change, supporting independence, resourcefulness and resilience. You will embrace diverse perspectives and different learning styles.
Who is it for?
The programme attracts applicants who are interested in creative, innovative and evidence-based performance teaching. You could be at any stage of your career as long as you’re willing to take a fresh look at your practice. Equally, you might teach in range of contexts, including schools, Higher Education, junior conservatoires, community and lifelong learning.
*Please note if you require a Tier 4 (general) student visa to study in the UK, this is not an eligible programme. Home/EU students will not be eligible for a UK government postgraduate loan on this programme.
How you'll learn
The PGCert is part-time (over one or two years). Approximately 13 days of face-to-face workshops (primarily at weekends) are combined with online learning and support from a 121 tutor. Supported by a team of world-renowned educators, you will develop skills and knowledge in a range of areas such as
How to teach online and remotely
Fundamental principles and values in education
Theories of learning and theories of motivation
Approaches to facilitation
Working with groups
Creativity and pedagogical improvisation
Partnership and collaborative working
Reflective practice
Inclusion and use of language
Curriculum and assessment issues
Giving and receiving feedback
Professionalism and codes of practice
Discipline-specific approaches
The course is 60 credits, which equates to 600 nominal learning hours. In practice, given that the bulk of this is your own self-directed study time, there is a lot of variation from student to student, but this should give you a reasonable idea of the overall commitment involved.
How you'll be assessed
You will be supported throughout the programme with ongoing formative feedback. The major summative assignments leading to the qualification cover a range of elements, including:
Individual presentation on your core values and principles in teaching
Practical group workshop and presentation
Written critical reflection relating to your own teaching practice and observations of other teachers
Case studies of your teaching practice, incorporating lesson planning, feedback on your own observed teaching practice and the evaluation of your own teaching through feedback from your students
Participants in the programme have been promoted in their existing working contexts as well as branching out into new teaching areas. Others have gone on to further study including PhDs and our coaching-mentoring programme.
Highlights
A strong focus on critically reflective practice, framed by professional guidelines such as the Higher Education Academy Professional Standards Framework
Interdisciplinary perspectives – bringing together teachers from performing arts disciplines, for a rich exchange of ideas
Robust formative feedback on practical work
Teaching delivered by an experienced team of educators, performers and researchers
An educational philosophy that celebrates professionalism, international perspectives, creativity, and innovative practices in performance teaching
You will be taught by a wide range of highly experienced tutors, encompassing Guildhall staff from across departments, Barbican associates and external specialists. Meet our tutors.
Open Evening
Find out when our next PGCert Open Evening is on the Open Day page.
Please note that we will assess all applications following the application deadline.
‘The programme helped me shape my teaching practice on my own terms by exposing me to different theories and experiences. The workshops pushed me to the edge of my boundaries and am a better teacher because of them.’ – Chloe Vanns
‘This course has brought a new dimension to my teaching, which has benefitted both myself and my students. I would highly recommend it to aspiring teachers, or to the most experienced educators.’ – Lori Norriss
