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Explore our Music facilities with Guildhall students

Guildhall has prepared me for a career in music therapy from searching for jobs to having brilliant work experience from the placements they chose for me

Emma Barber
MA Music Therapy

Emma Barber
Guildhall had a crucial role in my success. The very high quality orchestral projects and masterclasses prepared me for professional life

Joao Seara
BMus Double Bass

Joao Seara
Studying at the Guildhall School has been a life-changing and unforgettable adventure

Rebekah Carpio
MMus Clarinet (Orchestral Artistry)

Rebekah Carpio
Working in pairs during the MA has helped me developer a deeper understanding of how opera composers work and how to spark their imaginations with a libretto.

Zoe Palmer (writer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Zoe Palmer (writer)
The relationship between the Barbican, BBC, and Guildhall is absolutely invaluable as it provides opportunities for students that cannot be found elsewhere.

Emiko Edwards
MPerf Piano

Emiko Edwards
Writing music for theatre has been a highlight of my time at Guildhall, as it has allowed me to explore an art form in which I have a great amount of interest and to work towards a professional finished product.

Alexander Hall
BMus Composition

Alexander Hall
Barbican is a key partner of Guildhall, and we can often get artists who perform there to do a masterclass or project with us, and we often do performances at Barbican events.

Ieva Vaitiekunaite
BMus Electronic Music

Ieva Vaitiekunaite
Whether it is in sit-in rehearsals, side-by-side projects or chamber orchestra sessions, the LSO players offer invaluable guidance and provide a glimpse of the exceptional standards we aspire towards.

Rees Webster
MPerf Oboe (Orchestral Artistry)

Rees Webster
I was excited to cover a role in the UK premiere of Andrew Norman's 'A Trip to the Moon' in the Barbican, have a solo recital at LSO St Luke's and also to sing on the stage of Wigmore Hall.

Mirjam Mesak
MPerf Vocal Studies

Mirjam Mesak
I knew about the fantastic tutoring and resources, but the friendly and stimulating environment clinched it for me.

Eden Lonsdale
BMus Composition

Eden Lonsdale
I had the opportunity to play percussion with the Guildhall Studio Orchestra which gave me the chance to learn from, and play alongside, amazing senior players, as well as to perform with the incredible Liane Carroll.

Dave Adsett
BMus Jazz Drums

Dave Adsett
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

Jonathan Ferrucci
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 b e with actors doing the musical and then playing a symphony in the orchestra.

Millie Ashton
BMus Violin

Millie Ashton
The departmental philosophy of returning opera back to something that is essentially produced as part of a company is a really great thing.

Klara Kofen (writer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Klara Kofen (writer)
The quality of teaching is amazingly high. With the guidance and help that I've been given, I feel my work has got dramatically better over a short space of time.

Lucy Armstrong (composer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Lucy Armstrong (composer)
I set up a piano trio when I arrived, and we have weekly coaching with members of the Endellion Quartet and the faculty. It has been very rewarding.

Leo Popplewell
MMus Cello

Leo Popplewell
It seemed like this was a place to go and experience a complete world of art and performance and see what happened - a place that really encouraged you to make things that you want to make.

Vittorio Angelone
BMus Percussion

Vittorio Angelone
Home > Music > Principal study > Keyboard
Keyboard and piano at the Guildhall School

Keyboard

Offering a wide array of solo, ensemble and accompaniment training, the Keyboard Department is headed by the internationally acclaimed pianist Ronan O’Hora.

Visiting artists include Leif Ove Andsnes, Emanuel Ax, Imogen Cooper, Richard Goode, Paul Lewis, Murray Perahia and András Schiff. 

 

Undergraduate

BMus

One-to-one lessons with our piano faculty are at the heart of the Keyboard Department’s work. You will receive 45 hours in each of the first two years of study, increasing to 60 in the next two years. In addition to studying with your own professor, you will have the opportunity to work with most of the keyboard staff in a variety of performance classes, as well as with a large number of distinguished visitors.

All practical assessments take place through performances, as mid-year and end-of-year recitals or as concerts of ensemble work with instrumentalists and singers. You will play a concerto with piano in your third year, and have the opportunity to work on chamber music, vocal accompaniment, contemporary repertoire, improvisation and fortepiano with leading performers in these fields.

Read more about the BMus programme structure.

Postgraduate

Guildhall Artist Masters (MMus/MPerf) in Performance

Read more about our Masters in Performance, or choose from the specialisms listed below.

Advanced Instrumental Studies

This specialism is for pianists intending to focus intensely on performance who demonstrate career potential as soloists or chamber players. You will receive 60 hours of private one-to-one Principal Study tuition over the year, and opportunities to play in masterclasses with a range of distinguished visiting pianists.

There are performance opportunities both within and outside the School, including competitions such as the Gold Medal and the annual Guildhall Wigmore Recital Prize for a debut Wigmore Hall recital, and participation in international partnerships with other conservatoires and performance centres.

Piano Accompaniment

This specialism is for students who want to develop a career in collaborative pianism. It combines individual technical work, class work on specific skills such as orchestral reductions, languages and repetiteur skills, and duo and ensemble work in a variety of situations. 

Graham Johnson, Senior Professor of Accompaniment, leads annual Song Guild recitals, and in keeping with the School’s commitment to experiment and innovation, Iain Burnside (Collaborative Piano Teacher) has initiated several ground-breaking performance projects combining music and drama. Gordon Back (Collaborative Piano Teacher) regularly directs instrumental concerts. Pianists are encouraged to take part in chamber music coaching and performances alongside their weekly piano lessons and classes.

There is a wide range of performance opportunities on the programme, particularly at the weekly performance platforms. You may also be offered professional accompaniment work to help you through your first year in the profession.

Chamber Music

Find more information on studying Chamber Music.

Repetiteur Training

Find out about our training for Repetiteurs.

Historical Performance Studies

Find out about Historical Performance Studies, including study of fortepiano and harpsichord.

Artist Diploma

Read more about our Artist Diploma programme

MPhil/DMus, MPhil/PhD

Read more about our research programmes.