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GUILDHALL SCHOOL

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Music Tour

Explore our Music facilities with Guildhall students

Guildhall has a unique buzz and vibe to it…a great sense of community and friendliness

Rebecca Carson
BMus Flute

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

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

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

Rebekah Carpio
MMus Clarinet (Orchestral Artistry)

The strong collaboration between departments has created a very special and supportive atmosphere

Meili Li
MMus Opera Studies

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

Such incredible musicians and inspiring teachers and the opportunity to hear from world-class visiting artists has been invaluable

Vijay Prakash
MMus Jazz Trombone

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’

In my first year, I was given the opportunity to play with the Britten-Pears Orchestra. We performed a number of concerts and our CD, recorded at one of those concerts, went on to win the BBC Music Magazine Award for Best Opera Recording.

Andrew McCoy
BMus Tenor Trombone

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

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

I feel that the people here really make the institution. I found Guildhall to be a really supportive environment that gave me room to explore, take risks, and mature as a mucisian, and as a human being.

Francesca Chiejina
MPerf Vocal Studies

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

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

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)

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

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

Eden Lonsdale
BMus Composition

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

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

Millie Ashton
BMus Violin

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

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

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

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

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

Keyboard

Piano | Fortepiano | Harpsichord


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, Stephen Kovacevich, Paul Lewis, Murray Perahia and András Schiff.

Undergraduate

BMus

The one-to-one lessons with our piano faculty are at the heart of the Keyboard Department’s work. You will receive 45 hours in 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, whether 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, piano duo, contemporary repertoire and fortepiano with leading performers in these fields.

Read more about the BMus course 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 and who can demonstrate career potential as a soloist or chamber player. You will receive 60 hours of one-to-one Principal Study tuition over the year, as well as the opportunity to play in masterclasses with a range of distinguished visiting pianists. There are many performance opportunities both within and outside the School, including competitions such as the Gold Medal and the Guildhall Wigmore Recital Prize for an annual debut Wigmore Hall recital. There are also opportunities to participate in the School’s 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 continuo playing, orchestral reductions, coaching and languages, and duo and ensemble work in a variety of situations.

Graham Johnson, Senior Professor of Accompaniment, works with pianists in masterclasses, and directs The Song Guild, a small group of singers and pianists. In keeping with the Guildhall School’s commitment to experimentation and innovation, Iain Burnside has initiated several ground-breaking performance projects combining music and drama, while Gordon Back regularly directs instrumental concerts. Pianists are encouraged to take part in chamber music coaching and performances. All students have weekly piano lessons and a series of classes on various accompaniment skills. Recent masterclasses have been taken by Martin Katz, Malcolm Martineau and Julius Drake.

There is a wide range of performance opportunities on the programme, particularly at the weekly vocal and instrumental platforms, and for those with very good sight-reading skills there is occasional paid work playing for singing lessons. Pianists who successfully achieve the MPerf may also be offered professional accompaniment work in their first year in the profession.

Chamber Music

Find more information on studying Chamber Music with us here.

Repetiteur Training

Find out about our training for Repetiteurs.

Historical Performance Studies

Find out about Historical Performance Studies.

Artist Diploma

Read more about our Artist Diploma programme

MPhil/DMus, MPhil/PhD

Read more about our research programmes.