Principal Study and Departments

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Principal Study and Departments

At the heart of your training will be intensive, one-to-one and small ensemble sessions with Guildhall’s core staff of over 400 practitioner teachers.

Explore our Principal Study options and departments below (some options, including Music Therapy and Opera, are available at postgraduate level only):

Sheet music on a music stand

Composition

We offer some of the most stimulating and creative training for composers available in the UK.

Chamber trio with harp, flute and viola perform on stage in Milton Court

Chamber Music Department

Chamber Music has a special place in the School as a core or elective element of the curriculum according to the programme of study.

Two Electronic & Produced Music students in a studio

Electronic & Produced Music

With Principal Study options in:

Electronic Music
Film Music
Sonic Arts
Game Audio
Live Electronics
Popular Music Production
New Media

sax player in big band

Jazz

Principal study in: Voice, Composition & Arranging, Clarinet, Double Bass, Drums, Electric Bass, Flute, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Violin

pianist in rehearsal

Keyboard

A wide array of solo, ensemble and accompaniment training.

Music Therapy students in a class around a piano, one holding a saxophone

Music Therapy

Our MA Music Therapy aims to develop students’ musicianship and personal potential, and equip them with the knowledge and skills to work as a registered music therapist.

performer on raised stage in yellow dress

Opera Making & Writing

This Masters programme allows composers and writers to focus on how new opera is created, developed and performed, and is delivered in association with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Guildhall singers hug each other while performing on stage

Opera Studies

Intensive postgraduate training for singers and repetiteurs.

double bass

Strings, Harp or Guitar

Including bowed strings instruments (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass) and Classical Guitar, Harp, Lute and Viols.

Singer and pianists perform in Milton Court Concert Hall

Vocal Studies

Intensive programmes of one-to-one lessons, performance projects and classes.

bassoon

Wind, Brass & Percussion

Wind: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Recorders
Brass: Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba
Timpani and Percussion

Guildhall Studio Orchestra on stage in Milton Court Concert Hall for a rehearsal

Undergraduate training

A four-year programme leading to a Bachelor of Music degree with Honours, where at least two-thirds of the credit of each year is focused on Principal Study. You will have at least 30 individual lessons a year, and performance is central to the programme for everyone.

hands on piano keys

Postgraduate training

We offer one of the world's most innovative packages of postgraduate study. Qualifications available include Guildhall Artist in Performance (including Orchestral Artistry) and Composition, Artist Diploma, DMus/PhD, MA in Music Therapy and MA in Opera Making and Writing in association with the Royal Opera House.