Preparing students for a bright future in music

Those within the arts discipline don’t always have a straightforward path to employment. The competitive worlds of music and dance require students to continuously improve their talents and develop themselves professionally.

Music students who aspire to work abroad and are not fluent in English will need to work on their language skills alongside their music learning.

For a bright future in music, these types of students must seek a study path that allows them to focus on their music studies while giving them the right opportunities to improve their English communication skills.

Before undertaking your degree, there’s the option to pursue a certificate or course that offers a solid foundation in music.

A unique course offering from the esteemed Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, UK, is the International Foundation Certificate: Music and English.

This programme prepares students for further study and significantly enhances their English language skills so they can embark on a future in music without language barriers, also giving them valuable professional development in the field.

Musical skill development and English language acquisition is equally balanced throughout the programme, and students are given opportunities wherever possible to intermix learning across these two areas of study.

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Developing confident musicians for a successful future in music

This programme has been designed for students to reach their career potential and ensure they become employable musicians.

It does so by enabling them to build on their musical interests, skills and experience, discover more in the world of music and explore possibilities for their personal, artistic and professional development.

The programme is rooted in practice-based activity so students get to continuously work on their music skills.

Students will have weekly one-to-one lessons with Trinity Laban’s experienced instrumental teachers, who help them develop their skills in their principal study, be it an instrument, voice or composition.

On top of their principal study lessons and departmental classes, students will improve their performance skills through engagement with Alexander Technique, Dalcroze and weekly performance workshops.

There is a focus on developing audition techniques to help students be successful when applying for further studies.

Learning occurs through a mix of formal tuition, experiential learning and personal study. All students are also required to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) which consists of a learning journal, regular recordings and performance reflections.

They also develop their learning by participating in a broad range of solo, small group, chamber and large ensemble activities, including chances to perform their work in public.

Enhancing their study is the chance to learn from visiting artists, ensemble directors and lecturers who expose students to a variety of views and industry-relevant approaches current within the music profession.

They also get to develop soft skills such as collaboration and innovation through CoLab  – an integral element of performance studies where students from across the institution work together to create and develop creative projects, and where artistic risks and innovation are encouraged.

Enhancing English language skills

Alongside world-class music tuition international students will also have the chance to improve their English skills, preparing them for undergraduate study or further learning.

Students will take the Integrated Skills in English module as part of their programme and be entered for the Trinity ISE II (undergraduate) or Trinity ISE III (postgraduate) examination.

The ISE qualification can be used to demonstrate the level of English required for entry to an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at Trinity Laban.

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Upon completion of the certificate programme, students will be able to communicate in English effectively so they can go on to study a Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree at a UK Conservatoire or University.

Students learn English in small tutorial groups, where they also get to practice the language by communicating with others.

All aspects of English are covered through the programme, which aims to further the development of vocabulary and grammar knowledge in students, as well as developing fluency and the ability to consistently apply learning in practice.

The classes are both practical and fun, helping students learn by using English in a range of situations.

For example, in one project, students were asked to learn about a famous London landmark and take their classmates on a guided tour where they presented what they had learnt.

Students are also taught music-specific vocabulary and terms to help them in their chosen career.

Those who have successfully completed the programme in the past have been successful in gaining places at Trinity Laban and other top conservatoires in the UK.

Every element of the International Foundation Certificate: Music and English is designed to help students not only become more prepared for a future in music, but also to thrive and become confident, capable musicians with adept fluency in English.

Trinity Laban is running a music audition in Hong Kong on the 21^st and 22^nd February 2020

Apply to audition via UCAS Conservatoires and register to audition here. Any questions? Email asia@trinitylaban.ac.uk

Follow Trinity Laban on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud and Instagram

Liked this? Then you’ll love…

Trinity Laban: A world-class performing arts education in London

Trinity Laban: Audition for London’s Musical and Creative Conservatoire