An Introduction from Head of Keyboard, Colma Briosc
At the RIAM Keyboard Faculty we will help you develop the skills, creativity and talent for the demands of a performance career. We can offer a supportive, innovative and stimulating environment.
The keyboard faculty has a rich tradition of success amongst our graduates, who perform in concert halls around the world. Our committed teaching staff have a wealth of experience both as performers and teachers staff and includes distinguished soloists and chamber musicians, and renowned pedagogues.
We also offer a range of internal competitions open to BMus keyboard students, including the prestigious Maura Teissier Bursary of ‚¬10,000.
The 4-year Bachelor in Music Performance programme is accredited by Trinity College, the University of Dublin. Each academic year has 30 weeks in total from September to June - 24 academic teaching weeks and six performance spotlight weeks. There are no academic classes during the performance spotlight weeks, but your practical lessons continue across all weeks.
The performance spotlight weeks provide you with the time and space to focus solely on keyboard solo or ensemble projects with international and national tutors and conductors.
The BMusPerf degree at the RIAM takes in small numbers of keyboard students each year. As a result, we will give you a lot of contact time with expert tutors. This includes:
Two hours each week in your one-to-one lesson
Weekly chamber music coaching
Access to a range of solo performance and concerto opportunities
Frequent masterclasses
Small academic classes to help you excel in supporting studies
I am very happy to take queries from you. You can contact me on [email protected]
Photo: Colm Hogan
The course consists of five pillars of study:
Principal Study
Chamber Music
Large Ensemble Performance
Supporting Academic Studies
RIAM Holistic the working musician
Principal Study
At the heart of the B MusPerf keyboard programme are core lessons with your principal study teacher. You will have two hours of one-to-one lessons per week. In addition, weekly performance classes and frequent masterclasses with international artists ensure that keyboard players are able to grow technically and musically over the four years of the programme.
Years 1 and 2 support you in underpinning and maximizing your technique. Mid-year technical exams focus on mastery of the required studies and ability to sight-read and learn quickly. The end-of-year exams require performances of suitable repertoire to highlight your developing skills.
Years 3 and 4 focus on helping you develop to a professional standard. The mid-year exam in year 3 is one movement of a concerto and year 4 is a full Concerto performance. The end of year exams require you to perform standard recital repertoire and encourage performances of contemporary works.
Chamber Music
In all four years students are coached in chamber music by expert tutors. Keyboard players are encouraged to work in duos, trios and quartets. In later years, students tackle the larger chamber repertoire involving keyboard such as works by Schoenberg and Brahms.
Pianists are encouraged to perform on RIAM's collection of early pianos, undertaking collaborative projects such as the study of Schubert Lieder on early 18th century instruments with RIAM's singing students.
Our chamber ensembles frequently perform in national and international venues such as the National Gallery of Ireland, American Irish Historical Society (New York) and the Centre Culturel Irlandais (Paris).
Large Ensemble Performance
Throughout the 4 years you will take part in RIAM Chorale as a singer or rehearsal pianist, giving you the opportunity to perform in a concerted, large scale work. Keyboard students with a proven standard in orchestral instruments are welcome to audition to join our orchestras or wind ensembles.
Supporting Academic Studies
The academic component of the degree adds an intellectual foundation to your practical keyboard studies, making you a more thoughtful and interesting musician. Rephrase?
In years one to three, you will study a number of core modules: Harmony and Counterpoint, Aural training, Analysis and History. There are also shorter modules in Music Technology, Instrumental Pedagogy, and Free Composition.
In Year four you have the opportunity to explore a specialist elective of your own choice: Dissertation, Composition, Music technology, Analysis or Conducting.
RIAM Holistic- the working musician
The fifth pillar of study is designed to make you a flexible and adaptable artist, ready in mind and body for the demands of a portfolio career in music. Students study:
Career Strategy
Entrepreneurship
The principles of pedagogy
Music in the community
Contemporary music collaborations
Yoga
Performance psychology
For a more detailed description of the course requirements, please refer to our course handbook
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