Principal study options

During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:

Single specialism

Only one instrument is studied. It may be possible to study a further instrument formatively, but this will not contribute towards the qualification.

Instrument/specialisms

For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.

Modules

Year one - Your school placement will be in a primary school where you will learn how to plan and develop lessons to support the children’s musical learning. Teacher Education will focus on developing as a teacher, exploring learning and teaching in the primary school, and key issues about how children learn, and teacher professionalism. We provide a solid foundation in performance, music theory, arranging and composition, history of music, music technology and collaboration in your first year. Year two - In teacher education, the focus moves towards development, health and wellbeing and inclusive education. Your school experience will be in a secondary school where you will focus on Broad General Education (BGE) in the Music department. Music studies will follow a similar pattern to year one with a focus on broadening knowledge and deepening understanding through practice, in order to support your work as a classroom practitioner. Year three - Teacher education in year three will explore Assessment, Education and Society, including wider issues which influence learning and teaching. You will begin to consider the role of professional enquiry in the teaching profession. School experience will focus on secondary three and four. In music studies, you will choose to specialise through a number of pathways in, for example, performance, composition, musicology and music technology. Year four - In your final year, the focus of the placement will be the senior phase where you will spend an extended period in a secondary school in preparation for the GTCS Induction Year. You will consolidate your knowledge, skills and school experiences to date, making connectons between your studies at RCS and career-long professional learning. You will continue to develop your areas of specialisation in music studies.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• General Teaching Council for Scotland