Professional Performance - AdvPgDip (post-Masters level 8)

Musicians who have already achieved a high standard of performance and who are preparing for life in the profession require time, expert guidance and high-profile performance opportunities to further develop and refine their skills and knowledge, and to broaden their experience of the concert platform. Zhe Professional Performance Portfolio module is designed to do exactly this. The two performance assessments within the Portfolio are effectively (unpaid) professional engagements which mimic the real-life situation, for example giving a public recital, preparing and delivering an orchestral audition or (for conductors and repetiteurs) leading a rehearsal or coaching session in a professional setting. The two performances within the portfolio are distinguished from each other according to content, and this is defined by the rubrics set out in the ‘Syllabus’ (see separate document) relating to each ‘specialism’. (Specialisms include, for example, Instrumental Performance; Vocal Performance; Collaborative Piano; Organ Performance; Chamber Music; Choral Conducting; Opera Repetiteur).

If any performer is to stand a chance of gaining a foothold in the profession, they need to be equipped with a range of skills over and above the ability to perform at a professional level.   One such skill is self-promotion – the ability to develop and maintain an online presence, to market your ‘product(s)’ and to network in order to build contacts. 

The Career Development and Self-Promotion module aims to expand your knowledge of the profession and help you to manage your career as a self-employed musician.   It serves a practical function in requiring you to do two things essential for the early-career performer seeking to maximize their chances of securing work: i) to ensure that you have an online presence befitting of a twenty-first-century professional musician; and ii) to build up a portfolio of evidence of professional activity which will inspire confidence in promoters.

If any performer is to stand a chance of gaining a foothold in the profession, they need to be equipped with a range of skills over and above the ability to perform at a professional level. They need to be able to work autonomously in their pursuit of artistic excellence, setting long term goals and planning intermediary steps in order to achieve them, whilst being critically aware in order to maximise their untapped potential and seek out possible career opportunities. The ability to secure professional engagements is essential if a performing musician is to forge a successful career. 

The External Engagement module is one of two optional modules on the APD programme (the other being the Professional Project module) and requires you to seek out an opportunity to perform in an external professional context. This process will help you to develop establish and maintain cooperative relationships both within the Conservatoire (e.g. through ‘Book a Musician’) and in the wider artistic community; the latter being especially useful post-graduation.  You will be expected to liaise directly with the promoter/organisation regarding all aspects of the engagement as appropriate, which, depending on the venue and/or nature of the performance setting, is likely to include some or all of the following: repertoire/programme planning, scheduling rehearsals and planning practice time, designing publicity materials, online marketing, organising ticket sales and/or refreshments. You will be required to reflect critically on the process of planning, promoting and fulfilling your external engagement. Critical reflection is an essential skill for a successful professional musician since it strengthens your capacity to pursue and realise your own ideas, thus informing your future career planning and continuing professional development.

If any performer is to stand a chance of gaining a foothold in the profession, they need to be equipped with a range of skills over and above the ability to perform at a professional level.  They need to be able to work autonomously in their pursuit of artistic excellence, setting long term goals and planning intermediary steps in order to achieve them, whilst being critically aware in order to maximise their untapped potential and seek out possible career opportunities.  

The Professional Project module is one of two optional modules on the APD programme (the other being the External Engagement module) and gives you the opportunity to undertake a self-defined activity entirely tailored to your own interests and career aspirations. This project may or may not have performance at its centre, but is instigated and driven by you.  The nature of the project is deliberately flexible to allow you freedom of choice in relation to your professional needs and interests. 

Designing your own project and seeing it through to completion will help you to develop establish and maintain cooperative relationships both within the Conservatoire and in the wider artistic community; the latter being especially useful post-graduation.  You will be required to reflect critically on the process of planning and executing your project. Critical reflection is an essential skill for a successful professional musician since it strengthens your capacity to pursue and realise your own ideas, thus informing your future career planning and continuing professional development.