Emily Rae | Music

 EMILY RAE 

Music | Bmus Composition

Young woman sitting crossed legged on a chair, holding a mug and smiling. Wearing headphones and in front of home studio.
📸 Robbie Mcfadzean

How did you find out about Transitions? 

My primary school trumpet teacher encouraged me to audition for RCS when I was 12 and introduced me to the transitions programme which she was aware of.

When did you get involved with Transitions? 

I started my tuition at RCS with Transitions in 2014.

What was the most useful thing you learned about your artform and yourself? 

During my time at RCS, I learned all about how to manage my sense of discipline and how to gather various skill sets to achieve particular goals. Specifically, I discovered the use of maintaining a steady practice routine, as it helped me to remain focused on my study and to not lose track. This also became a transferrable skillset that I am now able to use in other areas of my life.

Through this, I learned about challenges that I personally struggle with regarding self-esteem and confidence within my study but discovered ways to seek support and help me through my journey. Another incredibly valuable mindset I learned was the importance of giving and receiving support to and from my peers.

RCS encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and collaborate with other artforms, nurturing an open mindset to creating new opportunities for myself and others.

Why should someone think about joining Transitions?

Without Transitions, I simply would not have been able to have the opportunities and experiences in my life today. Not only did Transitions make it a possibility for me to pursue developing my interests, but it provided an entirely new creative world for me to get involved in. Through Transitions, I was able to discover different artforms and explore more intensely what I enjoyed learning about. Specifically, Transitions offered fully funded trips to see performances from various artforms which I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. They also provided creative events involving students from other disciplines which not only allowed me to express myself in unfamiliar ways but opened a pathway to connections with other students. They also provided coaching sessions which created a safe space to understand my mindset during that time and guide me through achieving my goals.

What is one piece of advice would you give to any current student on Transitions? 

I would advise any new students who are studying through Transitions to make the most of every opportunity provided and take responsibility for their learning. There are so many creative groups and events offered through Transitions that changed my mindset and opened doors to new learning experiences and interests. For example, on one particular Transitions trip to the Edinburgh Fringe, I saw a performance that inspired me to begin writing for musical theatre. It’s also a fantastic way to make new friends from various disciplines and creates new pathways to possible collaborative opportunities.

I would also suggest keeping on track with emails in case any messages or opportunities get missed as there are always new events and performances to see as well as new groups to participate in.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently within your time with Transitions? 

If I could relive my time with Transitions I would take advantage of the support provided earlier instead of waiting until the last second. Being on the ball with opportunities is really helpful for everyone involved and ensures you’re making the most of what’s happening at the time. I would definitely participate in more events and go to see more performances as well as the creative group events involving other artforms. I would also make sure to speak to my coach during our sessions about any issues that were preventing me from making the most of my time at Transitions and be open to the support provided.


If you’d like to find out more about how to apply for Transitions, visit our pages on ‘How to Apply’ here.