Category: Music

Mentoring Week

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Mentoring Week 

3 – 7 October, 5pm

Two young people listening

Are you interested in studying Drama, Musical Theatre, Music, Production or Filmmaking? Not sure where to start or where to study? Unclear about what career opportunities are out there in that art form?

Come along to one of our group mentoring sessions in the art form that interests you. Here you’ll speak with a professional working in the industry, learn about where they studied and have the opportunity to ask about their journey.

Sessions are all online and take place over the 1st week in October from 5pm:

Monday 3rd: Drama

Tuesday 4th: Music 

Wednesday 5th: Musical Theatre 

Thursday 6th: Production

Friday 7th: Filmmaking 

These are a great opportunity for any pupil in S4 or above looking for support and advice in art forms and for those applying to a college, university or conservatoire.

Register Your Interest

You can register your interest for these sessions by clicking the button below to take you to an online form:

Get in touch

If you require any further information get in touch at: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Focus on Applications: Music

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 FOCUS ON APPLICATIONS: MUSIC 

Tuesday 30 August and Tuesday 6 September

Two young women performing a flute and glock in a classroom

Who it is for: S5 & S6 Pupils interested in studying a music course in further or higher education.
When: Tuesday 30 August and Tuesday 6 September, 6-8pm
Where: Online (Zoom)

Come along and find out how we can help you figure out which course might be the right course for you! We’ll also help you with your application and get you started on your personal statement.

These sessions focus on applying via UCAS and UCAS Conservatoires, as well as applying for a creative course at any college and/or university.

Register your interest by clicking the button below:

 Get In Touch 

If you require any further information or have any questions, email: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Apply Now To Become A Fair Access Ambassador!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 FAIR ACCESS AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME 

September 2022 through to Summer 2023

⭐️ Applications are now open for our Fair Access Ambassador programme ⭐️

Young people sitting chatting in student area

 What is Fair Access? 

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is an inclusive and diverse environment. We want to encourage as many people as possible, regardless of their background, to get involved with the performing and production arts. The Fair Access department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland run two programmes – Transitions and WACI – alongside our Fair Access Outreach and Partnership programme. 📽 Watch more here.

 The work of Fair Access Ambassadors 

Our Ambassadors work alongside our staff to help promote and provide information on opportunities around entering into the performing and production arts and our Fair Access activities and events within their local schools and communities. In return, our Ambassadors gain experience within the arts sector, working with people, and developing teamwork and communication skills alongside bespoke training opportunities.

 About you! 

The Ambassador programme is aimed at those aged 16+ who are passionate about the performing and production arts. You will meet the WACI eligibility criteria or be a current Transitions student. Checking your emails regularly, having good knowledge in social media, clear communication skills and being comfortable in social situations are an advantage.

 When will I need to be available? 

Aside from normal Ambassador activities, you will be available to attend our Ambassador meetings either at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland or via Zoom:

▪️ Residential Weekend: 2 – 4 September
▪️ Meetings: 20 Nov 22, 18 Feb 23 and 17 Jun 23.

 Sounds good, where / how do I sign up? 

Our application form will ask you to fill in your personal details and write a short response to the following questions:

▪️ Why are the arts important?
▪️ How would you promote the arts within your community to young people?
▪️ Why and how would you commit to being a Fair Access Ambassador?

*Alternatively, you can attach a short video (2-3 mins) that answers the questions above.

 Completing you application 

To complete your application we ask that you provide a reference from someone you know who is involved in the arts. This can be a teacher, tutor, community practitioner etc.

Get in touch 

If you require further information or have any questions, get in touch with the team at: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

WACI x RCS Summer School Scholarships

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 SUMMER SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS 

Now Open for Application

WACI are delighted to announce that our scholarships for RCS Summer Schools are now open for applications. 

Young people playing strings in an orchestra

Each WACI pupil can now apply for a fully-funded place on an RCS Summer School of their choice (subject to availability). Taking place throughout the summer holidays, these courses offer you the chance to try something new or develop your existing experience within your chosen art form.

Summer School Availability

There are a whole variety of summer schools to choose from in Dance, Drama, Music, Film and Production. Visit the RCS Summer Schools website here to see the selection of courses you can choose from. Some of the courses are very popular where spaces fill up quickly. We’ll be assessing applications as and when they come in, so get your application in as soon as you can to avoid being disappointed!

How to apply

1. If you haven’t already, firstly register with the WACI programme

2. Then, fill out the application form to let us know:

  • a little bit about you
  • why you would like to do the course you have chosen

If it would be easier, you can provide a voice recording or video statement in support of your application.

Deadline for applications

Monday 6 June 

 Get In Touch 

If you require some help filling in your application or have any questions, get in touch with the team at: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Announcing: Come and Try Online Festival 2022

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 COME & TRY ONLINE FESTIVAL 

Short Courses, Masterclasses and In Conversations, 5 – 15 April

WACI are delighted to announce that applications for our Come and Try Online Festival are now open! 

Image mixed with photo and graphics and text. Schoolgirl on a stage looking at an ipad.

Whether you’ve already got loads of experience or you want to try something for the first time, the Come and Try Online Festival is a great way to get your creativity flowing, work with experienced artists and meet other young people who are into the same things as you are. 

Taking place from 5 – 15 April, all of the workshops and Q&A sessions will take place on Zoom – and best of all, it’s all free!

 Programme of Events 

In Conversation
These sessions are for everyone:

Making Music on a Budget

Combating Barriers in the Arts

Balancing your Mental Health with your Artform

Short Courses
Open to secondary school-age pupils: 

Let’s Make a Scene

Let’s Make Music

Storytelling for Film 

Masterclasses
Open to secondary school-age pupils: 

Musical Theatre

Costume Design for Theatre

Devising Monologues 

Improvising and Accompanying in Music

Production for TV and Film

Button that takes you to registration formDeadline for booking: 29 March

 

 Priority Places 

Please note that priority places will be given to pupils who are in the West of Scotland that: 

However, the festival is also open to: 

 Contact Us 

If you require any further information or have any questions, get in touch with WACI at: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Join Our Fair Access Virtual Band

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 FAIR ACCESS VIRTUAL BAND (FAVB) 

Wednesday Evenings, March 2022

Do you sing or play an instrument? Want to meet like-minded young people? Get involved with the Fair Access Virtual Band!

Group of people online playing instruments

Who can sign-up:

You’re invited to apply and join us for another musical collaboration if you meet one of the following criteria:

When it will happen:

The workshops all take place at 5pm on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 2 March
  • Wednesday 9 of March
  • Wednesday 16 March
  • Wednesday 30 March

Please make sure you can attend all these dates before you sign up.

How to take part:

*ENROLMENT IN THIS ACTIVITY IS NOW CLOSED*
Deadline: 28 Feb

On the Sign-Up form you will be asked:

  • Your main instrument.
  • Your ability (beginner, intermediate and advanced) 
  • If you can comfortably sight-read or follow a chord chart.
  • If you have access to a device that will allow you to record a video with audio.

Don’t worry if you’re new to music or you’re not a confident sight-reader, everyone is welcome. Knowing what level everyone is at is just helpful for us when we’re pulling together the music.

What will happen next:

Owen Sinclair, the Musician leading the project will organise 4 different online ‘meet-ups’. These meet-ups will be an opportunity to have conversations as a band, discuss various musical genres, workshop ideas and ultimately decide what music you’d like to work on together.

Once we’ve decided what we’d like to record:

  • You will be sent a guide track accompanied by either a score, chord chart or lyrics. This will be suitable for your ability level and instrument.
  • There will be an online tutorial session
  • You will then record your video and send it in
  • All parts will be edited together to create a showcase of the Fair Access Virtual Band

About Owen:

Owen is a multi-instrumentalist, percussionist and singer who has been working in Scotland’s vibrant folk scene. You can check out some of his projects here:

Creative Clusters - Spring 2022

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 CREATIVE CLUSTERS 

Spring 2022!

Fair Access at RCS are planning two clusters of creative activity for Spring 2022, in Ayr and Easterhouse, Glasgow.  Our Easterhouse Creative Cluster will be based at Platform, and see workshops delivered for young people in partnership with GMAC Film and an RCS CPP artist.  This will provide participants with a taster of both artforms and offer opportunities for continued activity with Fair Access. 

We hope to work in partnership with local community organisation FARE and to offer pre-projects tasters at Lochend Secondary School.

For our Ayrshire Creative Cluster, we will offer local people a project exploring spoken word and sound design / production.  We hope to work once more in partnership with the Gaiety Theatre, South Ayrshire Champions Board and the music departments of local secondary schools.

For further information regarding these Creative Clusters you can contact our Fair Access Outreach and Engagement Officer, Louise Brown, on: L.Brown5@rcs.ac.uk

Performance Trip: Celtic Connections

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Anoushka Shankar x SCO x Orchestral Qawwali Project 

Friday 28 Jan, 7pm at the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall

WACI are delighted to be bringing you our first performance trip since the start of the pandemic and even more excited that it’s a trip to Celtic Connections!

Woman dancing in a field of wheat

World-renowned heir to her father Ravi Shankar’s iconic legacy, sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar has built her career on transcending genres and musical boundaries, mixing styles that range from flamenco to electronica, and collaborating with such diverse luminaries as Herbie Hancock, Patti Smith, Joshua Bell, Ibeyi and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  

Here, together with a selection of solo pieces, she joins forces with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to revisit her father’s Concerto No.3 for sitar and orchestra, in which she featured on its Carnegie Hall premiere in 2009.

Book Your Place Now

Places are free for WACI pupils but are limited. We would encourage you all to sign up ASAP and ask that you only sign up if you can attend.

**BOOKING NOW CLOSED**

If you have any questions about this activity, don’t hesitate to contact Becca at: waci@rcs.ac.uk

Audition and Interview Prep: Singing, Filmmaking and Theatre Production

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

WACI are delighted to offer workshops for those who are thinking about applying to study at college, university or conservatoire for music, musical theatre, filmmaking or theatre production:

Singing Audition Prep

Young person singing on stage

When: Mondays and Wednesdays, 29 Nov, 1 Dec, 6 Dec and 9 Dec  6-8pm (please note change of date)
Who: For pupils required to sing as part of an audition process when applying for a higher education course.

Our audition prep will:
Yellow star Help you select audition pieces
Yellow star Prepare you for the audition scenario
Yellow star Receive performance feedback

*Bookings are now closed*

 

Filmmaking Interview Prep

Two young people holding paper at a desk like newsreaders

When: Tue 23 Nov and Thu 25 Nov,  6-8pm
Who: For pupils who are thinking about studying filmmaking

Our interview prep will:
Yellow star Give you an understanding of the Filmmaking course at RCS
Yellow star Prepare you for the interview scenario
Yellow star Give an understanding of what will be expected from the critical writing and technical portfolios

*Bookings are now closed*

 

Theatre Production Interview Prep

Person holding foils over a light in a darkened room.

When: Tue 23 Nov and Thu 25 Nov,  6-8pm
Who: For pupils who are thinking about studying theatre production

Our interview prep will:
Yellow star Give you an understanding of the Production course at RCS
Yellow star Prepare you for the interview scenario
Yellow star Give an understanding of what will be expected from any portfolios or evidence of practical work

*Bookings are now closed*

Does it cost anything to attend?

All our workshops are fully-funded opportunities for those in the West Coast of Scotland who are:

Contact Us

📧 WACI@rcs.ac.uk
Please be aware that the data provided on registering will be shared with our partner FOCUS West. For details on how we manage your data, please see our Privacy Notice at www.rcs.ac.uk/policy/privacy/

Audition and Interview Prep Workshops: Drama and Music Teaching

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

WACI are delighted to offer new workshops in November for those who are thinking about applying to study at college, university or conservatoire for drama or music teaching:

Monologue Audition Prep

When: Mondays and Wednesdays, 1-17 November,  6-8pm
Who: For pupils who will be required to perform a monologue as part of an audition process when applying for a higher education course in drama.

Our audition prep will:
Yellow star Help you select monologues
Yellow star Prepare you for the audition scenario
Yellow star Receive performance feedback

Booking Deadline: NOW FULLY BOOKED

 

BEd Audition and Interview Prep

When: Tue 2 Nov and Thu 4 Nov,  6-8pm
Who: For pupils who are thinking about studying to become a music teacher

Our audition and interview prep will:
Yellow star Give you an understanding of the BEd course at RCS
Yellow star Prepare you for the audition and interview scenario
Yellow star Receive feedback on your audition pieces

Booking Deadline: Bookings now closed

Does it cost anything to attend?

All our workshops are fully-funded opportunities for those in the West Coast of Scotland who are:

Contact Us

📧 WACI@rcs.ac.uk
Please be aware that the data provided on registering will be shared with our partner FOCUS West. For details on how we manage your data, please see our Privacy Notice at www.rcs.ac.uk/policy/privacy/