The Conservatorium of Music
-- La La Land (jazz is in) -- Beethoven -- Coldplay (don’t judge me) -- Nickleback (apologies) -- The Beatles (not Yoko Ono)
Nobody really knows what this claim is based upon, but with a history of spending exorbitant amounts of money on publicity and marketing surely it has to be a first class institution?
Students’ Representative Council
Congratulations! You’ve made it into the Con – “one of the world’s leading tertiary musical institutions” – or as you will be constantly told by the institution’s PR department.
If you disregard the fact that budget cuts have been a recurring theme over the years (let’s see what they cut this year) or that many important student support services are inaccessible or non-existent at The Con - oh, and let’s not even get started on all of the controversy (to get up to speed on the drama, just trawl the archives of the SMH or Honi Soit). But don’t panic! If you learn to navigate your way through this mess - be sure to ask the Conservatorium Students’ Association (CSA) for tips and support! - you can get to the other end of your What... what even is this machine? degree reasonably unscathed. You still won’t have any career prospects, of course. I mean, you’re studying here purely for the love of music, right? (if not, run away now while you can!). In all seriousness, as former students will attest, the hard work and hours of practice you put in to your music degree will be fulfilling. And there are also great academic staff members who will help you along the way. Lewis Cornwell has received very positive evaluations from students. Which is lucky because you don’t really have a choice - you will all have him as a lecturer for 2 years of ‘Harmony and Analysis’ (unless if you’re a Jazz student). Another popular lecturer is David Larkin. This may be, in part, due to the fact that every second student has a crush on this Cambridge-educated Irish heartthrob. Apparently his lectures are also engaging, so consider taking his courses when selecting Music History subjects.
There are also additional costs involved in studying at The Con. Accompanist fees can be quite expensive, especially if you regularly require one for lessons. Composition students are expected to organise concerts and have their pieces performed each semester. Paying performers and hiring venues can be very costly. Be sure to look out for the many scholarships on offer to Conservatorium students - they’re not too well advertised but they are there, and many are equity-based.
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There are certain courses that you need to look out for. You could be asked to commit to more concert programmes than you need to. If you think this may be the case, but are unsure, contact the CSA for guidance. Honours is another grey area. Unlike most Honours programmes, Performance and Composition Honours requires students to complete a recital or composition portfolio in addition to submitting a thesis. Students have noted that the course is not structured well to allow you to juggle both major components.