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Piano and Piano Accompaniment (Continued)

Piano and Piano Accompaniment Open Day - 2nd October 2007

Professor Christopher Elton FRAM

(Picture: Photo of Professor Christopher Elton)

Dederich Professor of Piano. Studied at the Academy with RobinWood and Gordon Green and later with Maria Curcio, gaining the Recital Diploma in both piano and cello. Has given many recitals, broadcasts and masterclasses in the UK and overseas. Students’ recent successes include Van Cliburn International Competition 1987 (Gold Medal winner), the London World Piano Competition 1997 (first prize), Tchaikovsky International Competition, Moscow 1998 (third prize) Dublin International Piano Competition 2000 (second and fifth prizes) and Clara Haskil Piano Competition 2001 (finalist), and Munich (ARD) 2002 (third prize). Piano teacher since 1973 and Head of Keyboard Studies since 1989. Appointed a Professor of University of London, 2002.

The Courses

Piano
The Piano Faculty has a worldwide reputation for training aspiring pianists as soloists, chamber musicians and accompanists. The wide spectrum of professional expertise represents many pianistic traditions, and follows an acclaimed historical lineage which includes such names as Tobias Matthay and Harold Craxton. While some students (especially postgraduates) enter the Academy with a considerable level of performing experience, the primary teaching emphasis is on encouraging students to find their individual identity as performers and to develop technique as a means of realising such artistic personality.

A comprehensive range of performance classes, taken by both professors and visiting teachers, is supplemented by numerous concert opportunities to play as soloists or in ensembles. Specialist classes are held in piano duo playing and in contemporary piano repertoire, and regular coaching is given in chamber music (undergraduate pianists also receive accompaniment training). In addition, students are encouraged to explore early keyboard instruments such as harpsichord and fortepiano. Recent master-classes have been given by Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Angela Hewitt, Stephen Hough, Leslie Howard, Konstantin Lifschitz, John O’Conor, Christina Ortiz, Murray Perahia, Michael Roll, Alexander Satz, Howard Shelly and many others.

Pianists can undertake a range of performance electives (e.g. working with singers in song classes and developing skills in piano improvisation), contributing towards their final degree/diploma profiles.

Piano Accompaniment
Piano Accompaniment may be taken as a Principal Study by postgraduates. (Accompaniment coaching is also given to undergraduates as appropriate.) The curriculum is designed to train pianists in every aspect of the discipline through exposure to a broad range of song and instrumental accompaniment, duo work and chamber music. Core teaching is supported by master-classes given by visiting professors, and students can receive linguistic tuition in Lieder, French song and English song classes. Accompanists also receive a weekly piano lesson which may focus on expansion of solo repertoire or on aspects of technique. Selected students work with Royal Academy Opera in all aspects of répétiteur work. If you are interested in working more intensively with opera singers on our specialist répétiteur option, please contact the Registry staff (registry@ram.ac.uk) for details.

Your Audition (see p.56 for general details)

Piano
You should offer a free-choice programme of solo piano music (not concerto repertoire), minimum of three works (undergraduates: 20–40 minutes; postgraduates: 40–60 minutes). The programme can include movements of works and should show a wide diversity of character and style as well as evidence of technical accomplishment. The audition panel will select from this programme within the time limits available, but you may specify one work which you particularly wish to perform.

Piano Accompaniment (postgraduates only)
You should prepare a programme (minimum 20 minutes) of songs and/or instrumental works, and including a short, technically demanding solo work. Some tests of musicianship and keyboard skills may be given. Accompanists must bring their own soloist(s)—please contact the Registry at least three weeks in advance if you experience difficulties in arranging this.

Répétiteurs
You should coach your singer(s) in two contrasted arias, and prepare a scene from a repertoire opera. A reasonable knowledge of at least two foreign languages is expected. If you are auditioning as a répétiteur, you must bring your own singer(s)—please contact the Registry at least three weeks in advance if you experience difficulties in arranging this.

TheTeachers

Visiting Professor
Stephen Hough

Piano
Professor Christopher Elton FRAM
Sulamita Aronovsky MA (Moscow State Cons.), FRSA
Nicola Eimer DipRAM, MMus, ARAM
William Fong
Ian Fountain Hon ARAM
Rustem Hayroudinoff
Graeme Humphrey ARAM
Diana Ketler ARAM
Piers Lane BMus, Hon RAM
Professor Hamish Milne FRAM
Pascal Nemirovski
Daniel-Ben Pienaar MMus, BMus
Tanya Sarkissova Grad (Moscow State Cons.), Hon ARAM
Colin Stone
Kathryn Stott
Patsy Toh FRAM, 1e Prix Paris
Michael Young BA, MMus, ARCM

Piano Accompaniment and Piano Ensemble Coaching
Clifford Benson Hon ARAM, ARCM
Julius Drake Hon RAM
Michael Dussek FRAM (Senior Tutor in Ensemble Piano)
Iain Ledingham MA, FRAM, FRCO
Malcolm Martineau MA, Hon RAM
AndrewWest ARAM

Recent competition successes by Academy students
3rd,Warsaw International Chopin; 1st, London World Piano; 3rd, Tchaikovsky International Piano; 1st, Horowitz International Piano; 2nd and 5th, Dublin International; Leeds prizes in 2000, 2003 and 2006; 2nd, Vendôme; 1st & 1st, Viseu; Young Concert Artists Trust Awards; New Orleans 2005 and 2006; Leipzig Bach, 2006; Royal Over-Seas League Accompanist and Ensemble Awards; Accompaniment Prize, Kathleen Ferrier; Gerald Moore Awards.