Page 7

Facilities

(Picture: Photo of students playing violins)

The Academy includes all the requirements of a modern conservatoire:

Over 100 teaching and practice studios, rehearsal and lecture rooms.
Several large concert rooms.
The 120-seat David Josefowitz Recital Hall.
The modernised Sir Jack Lyons Theatre.
The Duke’s Hall, a 400-seat concert venue.
Electronic and recording studios.
A new Creative Technology Suite.
A well-equipped library.
An excellent ‘canteen’ serving healthy and value-for-money meals, including vegetarian options
The York Gate Collections, where many of the Academy’s valuable and historic instruments and manuscripts are displayed and which hosts daily public research events.

The Academy is open during term-time from 7am to 11pm (10pm at weekends) and on a more restricted basis during vacations.

Library

In addition to the facilities you would expect for undergraduate and postgraduate students, the Library has historical collections of international significance and is a recognised centre for research.

The Library has over 200,000 items, including early printed and manuscript materials, a substantial collection of recordings and audio facilities. Students can apply for access to the University of London Library and the British Library if they require yet further resources.

The Library houses archives of many eminent musicians including Sir Arthur Sullivan, Sir Henry Wood and David Munrow as well as the Robert Spencer collection of music for lute, guitar and early English song. In 2004 the Academy acquired Yehudi Menuhin’s substantial archive with a generous grant from the Foyle Foundation.

Among the Library’s most important possessions are the manuscripts of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, Sullivan’s The Mikado, Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis and the recently-discovered Handel Gloria.

The Orchestral Library has about 4,000 sets of parts, constantly augmented with new acquisitions. Important collections include the libraries of Sir Henry Wood and Otto Klemperer.

Computers

Workstations are available throughout opening hours, equipped with academic and professional applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, desk-top publishing and state-of-the-art music notation. Students have free access to email and the internet as well as to an increasing range of e-learning initiatives. The Academy provides computer training, enabling students to master essential management and promotional skills.

Instruments

All students, except those of piano, organ, harpsichord and timpani and percussion, are expected to own their own instruments.

The Academy has an extensive stock of instruments. Its collection of over 250 prestigious stringed instruments, in modern, classical and baroque set-up, is regarded as the finest of its type in the world. At any time most of the collection is on long-term loan to students or young musicians at the outset of their careers, and also for special occasions such as competitions, important concerts and recordings. There is also a varied stock of woodwind and brass instruments and a substantial collection of modern copies for ‘period’ performance. The Becket Collection of classical period instruments is housed at the Academy and often appears in orchestral performances.

The Academy regularly updates its stock of pianos. On-site piano maintenance and rebuilding technicians ensure that all instruments are kept in top condition.

Junior Academy

The Junior Academy offers courses on Saturdays at the Royal Academy of Music for talented and committed young musicians of secondary school age (12–18). Primary Academy (age 8–12) provides for the musical development of the most able younger musicians. There are also more general preliminary courses (age 4–8). Full details can be obtained from the Junior Academy at the main Academy address;

telephone 020 7873 7380;
email: juniors@ram.ac.uk

Virtual Tour

You can explore many of the Academy’s performance, rehearsal and social spaces by taking a 3D tour at www.ram.ac.uk