Professional Graduate Diploma in Musical Directing

Programme Overview

We want to work with aspiring Musical directors on this exciting Professional Graduate Diploma in Musical Direction at Scotland’s national conservatoire. 

This one-year programme is designed to teach you the core skills and processes required to progress into the industry or on to full-time master’s study. Studying within a safe and collaborative environment, you will have the opportunity to work closely with key skill practitioners, performers, actors, musicians, and other artists from across RCS. 

The design of this programme is weighted towards skills, with a focus placed on grounding, developing, and gaining fresh insight.  By allowing space to prepare and learn from each session, students are given the opportunity to ground and develop the essential skills needed as a growing Musical Director.  

These skills are structured into the 5 areas highlighted below:

• Keyboard skills
• Conducting skills
• Scoring and arranging techniques
• Vocal technique and repertoire coaching,
• Programming and Sound

Once confidence and consistency are gained in each area, project preparation sessions are then introduced. These sessions are designed to break down and explore the process of Musical Directing out with a larger process, before giving the opportunity to integrate this learning into a small project. 

Applications for RCS's Professional Graduate Diploma in Musical Directing are now open for September 2025 entry. Apply via UCAS Conservatoires or via the RCS website. Applications close 29 January 2025.

Programme Structure

This programme is designed to support the development of Skills and Project work across a full academic year. There are both core skills and project preparation modules across each the 3 terms, each with a different focus, level of responsibility and degree of autonomy.

Term 1

The focus of this term is placed on grounding skills in each area. Personal Development Plans will be set identifying key areas of learning, and guidance will be provided to allow for development across the 5 key skills areas. Project Preparation will be introduced to start to explore several of the key processes, initially explored in isolation and in a safe and exploratory environment.

Term 2

Through term 2, there should be a growth in confident and consistency in each area, allowing for more detailed and autonomous level of work. Focus will be placed on personal practise and preparation with a view to further development in each skill area. Project Preparation sessions will start to explore the more complex of the key processes, alongside an opportunity to integrate these skills in a small project.

Term 3

The focus of this term would progress onto the tackling more challenging repertoire, usually found in the contemporary area. Keyboard skills will shift to focus on time and chord reading, while scoring and arranging will provide support for band and rhythm section charts. Project Preparation sessions will continue to explore the more complex of the key processes, alongside opportunities to integrate these skills through several key projects.