Facilities

In addition to the extensive facilities elsewhere on campus, including performance venues such as the Windsor Building Concert Hall and the historic Picture Gallery and Chapel, the music Department benefits from a range of specialist facilities. Wettons Terrace contains a recital room, a suite of networked PC workstations offering internet access, word processing and Sibelius software, and a well-stocked Music Library complete with CD and DVD listening/viewing facilities. Practice rooms are housed in Woodlands and Woodlands Cottage.

The North Tower of the Founder's Building accommodates the Sundanese gamelan, Andean instruments and electronic music studios. The Department has recently invested in a completely renewed stock of Steinway and Steinway-designed pianos and owns a number of replica Renaissance and Baroque instruments including two harpsichords and a fortepiano. In addition, the Chapel boasts a fine Harrison organ which is available for practice to those students taking organ lessons.

Music library

The Music Library contains a rich collection of books on music, scores, recordings, CDs, videos, DVDs, listening facilities and three important research collections:

• the library of the late Dom Anselm Hughes
• the Robert Simpson Society archives
• a collection of Renaissance and Baroque theory texts in facsimile

Music technology

The studio and music technology facilities at Royal Holloway are situated in the Founder’s Building. They comprise Studios 1 and 2, the Research Studio, two Music Technology Rooms and a Location Recording System. All our facilities contain the latest hardware and software and are designed to be of music industry standard.

Performance opportunities

The Department offers various opportunities for performance. Within its programme the Symphony Orchestra presents an annual concert at St John's, Smith Square in London and the Department also runs the Chamber Orchestra, the Sinfonietta (for new music) an Andean Band and a Gamelan Orchestra (Gamelan Puloganti). There is a Big Band and various groups come into being depending on the interests of current members of the Department, both students and staff. Choral Music comprises the Chorus, Chamber Choir and Chapel Choir; the Chapel Choir sings regularly in the College and outside, broadcasts on the BBC, and engages in tours abroad.

Further opportunities

Through Erasmus/Socrates and other international links maintained by the Department and College, it is possible to spend time abroad at one of a number of universities in Europe and beyond (Canada, USA, Australasia), whether as an integral part of your degree programme or for a period of time inserted within it. Students visiting the Department from such partner institutions in turn bring an international dimension to activities at Royal Holloway.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching in the Music Department is organised around a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes. All first year students and those taking performance in their second and final years also receive lessons on their first instrument or voice. A wide choice of teachers is offered and those with appropriate levels of skill may be able to study with professors at the Royal College of Music with which Royal Holloway has a formal relationship. Each student also has a personal adviser. Examinations take place at the end of each year of the course and each unit is assessed by a combination of written papers, portfolio submissions and/or practical tests and recitals as appropriate.