Top 10 Best Colleges in London for Music

Music is one of the few human activities that are loved by all and there are colleges in London for music lovers that teach them how to harness their gifts and potential in music and music creation to share with the world what rings within their souls.

It’s amazing how much education has progressed since I was a child. We didn’t have computers or phones back then, so everything was done using paper, pencils, and biros, especially schoolwork.

However, the educational landscape has changed dramatically, and kids now have access to laptops and Android smartphones. Indeed, the arrival of these devices has made life much easier.

Education is critical for children in today’s digital age. Today’s children like learning through technology, and despite their inexperience, they are surprisingly tech-savvy. People may now realize their ambitions without breaking the cash or going through a long series of regulations and stages.

Online learning has become the standard these days, thanks to the rapid advancement of digital technology. Traditional classes, in which you pay monthly or weekly and sit face to face with an instructor to learn a skill, are no longer available.

Online music classes are a terrific place to start whether your child is interested in studying music or playing a musical instrument. Online music lessons, as well as a variety of other online programs, are accessible today.

Music is an artistic technique to boost your child’s productivity, creativity, and mood. It helps people to use music to communicate themselves and their feelings.

Learning music is similar to learning a new language, and studies show that children who are exposed to a new language early in life learn quicker.

Many music teachers turned to giving online music lessons as a method of supplementing their income while also educating children and adults who are interested in studying music as a skill or pastime during the shutdown. When it comes to online learning, music is not alone. You may also take several sit-at-home courses from the convenience of your own home.

Sing or making vocal and instrumentals are not only what music is all about, there is the artistic nature that comes with moving to the beats, dancing is also a category of music and there are various dance moves with different names down the ages, but there are also various ways of learning how to dance and online there are free classes that teach how to dance in Zumba.

Now out of the internet domains and servers are dancing schools where people can go in-person and learn firsthand how to move their bodies such as those dance schools that are located in Lagos Nigeria, Nigeria has a rich dance history and culture and Nigerians have taken the global music industry by storm with rich vocals and dance moves that has prompted some of the best dance schools in the world to up their game not to be left behind by pure talent.

To this end, music lovers have been on the hunt for the best colleges in London for music, where they can hone their skills in both dancing and singing as the competition on the global front keeps getting heated up by individuals who are tremendously blessed with crazy dance moves and maddening vocals.

This now begs the question;

Where can I Study Music in London?

Music can be studied in any of the colleges in London for music and music universities that have been identified below, it is good to note that this is not an extensive list as we would discuss in full the top 10 best colleges in London for music;

  • Goldsmiths, University of London.
  • City University London.
  • BIMM Institute.
  • London College of Creative Media.
  • The University of East London.
  • The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP).
  • Trinity Laban Conservatory of Music and Dance.
  • Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Is London a Good Place to Learn Music?

The QS higher education company, which is responsible for the annual World University Rankings, has named London as the greatest city in the world for students of higher education, according to an 85,000-student poll. Quality of life, affordability, and the local employment market are all criteria considered in the rankings.

London was praised for its excellent cultural, economic, and educational options, as well as its reputation as a wonderful place to meet the industry and find a job. It was also praised for being welcoming to international students and providing graduate job prospects.

It is worthy to note that music comes from the inspiration that swells from deep within the soul and a place that provides the mind with so much information, and emotion. It triggers to symphonize melody that is pleasing to the ear in London, and it is also a perfect place to learn how to bring forth the sounds within you to the ears of the public that gets them to move their feet.

Do Music Schools in London Accept International Students?

Yes, colleges in London for music have had and still have a long, rich history of accepting students from various parts of the globe. Take for example the Royal College of Music which is considered a truly international community within the colleges in London for music students as half of its students originate from countries that are outside the UK and they come from more than 50 countries.

Now, without further delays, I present the;

Colleges in London for Music

Top 10 Best Colleges in London for Music

1.      Goldsmiths, University of London

Goldsmiths is a liberal art research campus in the bustling New Cross neighborhood of South London and is a member institution of the University of London, which makes it a member of the best colleges in London for music. The school’s purpose includes innovation, collaborative thinking, and community participation.

Goldsmiths was the first institution in the UK to develop an electronic music facility in 1968, and it continues to be a pioneer in the research and practice of electronic music. The program, which has its record label and commercial recording studios, also emphasizes ethnomusicology and other research-driven, theoretical topics.

Goldsmiths distinguishes itself from other music degree programs by offering a variety of undergraduate options. Undergraduates can pursue BMus degrees in Popular Music, Electronic Music, Computing, and Technology in addition to the BMus in Music.

MA and MMus degrees in composition, ethnomusicology, popular music research, sonic arts, and other subjects build on those fields. An MA in Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship: Music Pathway combines creative and commercial processes, allowing students to establish their marketing strategies for their musical abilities.

Whether students want to be musicians, entertainment attorneys, recording engineers, or music historians, Goldsmiths offers the program and resources to help them succeed.

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2.      City University of London

The Sound Studios at City, which is housed within the City University of London, retains a strong relationship to the electronic music for which The Studios is known, while also providing a diverse variety of degree programs as part of the colleges in London for music circuit.

A BMus in Music and a BSc in Music, Sound, and Technology for Undergraduates are two undergraduate degree programs. At all levels of study, a diversified teaching format includes lectures, seminars, workshops, and one-on-one tutorials.

Scholarships for academic achievement assist pay tuition expenses, and a survey of recent graduates found that 87 percent were working in the profession or pursuing additional education within six months after graduation.

These features, together with the school’s many study areas and professional development possibilities, make City a viable option for music students, meeting their academic, performance, and career goals.

An MA in Music by Research combines elements of music history, composition, and performance in a graduate program. The Ph.D. and MPhil degrees are tailored to the needs and interests of degree applicants, including thesis requirements for musicologists and portfolios for instrumental and vocal composition, as well as other performance-related fields.

Modernism in Music, Church Music, Urban Ethnomusicology, Music and Cinema, Byzantine and Modern Greek Art Music, and more are all areas of graduate emphasis and research.

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3.      BIMM Institute

The BIMM curriculum focuses on the music industry but is not genre-specific. Among the alumni are songwriters and solo performers, as well as session musicians, producers, and scouts.

Undergraduates can choose from more than 15 distinct degree programs, including BMus and BA degrees. From songwriting to marketing, electronic music to event management, BIMM’s specialized programs allow students to focus on their areas of interest while gaining experience, knowledge, and confidence to enter the competitive music industry after graduation.

Some students don’t even have to wait until graduation to begin working in the music industry. Music industry professionals visit school for Advice Sessions and Industry Showcases to meet with students, give advice, and see emerging talent.

Drumtech Music School London was the forerunner of BIMM, which was dedicated to percussion. Drum kits are only one of the many instruments available in the campus’s 25 practice rooms.

Students also have access to Pirate Studios, the school’s professional recording facility, which has additional rehearsal spaces, recording studios, and a DJ area for students to rehearse, create, and record their compositions.

While many industry luminaries attend BIMM as guests, the in-house faculty includes active producers and artists such as Alec Storey and Bernard Butler. BIMM can give the skills and contacts to students who are ready to take to the airwaves. Making the BIMM institute one of the finest colleges in London for music students all run after.

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4.      London College of Creative Media

The Music Box, a brand new, futuristic cube-like facility in South London near London Bridge, houses arguably one of the best colleges in London for music and is identified as the Creative Media. The Music Box, which was built to meet the demands of the school and its students, includes not just recording studios and computer labs, but also a bar and a performance area known as The Venue.

LCCM’s purpose is to train students not just for professions in music, but also to revolutionize the music business by making it more innovative, inclusive, and inventive. Students get one-on-one career counseling, industry training, and job placement through this program. LCCM enables students to work on and distribute projects while still in school, thanks to its A&R department.

LCCM has teamed up with the University of the Creative Arts to offer a variety of new degree programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance and production, as well as degrees in the music business and creative entrepreneurship.

Students can also major in Commercial Music Technology and Film, Television, and Video Game Composition.

Students commend LCCM for providing an opportunity to examine issues in detail and apply what they’ve learned. A campus podcast, a Songwriters’ Club with concerts, and a peer mentorship program are all organized by students. There are successful graduates in both the business and performance sides of the music industry.

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5.      University of East London

The University of East London is situated in the heart of the city’s bustle and reconstruction, in a culturally varied area where digital start-ups and art galleries coexist, and the largest urban wetland in Europe (Waltham’s tow) brings the outdoors near to our city campus.

A program in East London aims to prepare students for a future in music. Those with or without formal training might benefit from the flexible educational routes. Students get specific abilities in music production, sound design, performing, and songwriting after completing core studies in music history and culture.

East London places students in smaller workgroups for practical skills instruction, despite class numbers of around 30 pupils.

The curriculum is structured into three parts: a Foundation Year, two years of courses in production, technique, and collaborative projects, and the final year, which focuses on a culminating research project and performance.

Students are invited to participate in microbusinesses in the music industry as part of the program’s Mental Wealth modules to learn how to use the skills they are acquiring.

Students receive guidance on how to handle the physical and mental lifestyle and self-care demands of a creative job as their degrees of responsibility in the various positions they take on in these courses develop.

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6.      The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP)

The Institute of Current Music Performance claims to be the first music school in London to provide contemporary music courses. ICMP states that more than 94 percent of its alumni are hired or enrolled in further education programs within six months of graduation, even though many institutions today train students for industrial and professional music professions.

ICMP provides students with extensive industry relationships that the institution has developed through time, as well as a reputation for producing top talent. Working musicians and music industry executives make up the faculty. The Music Managers’ Forum holds its training classes at ICMP, allowing artist managers to be close to student talent.

Students can use the school’s Music Careers and Industry Liaison Service to receive creative criticism, discover work experience and gig possibilities, and promote their work.

In 2021, ICMP launched a new BA program in Audio and Engineering Production. Multiple instruments, songwriting, and production courses are also available. Working musicians might benefit from non-degree, short-term certification programs and seminars.

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7.      Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Trinity College of Music and Laban Dance Center united in 2005 to form the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. The original Trinity College of Music was founded in the nineteenth century, and today’s campus includes a 21st-century refurbishment of Greenwich Palace, which blends ancient and modern aesthetic concepts.

Trinity’s degree programs cater to a diverse spectrum of student objectives. Students with varying degrees of skill and need can pursue a BMus, MMus, or MPhil/Ph.D. degree. Trinity also offers non-degree professional development courses as well as teaching and other certification programs.

Aside from the BMus, other diploma levels—Artist, Professional, and Graduate—allow musicians to pursue exactly the amount of instruction required for the career route they want. Trinity’s specialty areas of study include composition, strings, jazz, keyboard, wind, brass, and percussion.

Trinity is a suitable choice for Musical Theater studies, a separate curriculum with instruction in both fields, thanks to the merger with the Laban Dance Center.

Junior Trinity, a program for younger kids, broadens the school’s appeal even more. Saturday classes in vocal and instrumental skills are available for pupils aged 5 to 19, and older students can enroll in GCSE and A-level coursework. Many of these students move on to conservatories all across the world after Trinity.

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8.      Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Guildhall students enjoy quick access to one of the world’s most dynamic theater districts, which is located close to the Barbican Center on London’s Cultural Mile. This school held in high regard as one of the finest Colleges in London for Music has five public performance venues, including six in the Silk Street building, which is part of the Barbican complex.

Guildhall is ranked third among UK music schools by the Guardian. The London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Opera House, and other organizations collaborate with the school to provide students with seminars, workshops, and opportunities to perform in a professional context.

Guildhall BMus students finish a four-year degree with a primary concentration area in either an instrument, voice studies, composition, or the electronic or jazz genres. Degree programs in Performance and Composition (MMus, MPerf, MComp) are offered, as well as MPhil/DMus and MPhil/Ph.D. options. Guildhall University provides a unique MA in Opera Making and Writing, as well as an MA in Music Therapy.

Guildhall provides both online and in-person short courses for adults and children, proving its dedication to lifelong music education.

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9.      Royal Academy of Music

The Royal Academy of Music welcomes students who are looking for the best colleges in London for music and want to push the limits of music via composition, performance, or scholarship. The Royal Academy, which is staffed by active professional musicians, composers, and music scholars, can provide expert counsel to any student’s requirements and objectives.

The Royal Academy includes a separate curriculum for every instrumental performance, including opera, organ, jazz, timpani, harp, woodwind, and vocal study. Along with a typical Academic Studies music curriculum, the institution provides less popular academic tracks including Conducting and Historical Performance.

The Royal Academy has a three-century history. Franz Liszt paid a visit when King George IV gave the charter. The school’s Sinfonia has performed all over the world, and it was the first conservatory to have its record label.

For anybody in the musical profession, being inducted as an associate, fellow, or member of the Royal Academy is a significant honor.

At the Royal Academy, students participate in one-on-one tutorials and small group sessions. The design fosters exploration and mastery. Royal Academy students have hands-on teaching experience working with the school’s Open Academy as part of their professional development.

Students can pursue BMus and Mmus degrees, although the Royal Academy offers instruction to all types of musicians. Single-year programs for students taking a break from their studies, Artist Development workshops and seminars, and a Junior Academy all provide access to the highest level of music instruction.

By teaching and honoring performers today, the Royal Academy acts as cultural stewardship, bridging the gap between past and future music. Being a student at the Royal Academy is like being a part of history.

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10. Royal College of Music

There are few schools in the world with a more famous reputation than the Royal College of Music. It was ranked top among all performing colleges in London for music, also the whole of the UK and Europe, and second internationally, in the QS World University Rankings for 2021.

The Royal College of Music, founded in the late 1800s, was the epicenter of the English Musical Renaissance. George Grove (of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians), famed soprano Jenny Lind, and composer Hubert Parry all taught at the college and helped to create music history.

Today, the Royal College of Music offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate, graduate, and research degrees aimed at preparing students for a future in music both technically and intellectually.

Working musicians can apply for fellowships at the Royal College to enhance their creative skills and broaden their professional network.

The Royal College of Music is an ideal choice for every music student, offering one-on-one instruction, performance opportunities, vital professional affiliations, and training from the world’s finest music professionals.

Students appreciate working with institutions such as the London Film School, Performing Arts Vienna, and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The Royal Albert Hall organ is available to keyboard students. Distinguished speakers like Vladimir Ashkenazy and Vassily Petrenko mentor conducting students.

Students are immersed in high-level musical performance in three performance venues and studios that front the Royal Albert Hall. Students of music history have access to a wealth of historic instruments, including 20 early keyboards. At RCM studios, the school also offers the most contemporary commercial-grade recording facilities.

From Samuel Coleridge-Taylor to Benjamin Britten to Leopold Stokowski, no institution could boast a more impressive alumni list. Its museum has 15,000 instruments and other historical artifacts, and its library is a resource for Western music history.

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Conclusion

London is a fantastic place for education as it is one of the few cities in the world with a high number of international students, music lovers are fascinated with the awe of London and its rich history which is why domiciled are the top 10 best colleges in London for Music.

Colleges in London for Music—FAQs

Are Music Schools in London Expensive?

Universities and Colleges in London for music are fairly expensive with the most expensive being the Royal College of Music.

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