BMus (Hons) Joint Principal Study

Our BMus (Hons) Joint Principal Study programme balances strong practical experience in two disciplines with professional development, preparing aspiring performers for a career as a working musician.

The BMus (Hons) Joint Principal Study (JPS) pathway at RCS is a specialist four-year pathway that enables students with exceptional potential in two disciplines to pursue these in parallel at degree level. It is strongly practical and vocational in purpose, with most of your study time devoted to activities in the two principal study areas, but this is substantially complemented by a core curriculum in professional skills development, research skills, and development of critical and reflective thinking.

The programme’s structure and content are designed to allow you to develop the full range of your creative and technical abilities and to equip you with the professional skills and knowledge that will enable you to pursue your musical interests and aspirations to the highest level. The BMus Programme offers a unique opportunity for you to immerse yourself in a creative and supportive environment dedicated to the study and practice of music in a multidisciplinary setting that includes dance, drama, film and production programmes alongside music. Our aim for our graduates is to prepare you for both postgraduate study and professional employment as performers, teachers, and in other careers as part of the portfolio career common within the contemporary music profession.

Possible combinations of disciplines include:
- Two instruments from different families within the performance strand, e.g. piano and cello
- Two genres, such as jazz and traditional music; jazz and (classical) performance; or traditional music and (classical) performance
- Two disciplines, such as composition and percussion

Please note: it is not possible to study two instruments from the same family. e.g. viola and violin