1 mins
Sagnick Mukherjee, viola
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
I was drawn towards the cross-disciplinary and holistic approach of teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). It has a wonderfully diverse student body, both in terms of backgrounds and aspirations. The faculty took the time to get to know me, identify areas for improvement, and accordingly recommend teachers, modules and projects. The MMus course is structured around the principal study with supporting modules, but most of the curriculum is decided by each student through negotiation. I was always encouraged to try things outside my course by attending different classes and taking on additional studies on period instruments. I am also grateful to be able to continue my studies on instruments on loan from the RCS collection.
This year has been really busy, with exciting projects and performance opportunities every week in addition to coursework. Most of my days are spent running from one class or rehearsal to the next! Being part of the full symphony and opera projects at RCS has been a joyous experience. I have also been given the opportunity to play in a concert of contemporary chamber music with the RCS Studio Collective and in a side-by-side workshop with the BBC SSO. Glasgow is also a fantastic place to be a young musician. It has a staggering amount of cultural activity and it's only a stone’s throw from the beautiful Scottish outdoors!
Studying at RCS has helped me prepare for life as a musician and opened me up to new possibilities. It's given me a chance to improve my instrumental skills by studying with supportive and inspiring teachers and collaborating with motivated colleagues. It has also highlighted the importance of prioritisation, time management, adaptability and a positive attitude as I begin my professional life. My experiences at RCS have given me the space to fail without fear of judgement, and develop the resilience to try again.