Course contact details
Main Contact
Email:admissions@rcs.ac.uk
Phone:0141 332 4101
Fax: 0141 332 8901
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB
Piano for Dance (Taught)
- Master of Arts
- 1 Years
- Full-Time
- 20 September 2027
- Postgraduate
- Main Site
- Course scheme
- UCAS Conservatoires
Course summary
The Piano for Dance programme is an innovative postgraduate degree, delivered in partnership with Scottish Ballet. Utilising the resources and facilities of both RCS and Scottish Ballet, this programme offers a unique mix of professional tutelage and practical application, aimed at supporting the needs of each individual student. Pianists aspiring to work within the professional dance sector receive regular mentoring from industry-established dance musicians and teachers. The programme also offers the opportunity to gain a wide range of appropriate experience, working within a professional environment alongside Scottish Ballet’s artistic staff and dancers.
From the earliest stages of training, students accompany all aspects of work with RCS and Scottish Ballet, in dance classes, rehearsals and education projects.
Additionally, you will study exam syllabus work, accompaniment skills, dance forms, dance vocabulary and core ballet and class repertoire. This helps you to develop the skills needed to give the dancers and teachers the necessary musical support in class work and rehearsals.
Solid piano technique is vital and you will also have access to regular lessons with tutors from the Keyboard department, reinforcing aspects of piano technique, keyboard harmony and repertoire.
The Piano for Dance course provides a balance between supported learning and practical application. Our partnership with Scottish Ballet allows our students to experience the realities of the professional world, whilst having the security of the experienced teaching faculty to support their continued learning.
There is a chronic lack of skilled dance pianists and it is gratifying that all our previous students have found work within the dance world.
Please note, the international deadline for this programme is the 1st December 2026, but we would encourage applicants to apply early where possible.
Course details
Principal study options
During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:
Instrument/specialisms
For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.
Primary instrument/specialism
- Piano
Modules
Course Modules
MA Stage 1
Principal Study 1 – 80 Credits
-
Individual lessons
-
Performance assessments: playing for class
-
Repertoire assessments
Graduate Studies 1 – 30/20/10 Credits
- Negotiated departmental activities, such as improvisation, repertoire study and percussion
Practice Research – 10 Credits
- Research Project
Options – 0/10/20 Credits
- Range of optional classes drawn from School of Music, School of Stage and Screen and School of Dance
MA Stage 2
Negotiated Study – 60 Credits
- Individual composition, performance or academic project
https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/mmus-ma-piano-for-dance/#programme-structure
Assessment method
More information about what the course entails can be found on our website.
How to apply
If you are an international applicant, or you are applying for a postgraduate course, or are choosing certain assessment locations, the 'on time' deadline may be later in the year - please contact the conservatoire directly.
Apply by
1 October 2026
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- 802F
- Institution code:
- R58
- Campus name:
- Main Site
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Typical qualification requirements
In addition to the general entry requirements listed above, candidates will preferably already have:
- The potential to represent the sound of an orchestral score on the piano
- The ability to work encouragingly and effectively with others, including as part of a larger team
- Adaptability to a range of musical styles, and to a variety of rehearsal and performance situations
- Some experience of playing for a range of dance styles, including classical ballet, is desirable but not essential. https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/mmus-ma-piano-for-dance/#entry-requirements
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Typical qualification requirements
Additional entry requirements
- Audition
- All applicants to this programme will submit a recorded submission via Acceptd. The RCS audition panel will consist of relevant departmental staff members. Details of the repertoire requested for your recorded submission can be found below. All recorded submissions must contain a spoken introduction in English. Please tell us: - Your name - A bit about your musical background and training you’ve had till now - Your musical ambitions - Your reasons for applying to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland This video should be 3 to 5 minutes long and separate to your performance video. Please prepare the following for your audition recording - Performance of one short piano work of your own choice (approximately five minutes in length) - Performance of prepared ballet excerpts (which will be emailed to you once your application has been received) - Basic improvisations, which take the form of simple classroom warm up exercises set by a member of the ballet staff for you to accompany (videos will be emailed to you by the submission date) Once you submit your recording, this may be followed up with a live online interview. Please refer to our departmental webpage under the 'how to apply' section for further information about the audition process - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/mmus-ma-piano-for-dance/
- Interview
- The interview will be held by members of the audition panel. It will explore your understanding of the demands of the programme, knowledge of repertoire, aspects of performance practice, performance experience and attitudes, and professional aspirations. You may also be invited to talk about the recording you have submitted. You may also be given a sight reading as part of this process, depending on your principal study department(s).
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | 6.0 with no component below 5.5 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 80 | Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17 |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Overall score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all components (reading, listening, speaking, writing) |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Overall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all components | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Overall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all components |
https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/
Assessment locations
In the event of a successful assessment, applicants may be invited for a further interview prior to being made an offer.
Remote assessment recordings may be accepted in the event that you cannot attend an assessment in person.
Single specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee |
|---|---|
| Recording | Not available at this location |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee |
|---|---|
| Recording | Not Applicable |
Additional Information
All applicants need to complete an Acceptd account profile and application, this is part of the audition process (https://app.getacceptd.com/rcs) and needs to be completed once your UCAS application has been submitted. Applicants submitting performance recordings via our Acceptd platform, may be asked to a follow-up live online interview with the department you are applying for. You can view the audition requirements and what to prepare for this course at the following page on our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/mmus-ma-piano-for-dance/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|
* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Please note, all new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies.
For more information on fees, funding and scholarship, please see our website.
Sponsorship information
Music Scholarships
Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made following an audition and offer of a place at the RCS. Scholarships are made based on ability and potential with some for financial need. Many School of Music scholarships are made for the duration of the programme. There is no separate scholarship application for the School of Music as everyone is automatically considered.
Related courses
At Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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