I’m an amateur flutist who learned the fundamentals in elementary school and then picked up the habit again after high school. I’ve been playing on my own for about 6 years, and (judging from the syllabus) about a level 2-3 in the Royal Conservatory. I was thinking that (a) getting a tutor and (b) giving myself some real standards to work towards might improve me as a flutist.
I’m almost certain I’m going to get a tutor, but as for the RCM… is it worth it for someone who doesn’t want to perform professionally or teach? Would it just be an expensive ego thing?
Tutor or teacher - absolutely! I also highly recommend using the syllabus of the Royal Conservatory of Music to determine what repertoire you should be working on.
As far as the actual exam, that’s more a question of what you would want to do with it. If it’s the Toronto based Royal Conservatory of Music you’re speaking of, then it isn’t until Grade 10 that you ‘need’ to take the exam, and that’s only if you intend to go on to take your ARCT exam. I’m working on Grade 9 piano at the moment, and I haven’t felt the need to take any of the exams yet…
Not to hijack, but I wanted to let you know, Ministre, that I did end up ordering a copy of the syllabus for piano and that it’s been extremely helpful. Thanks so much for identifying a resource I’d never even heard of!
Oh, I’m happy to hear that you’ve found it useful. In my opinion, the syllabus is one of the best things that the RCM has done, especially for people like me who hear Chopin Ballades and think “That sounds easy”.
I think that unless you want to perform professionally or teach, an RCM accreditation would be an expensive ego thing.
Understand, that I also play the flute. I’m an amateur, and flute is for me, a hobby. However, I have studied flute, and from a teacher who was himself RCM-accredited. He knew I didn’t want RCM accreditation, but studying under him was the challenge–he was going to follow the syllabus anyway. So we did, though not prepping for exams meant that we could have some fun with non-RCM pieces at the same time, which was most welcome. Regardless, the skills imparted during the RCM work were quite valuable. I was able to improve my technique; and just as importantly, my confidence with the instrument when I did play with a professional friend in a pub, or when I participated in a jam session.
I’d suggest carefully selecting a teacher who can teach to the RCM accreditation, but who won’t make you a slave to it. Explain what you want to do (follow the syllabus but not do any exams), and if the teacher is agreeable, go for it. Like I said, flute is a hobby for me, but I’m glad I had the training I did. It helped in many ways.