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Another dumb list of ‘best’ music colleges, this one from the Guardian

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norman lebrecht

May 27, 2015

Ranking educational institutions on merit is never an exact science. We’ve published a few such attempts before. But this latest list from the Guardian newspaper of the ‘top’ places in Britain to acquire a music education seems wider than most of any kind of mark.

It frankly beggars belief to put the Royal College of Music six places above the Royal Academy (pictured). Each has areas of excellence, but most neutral observers would place the Avademy first. And as for putting the University of Surrey above Oxford and Cambridge…. well, you might as well include Hogwarts, which seems to have a more stable future as Surrey embraces a rush of cuts.

Enjoy.

1	Royal College of Music	100
2	Edinburgh	99.4
3	Manchester	99.1
4	Surrey	98.8
5	Oxford	95.9
6	Guildhall School of Music and Drama	95
7	Royal Academy of Music	94.3
8	Sheffield	93.1
9	Birmingham	93
10	Southampton	91.9
11	Durham	91.3
12	Cambridge	90.7
13	Nottingham	90.5
14	Birmingham City	88.2
15	Glasgow	88.1
15	Sussex	88.1
17	Newcastle	86.3
18	Brunel	85.6
19	Bangor	84.7
20	Royal Holloway	84.6
21	Royal Welsh College	84.5
22	Bristol	83.8
23	York	83.7
24	King’s College London	83.5
25	City	82.9
26	Goldsmiths	82.8
26	Queen’s, Belfast	82.8
28	Trinity Laban Conservatoire	81.9
29	Leeds	81.5
30	Hull

Comments

Meretrician says:

May 27, 2015 at 12:40 pm

Worth noting that Surrey has a quite prestigious Tonmeister degree which offers industry-level training in music production and the like.

Also, given the data comes partly from student reporting, I’m curious what you feel makes the Academy better than the College. Both have excellent representation in the profession.

Al G says:

May 28, 2015 at 2:42 pm

I’ve studied at both recently. The experience I had at the RAM was superior to what I got from studying at the RCM. The Academy has great teacher, resources, and doesn’t feel as crowded as the RCM. Anyway, RAM and RCM should both be in the first places of the list. Also, where is the RNCM in the list? It’s an excellent school.

Reply

Simon Harding says:

May 27, 2015 at 1:01 pm

Wot no Huddersfield?

Theodore McGuiver says:

May 27, 2015 at 10:33 pm

When they say Manchester, do they mean the university or the RNCM? Ditto for Glasgow and the RASMD as well as Edinburgh and St. Mary’s. You can’t take this list seriously.

Simon Harding has a point, too. Huddersfield Poly (or whatever it’s called now) has an excellent music department.

As it was the Grauniad the organically-baked tofu in the canteen probably played a part.