Springboard Young Composers Course
August 2025 - April 2026
Inspired by Nature
This free course is for instrumentalists, singers, composers or song-writers from any musical background with an open attitude to collaboration and inventing music (of all styles) alongside others. The course takes an accessible, practical, hands-on approach so there's no requirement to be able to read or notate music.
All participants must be in school years 9 and 10 (ages 13-15) and meet one of the RCM Sparks eligibility criteria found in the 'Free places and tickets' drop down menu.
Throughout the year, we aim to immerse participants in the rich and varied musical life of the Royal College of Music with approximately one workshop, event or short course per month. Each project looks at different creative stimuli, and this year we turn to natural history for inspiration.
Courses result in original pieces of music, created by the participants as a group, with the support of composers and musicians from the RCM. As the year progresses, participants build their knowledge of how music is created, develop a variety of composition techniques, and conclude with an individual or group composition professionally recorded with supporting live instrumentalists in the RCM Studios in the Easter school holidays.
Course dates
Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 August 2025 | 10.30am - 4.00pm - Creative Summer Course
Sunday 5 October | 10.30am - 4.00pm - Workshop: Groove Mode - A Journey into Jazz
Wednesday 15 October | 7.30pm - Concert: RCM Jazz Orchestra
Sunday 19 October | 10.30am - 4.00pm - Workshop + RCM Sparks Family Concert: A Musical Voyage
Tuesday 28 - Thursday 30 October | 10.30am - 4.00pm - Creative Half-term Course + RCM Symphony Orchestra concert
Monday 10 November | 6.00pm - Concert: Composition Showcase (senior college)*
Saturday 29 November | 5.15pm - Concert: RCM Junior Department Composers Concert (guitar focus)*
Sunday 7 December | 10.30am - 4.00pm - Workshop: Picture This! Exploring Composition Through Visual Stimuli (linked to RCM & Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year collaboration) - with live music
Spring term dates TBC - to include a bird-inspired project and a project in partnership with Kew Gardens Sounds of Blossom.
*Free ticket offer (not compulsory as not directly linked to course workshop content)
How to apply
Apply for a place on this course or email sparks@rcm.ac.uk for further information.
