Central Conservatory of Music

The Central Conservatory of Music is ranked as the topmost music school in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Located in Beijing — the capital of the country — the nomenclature of this institution in the Chinese language is written as 中央音乐学院.

General Idea

Established in 1950, the Central Conservatory of Music offers courses to both the national and foreign students and serves for all levels — from the primary programs to the postgraduate ones. Composition, conducting, musicology, voice and opera, piano, orchestral instruments and traditional Chinese musical instruments are offered for the students of the undergraduate programmes of four or five years. Six-year courses in piano, orchestral instruments, traditional instruments and music theory are offered for the students in the middle school stage. Altogether two primary schools of music serve the full-time students and those attending the evening sessions in the institution. The evening university is meant for the students of mature age.

Recently, the Central Conservatory of Music developed tie-ups with overseas institutions and a number of famous personalities in the field of music. Often students of this music school proceed on overseas tours to practice higher studies, deliver lectures or render performances there. Prominent musicians from abroad are also frequently invited to teach or offer lectures in the premier music school of the country. They also participate in a number of significant congregations. Mention may be made of the following five areas:

1. China Youth Symphony Orchestra.
2. Chinese Traditional Musical Instruments Ensemble
3. Conservatory Students Chorus
4. Middle School Students Orchestra
5. Primary School Students Performing Group.

The University Ground

The Central Conservatory of Music has quite a sprawling campus covering an area of approximately 53,000 square metres of land in the heart of Beijing. The university ground includes a varied complex of traditional and modern buildings. The Conservatory Library with its treasure trove of over 500,000 volumes is the largest collection of its kind in mainland China.

Facilities

The Central Conservatory of Music owns a large number of musical instruments which also includes 500 pianos. They have various educational facilities including a well-equipped electronic music studio with advance recording and video equipment, and a violin workshop.

Degrees obtainable

The institution offers three types of degrees. They are as follows:

1. One can obtain Bachelor’s degree in the following areas:

• Musicology (The course extends for a period of five years)


• Composition & Compositional Theory (The course extends for a period of five years)


• Vocal Singing (The course extends for a period of five years)


• Conducting (The course extends for a period of five years)


• Keyboard Instruments Performance


• Wind and Stringed (percussional) Instruments Performance


• Chinese Musical Instruments Performance


• The Arts of Instrumental Making and Repair

• Musicology


• Composition and Compositional Theory


• Vocal Singing


• Conducting


• Keyboard Instruments Performance (4 years)


• Wind and Stringed (Percussional)Instruments Performance (4 years)


• Chinese Musical Instruments Performance (4 years)


• The Arts of Instruments Making and Repair (4 years)

• Musicology


• Composition & Compositional Theory

A number of students of the school have carved a niche for themselves in various genres of musicology. A few of the luminaries among them are:

Chen Yi, Ju Jin, Liu Shikun, Lang Lang, Liang Wang, Sa Ding Ding, Tan Dun, Xiaoyong Chen, Xu Ke, Gong-Qian Yang, Ye Xiaogang, Yuja Wang, Zhang Dingyuan, Zhou Long, Zhu Xiao-Mei.

Academic & Department