About the North & Midlands School of Music
The NMSM is an independent body, governed by Constitution, and consists of professional and amateur musicians from all walks of life. We are not a ‘school’ in the normal sense as there is no physical building and no teaching is undertaken, we operate as a ‘guild’.
The NMSM was originally founded in 1992 from the former Lancashire School of Music, started by entertainment organist Reginald Dixon (Tower Ballroom, Blackpool) to encourage young people to perform in public and enjoy keyboard music.
Following the principles established by Reginald Dixon, the School grew and diversified into all areas of music.
Performance-based assessment, offered at Associate, Licentiate, and Fellowship levels, are the main focus of the School. Two pre-Associate diploma grades, DipOrgNMSM and ChoristerDipNMSM, are also offered, which combine both practical and theory assessment.
Our examinations are open to all subscribing members of the School paying the annual £20.00 subscription. Membership is open to all ages.
Membership is open to anyone interested in music, performers, composers, or researchers. As the School receives no external funding, an annual membership fee is payable and it is a pre-requisite to register as a subscribing member, prior to applying to be assessed.
Members of the School are entitled to wear academic regalia and those gaining diplomas can wear one of the distinctive Cambridge-shaped black hoods, fully lined in scarlet silk. Fellows hoods have an additional two inches of high quality imitation fur to the cowl. Our diplomas are complimented by a range of academic hoods. Once you have joined the School, you will be entitled to wear our NMSM membership hood (non-award bearing) and an academic gown.
Candidates can suggest the date and venue for their assessment. If carried out by video link, this will need to establish the presence of an audience. Please note, we do not accept recordings in order to gain any of our assessments.
If a candidate would like to take an assessment in person, details of the venue must be agreed with the examiner and the examiner’s travel expenses will be added to the exam fee. Candidates can also choose the works to be performed, subject to approval, for the preferred level.
Candidates can also offer a dissertation on a musical topic approved by the School. Examinations also are available in composition, and liturgical accompaniment and singing.
