Wearing gloves and picking up a wooden flute from storage, in the RCM's Wolfson Centre

Research

Research at the Royal College of Music embraces the creative, cultural and scientific study of music. Our thriving community of researchers works on a diverse range of projects in musicology, performance science, music education, composition and performance.

Our students are mentored and supported by staff at the cutting edge of research and innovation in their own disciplines, recognised internationally for their work. With access to fantastic resources, staff and students are able to work on research projects that embrace themes that include creative practice, experiential learning, history, music psychology and health and wellbeing.

The Royal College of Music (RCM) is ranked top UK conservatoire offering music as a single subject in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).

News

Royal College of Music to host landmark symposium on music and parental wellbeing

Pioneering research from the Royal College of Music (RCM) is reshaping global understanding of how music can support parental wellbeing.

Kurt Cobain Unplugged – one of rock music’s most iconic guitars displayed in a new exhibition at the Royal College of Music Museum

Kurt Cobain’s legendary Martin D-18E, played during Nirvana’s iconic MTV Unplugged performance, will be displayed in the UK for the first time as part of Kurt Cobain Unplugged at the Royal College of Music (RCM) Museum, running from 3 June to 18 November 2025.

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