Diploma Courses 2025

The Cape Town Academy of Music (CTAM) offers personalised, quality music education 

CTAM is aligned to the international exam syllabus of Trinity College London, which offers the best in world trends and syllabi for all ages and levels. 

GRADE LEVEL STUDY

1. Dr Kinsey’s philosophy is to cater to the needs of the individual, offering discipline with creativity, and care for the person as a whole. One on one classes and small classes only. We can custom design to meet the individual’s aims, needs and abilities within the requirements of international graded study.
2. There are 8 grades to music (1-8), which under normal circumstances requires some 8 years to complete. Many of CTAM’s students, due to the personalised level of instruction, are able to complete the grades in a significantly reduced time. A student must have completed up to a Grade 7 level to be prepared for music at a tertiary university level, unless exempt, and Grade 8 for Diploma studies.

ASSOCIATE & LICENTIATE TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC LONDON (ATCL or LTCL) in Teaching or Performance (requires NQF 4 or Grade 8 Practical from a recognised institution)

CTAMs international level Diploma Courses, ATCL, LTCL, MA Dip and PD Dip are designed to provide a practical, highly relevant and professional series of courses that not only offer skills for employment in the industry, and for self employment, but are musically and personally rewarding.

1. Teaching or Performance Diplomas (ATCL or LTCL) takes a minimum of 1 year to complete [start Jan] and requires a Grade 8 pass, or for group teaching a Grade 6 pass. More often it is best to take 1.5 to 2 years to complete the diploma. In South Africa it equates to an Honours degree.
2. FTCL advanced diploma requires an LTCL pass and is equivalent to a Masters degree.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIPLOMA COURSE (PD DIP)

1. Professional Development (PDip.) takes a minimum of 1 year to complete – accepted after an audition [starts Jan]
2. It can be completed online or in person and full time or part time. Classes are one hour long.

PD Dip PRACTICAL SUBJECTS:

1. Guitar (Classical, Acoustic, Electric), Voice (Rock/Pop incl. Musical Theatre), Piano & Electronic Keyboards and some other instruments depending on demand and availability of teachers.
2. Songwriting/Composition, Arranging and Orchestration (optional)
3. Sight reading, Ear training, Score reading and Improvisation
4. Personal Style and Genre Development with Voice or Own Instrument

PD Dip THEORETICAL SUBJECTS:

1. Hit Song Study (understand different genres, form, melody, chord structures and prosody)
2. Entrepreneurship, Marketing and the Business of Music

THE MUSIC ARTIST DIPLOMA COURSE (MADip)

1. Music Artist (MADip.) takes 1 year to complete – accepted after an audition [start in Jan]
2. Music Artist (MADip. part time), (takes 2 years to complete – accepted after an audition)

 MA Dip PRACTICAL SUBJECTS:

1. Guitar (Classical, Acoustic, Electric), Voice (Rock/Pop incl. Musical Theatre), Piano & Electronic Keyboards and some other instruments depending on demand and availability of teachers
2. Songwriting/Composition, Arranging and Orchestration
3. Sight reading, Ear training, Score reading and Improvisation

MA Dip THEORETICAL SUBJECTS:

1. Theory of Music (start at any level and go at your own pace)
2. Hit Song Study (understand different genres, form, melody, chord structures and prosody)
3. History of Music (from antiquity to rock and contemporary music)
4. Entrepreneurship, Marketing and the Business of Music
5. Music Education (individual and class music teaching options) – optional
6. Research and writing about music, Music Analysis and Music Pedagogy – optional

DOWNLOAD THE DIPLOMA COURSE DETAILS: CTAM PROSPECTUS 

FEES 2025 – Per Term