My first piano lesson was on my tenth birthday and ever since, the piano has been a life-long study with a pursuit of classical music. By 18 years of age I was able enough to achieve Grade 8 piano with distinction from The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music as well as Grade 8 Theory of Music (Grade 8 being the final student Grade) and at the time, quite rapidly discovered that Grade 8 was not the end but just the beginning in terms of musical skill and musical development and knowledge.
Post Grade 8 and after further study I achieved two piano performance diplomas (ALCM) and (DipABRSM), I then went on to be successful with the highly demanding and prestigious Licentiate of The Royal Schools of Music Piano Performance Diploma Examination (LRSM) which is recognized the world over; the LRSM examination involved the performance of demanding repertoire, an extensive viva voce of verbal questioning and also, in my case for the ‘Quick Study’, a previously unseen baroque-style whole Gigue to prepare and perform with only 5 minutes preparation time; there are several examiners assessing live and the whole exam was audio recorded to ensure a rigour and standard appropriate to holding the LRSM.
Also, I am twice piano performance Licentiate of Trinity College London (LTCL) with different repertoire, and twice piano performance Licentiate of The London College of Music at The University of West London (LLCM) with different repertoire; this along with other music successes including an academic FLCM (Fellow of The London College of Music) – some of my academic study in music being with the London College of Music at the then Thames Valley University.
My full qualifications in music are as follows:
LRSM (Piano Performance), LTCL (Piano Recital), LTCL (Piano Recital), LLCM (Piano Recital), LLCM (Piano Performance), DipABRSM (Piano Performance), ALCM (Piano Performance), LVCM(Hons) (Piano Performance), FLCM (Diploma in Music Literacy – Research Thesis (Music)), FVCM(Hons) (Musicology (by Thesis)), FVCM(Hons) (Composition), BA(Music), MMus, PhD(Music).
I am an experienced music tutor with advanced piano tuition specialty at higher education level as well as experience in teaching all levels of piano from absolute beginner to performance diploma standard with excellent learner results. One of my students of piano wrote: “Michael is calm, professional, patient, and exceptionally talented.”
Dr Michael Spacie has much experience of teaching the piano on all levels from absolute beginner to diploma standard in his dedicated home music studio. He is not only an experienced music tutor but is highly qualified and professional, and also a very extensively qualified musician holding, as well as other qualifications in music, five Licentiate Piano Performance Diplomas awarded by the major accredited leading UK based examination boards:- LRSM Piano Performance Diploma: Licentiate of The Royal Schools of Music; LTCL Piano Recital Diploma and LTCL Piano Recital Diploma: Licentiate of Trinity College London; LLCM Piano Recital Diploma and LLCM Piano Performance Diploma: Licentiate of The London College of Music at the The University of West London.
The above Licentiateships are advanced diploma qualifications in professional piano performance that are valued and respected with recognition of expertise and competence within the music profession, other professions, and also the wider public in general. Performance Licentiateships from major accredited leading UK based examination boards are highly focused qualifications demanding excellent standards and are not broad-based or generalist as many music qualifications are nowadays. They are altogether something different – an appealing challenge to high-level traditional musical skill and are worthy of note.
RSM, TCL and LCM performance diploma examinations are known and recognised throughout the world. They are accredited by Ofqual in England and its respective partners in Wales and Northern Ireland. They are also international examination boards. Holders of RSM, TCL and LCM peformance diploma examinations are entitled to use the respective post-nominal letters after their name.
Dr Michael Spacie is also a holder of the DipABRSM Piano Performance Diploma from The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music as well as the ALCM Piano Performance Diploma from The London College of Music at the University of West London, and also the LVCM(Hons) Piano Performance Diploma from The Victoria College of Music, London.
In addition to the aforementioned piano performance diplomas, Dr Michael Spacie is also a holder of the music degrees of BA(Music), MMus, PhD(Music), the latter qualification enabling the title of ‘Dr’. In this instance, the term ‘doctor’ has nothing to do with medicine; modern practitioners of medicine hold the title by custom, not by right. It’s the title of the highest academic degree i.e. PhD. Dr Michael Spacie is also the holder of a raft of Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship diplomas in various facets of music including a postgraduate Fellow Diploma in Music Literacy – Thesis (Music) – FLCM (Fellow of The London College of Music). This diploma is from The London College of Music at the University of West London which is respected worldwide and the diploma is also academically challenging to obtain. A successful thesis (20,000+ words) will reflect good literary style and academic rigour. Both examiners, the senior academic examiner and the chief examiner gave the comments: “An interesting and generally well researched thesis……convincingly done……Thus, on balance, a worthy and generally successful attempt to deal with this fascinating subject.” The London College of Music examinations are nationally and internationally recognised and are unique in the music diploma examination sector in being awarded by a University, i.e. nowadays The University of West London and prior to this, Thames Valley University where the academic study was awarded. Dr Michael Spacie is also a holder of the FVCM(Hons) in musicology by thesis and the FVCM(Hons) in composition from The Victoria College of Music, London.
Dr Michael Spacie LRSM LTCL LTCL LLCM LLCM DipABRSM ALCM LVCM(Hons) FLCM FVCM(Hons) FVCM(Hons) BA(Music) MMus PhD(Music)
Dr Michael Spacie:
Practical Piano Performance Diplomas:-
LRSM (Piano Performance)
LTCL (Piano Recital)
LTCL (Piano Recital)
LLCM (Piano Recital)
LLCM (Piano Performance)
DipABRSM (Piano Performance)
ALCM (Piano Performance)
LVCM(Hons) (Piano Performance)
Academic Qualifications:-
FLCM (Diploma in Music Literacy – Research Thesis (Music))
FVCM(Hons) (Musicology (by Thesis))
FVCM(Hons) (Composition)
BA(Music)
MMus
PhD(Music)
Dr Michael Spacie also holds a number of different qualifications in music from other examination boards: FNCM in Singing Tuition; ANCM Piano Teaching Diploma; AMusNCM and LMusNCM in Theory of Music; NCM Senior Gold Medal in Piano Performance; DASM (Diploma of Advanced Studies in Music) from the ICMusA (Independent Contemporary Music Awards).