Private and Conservatory study with Roger Bobo


Roger Bobo is very proud to announce his appointment as a full faculty member at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. As his work at the Lausanne Conservatory in Switzerland has been reduced due to Swiss mandatory retirement-age laws, Roger has become increasingly active at the RNCM. He can now accept post-graduate students for the coming academic year 2004/2005. Both British and overseas students are very welcome to apply, and tape auditions are possible! This is now "THE" school for students wishing to pursue postgraduate degrees with Roger Bobo.

In addition to regular tuba lessons and masterclasses (Roger is currently commuting from Switzerland, with two week long teaching sessions per month = four lessons / month), Roger is increasingly active as a conductor at the RNCM. Students of all brass instruments can also now benefit from Roger's long orchestral experience in the orchestral literature class at the conservatory.

The Director of the RNCM is composer Edward Gregsonm and the head of the School of Winds and Percussion is tubist James Gourlay, so it is certainly a "tuba friendly environment." Prof. Gregson sums up "life at the RNCM" (extracted from the RNCM website):

What can you expect if you come to the RNCM?

Well, certainly all of the following:

  • a wide range of performance opportunities
  • intensive individual tuition
  • a highly structured chamber music programme
  • modern and flexible programmes of study at undergraduate and postgraduate level
  • the ability to develop an individual artistic personality
  • a working knowledge and application of the latest technology
  • high quality new facilities (including a Library, teaching rooms and rehearsal studios)
  • interactive partnerships with regional professional performing groups and musical organisations
  • a lively, vibrant, and culturally exciting city
  • a friendly, happy, and supportive environment

Postgraduate courses are designed to meet the individual needs of students by offering one or two years of advanced study and experience in preparation for meeting the exacting demands of the profession. Career potential is a major factor in the assessment of applicants for all postgraduate courses.

The RNCM offers the following programs:

Entrants to Postgraduate courses must hold a first degree, or equivalent (or to be of equivalent professional standing). This qualification need not be in music but all candidates must be able to satisfy the College that they have already achieved a high standard of performance in their principal study discipline, and have the potential to develop further. Applicants for the MMus course must also have demonstrated high academic achievement at first degree level.

Performance opportunities

Students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses audition for orchestral opportunities and receive coaching in ensemble.

The RNCM has been at the centre of the national development of wind orchestras and ensembles, and is recognised internationally as a leader in this field, through the high-profile activities of the Wind Orchestra.

Ensembles include:

The highly acclaimed RNCM Big Band, which performs regularly in the College and at outside venues, is one of two full-sized jazz orchestras at the RNCM which, together with beginner and advanced classes in Jazz Improvisation, are open to all College students. 

The recently formed RNCM Brass Band has now recorded two commercial CDs and performs regularly all over the UK. With the variety of activity within the School, and the regular professional contacts gained through auditions, there are many freelance opportunities for students who have reached the appropriate standard.

Tuition fees (for academic year 2002/2003

UK and EU Students
Undergraduate £1,100
Postgraduates £4,400
Overseas Students
All courses £9,900

Tuition scholarships are availabel also for overseas students.

Student Housing

The RNCM also provides affordable student housing in the Groves Residence hall Public performance is central to the life of the RNCM and its students. The main RNCM orchestras and ensembles listed below regularly give performances both at the College and throughout the UK.

Auditions and admissions information

Please contact the RNCM Secretary of the School of Winds and Percussion directly for admissions information - You should also visit the RNCM website for more information. You can also request a prospectus - just click here


Post graduate study at the Lausanne Conservatory

Roger is the Professor of Advanced Studies for Low Brass at the Lausanne Conservatory in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he has an international class of tuba students. However, due to rigid Swiss laws regarding retirement age, Roger is no longer able to accept students at Lausanne - his tenure at the school is unfortunately slated to end when the last of his current students graduate in 2005.

Roger does however, accept students in Lausanne for a brief period of private study. Lausanne is located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland on the shores of Lake Geneva. It's a beautiful area internationally renowned for wine and cheese as well as tuba playing. The closest international airport is in Geneva, with convenient train connections to Lausanne (tweny-five minutes by train, with the train station in Lausanne being a ten minute walk from the conservatory).

The conservatory itself is located in the charming town centre in a modern building. All teaching studios have Steinway pianos and there is a Steinway workshop in the basement! There are abundant practise studios, a very good recital hall, and an excellent restaurant on the third floor.

The Conservatory is a 10 minute walk (uphill) from the train station, or a 10 franc taxi ride. The closest airport is in Geneva, which has excellent connecting railway service to Lausanne (approx. 40 minutes, with trains running every 1/2 hour).


Intensive private study with Roger Bobo

Two options...

For more information, rates, etc. please contact Roger Bobo's secretary .


Low Brass Course at the Fiesole Music School

Live in Italy and want to study with Roger? Welcome to the new low brass course at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole just above Florence (bus number 7 from the central station). The class meets for three consecutive days each month for individual lessons, low brass ensembles, audition preparation, technical study/warmup, etc. Contact for info.

Corso speciale per gli ottoni gravi alla scuola di musica di Fiesole

Nell'anno scolastico 2003/2004, Roger Bobo terrà come sempre il suo corso di perfezionamento per trombone, trombone basso, bombardino e basso tuba. Gli allievi devono essere già in possesso di un diploma (vale anche la laurea) e si iscrivono per tutto l'anno scolastico (novembre - giugno). Il corso avrà luogo una volta al mese per due giorni consecutivi (di solito sabato - domenica). Per informazioni, contattate la scuola all'indirizzo .

Allievi che hanno studiato con Roger Bobo a Fiesole e ormai sono "famosi":

Fossi Alessandro - corsi speciali

Affardelli Andrea - corsi speciali

Barsotti Mario - OGI, corsi speciali

Belda Alexandre Cerdà - OGI

Borgonovi Davide, corsi speciali e poi OGI

Colluso Rudy - corsi speciali

Coschino Antonio, corsi speciali e poi OGI

Gagliardi Gianluca - OGI

Gazzoldi Oreste - corsi speciali

Gatti Gianni - corsi speciali

Grosso Gianluca - corsi speciali and OGI

Hussein Dalmar - OGI e corsi speciali

Pierobon Marco - OGI

Scippioni Gianluca - corsi speciali e poi OGI


Mastering the Tuba

Roger Bobo has written a method book called "Mastering the Tuba" published by Editions Bim in Switzerland. This book contains excercises for technical development and skill expansion, and is suitable for musicians of all brass instruments (not just tuba and euphonium).

An important part of this book is the text, which is included in the spiral-bound edition in English, French and German. Orders from Italy, Japan and Spain are shipped with an accompanying translation.

The book is now in it's second revised printing: the second edition retains many of the popular exercises and warm ups from the original version, but many have been modified and updated. Also included are new topic areas on circular breathing and low register flexability. One noteworthy feature - the new edition is also considerably cheaper!

Mastering the Tuba can be ordered directly from the publisher by sending an email message to . Orders may also be faxed to +41-21-909 1009. Please direct telephone inquiries and orders to Editions Bim at +41-21-909 1000.

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