Seriously though, is there anything you *weren't* expected to learn as part of the Graduate Northern School of Music programme??

Ref: NSM/3
Dates are approximate

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Years after her death, the Northern School of Music still honours its founder Hilda Collens on its syllabus.

Ref: NSM/3

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

According to these syllabi, as a graduate of the Northern School of Music's Associate Diploma of Music Education in Schools programme, you had to learn the piano, had to learn sight-singing and had to learn your music history. As well as a whole bunch of other things!

Ref: NSM/3
Dates are approximate

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music offered a pretty holistic programme of study. With their special course in elocution, you could learn a foreign language, English literature, rhythmic movement and all sorts as well as music and music teaching.

Ref: NSM/3
Date is approximate

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

I like how even after at least 25 years since the school changed its name and even whilst acknowledging the forthcoming merger with the Royal Manchester College of Music to form the RNCM, it still recognises its beginnings as "formerly known as Matthay School of Music, Manchester Branch" on its prospectus. It appears to always look towards to its roots as well as manage its future.

Ref: NSM/2

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This prospectus for the Northern School of Music has a different cover than other of its time. Most are NSM green but this a silver-grey. Could it be different to mark it's golden anniversary (gold binding is pretty hard to come by!)? Could it be simply a case that the printers ran out of NSM green? Could it be a mix up? Who knows!

Ref: NSM/2
Date is approximate

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This prospectus for the Northern School of Music has some heavy annotations on the staff list page - anyone make out what it all means? Could be notes for writing up the 1968 prospectus?

Ref: NSM/2

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This amazing staged production is a total mystery. Students of the Northern School of Music (1920-1972, music teacher training school, founded as the Matthay School of Music’s Manchester Branch, incorporated as the Northern School of Music in 1943) wearing fabulous costumes and and orchestra working really hard must have been a show to remember. But we have no idea what it is! Or who any of the performers are.

Do you? Please share with us in the comments.

Ref: NSM/13/26

Uploaded as part of the #ExploreYourArchive campaign 2019 #MysteriousArchives

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

So this is my new favourite thing although I must admit to not quite understanding it. It is called "Notes on musical compositions" and is an old volume of music scores with pasted in press cuttings referring to particular composers and their works.
Now, I think it's smashing but it's a little bit of a mystery. We don't know who created or why - was it simply a hobby, were they researching something, were they doing it for a project? Why choose the music book as the scrap book? How long did it take? Where did they get their clippings from. So many questions!

Ref: Man-Mus/43

Uploaded as part of the #ExploreYourArchive campaign 2019 #MysteriousArchives

This journey of ditties for piano is a series called "Sea Idylls", written by Walter Carroll (1869-1955, father of Ida Carroll, teacher, composer and music education professional).

Ref: Carroll/WC/10/2/7
Ownership of Ida Carroll Trust

Uploaded as part of the #ExploreYourArchive campaign 2019 #ArchivesAtSea

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A draft prospectus of the Northern School of Music. What do you think of its rules? "All full time students must obtain the school scarf." Well, it is Manchester so a little weather protection is sensible.

Ref: NSM/2
Date is approximate

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A prospectus of the Northern School of Music. Unbound it looks rather naked!

Ref: NSM/2
Date is approximate

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A prospectus of the Northern School of Music just after the Second World War ended, including the Speech and Drama course!

Ref: NSM/2

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A prospectus of the Matthay School of Music (later becoming the Northern School of Music). Probably from around 1930.

Ref: NSM/2
Date is approximate

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

An early prospectus of the Matthay School of Music (later becoming the Northern School of Music). Probably from the mid-late 1920s, this poor document has been snacked on by some cheeky critter. A smashing amount of information about what to expect and who is involved.

Ref: NSM/2
Date is approximate

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This raucous photograph series shows the Northern School of Music's 1959 production of "L'elisir d'amore", an opera by Gaetano Donizetti. A tale of young love, magic potions and a rather unethical doctor, this opera is action packed and from the look of things, the NSM did a smashing job! Amazing potential for caption competitions - include yours in the comments below.

Ref: NSM/13/18-20

Uploaded as part of the #ExploreYourArchive campaign 2019 #ActionArchives

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The minute book of the Northern School of Music, additional papers. Formed in 1920 as the Matthay School of Music, many early records have been lost over the years. This brief book gives us a view of the overall direction of the college towards the end of WW2 and beyond.

Ref: NSM/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The minute book of the Northern School of Music, year 1968. Formed in 1920 as the Matthay School of Music, many early records have been lost over the years. This brief book gives us a view of the overall direction of the college towards the end of WW2 and beyond.

Ref: NSM/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The minute book of the Northern School of Music, year 1969. Formed in 1920 as the Matthay School of Music, many early records have been lost over the years. This brief book gives us a view of the overall direction of the college towards the end of WW2 and beyond.

Ref: NSM/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The minute book of the Northern School of Music, year 1970. Formed in 1920 as the Matthay School of Music, many early records have been lost over the years. This brief book gives us a view of the overall direction of the college towards the end of WW2 and beyond.

Ref: NSM/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The minute book of the Northern School of Music, year 1971. Formed in 1920 as the Matthay School of Music, many early records have been lost over the years. This brief book gives us a view of the overall direction of the college towards the end of WW2 and beyond.

Ref: NSM/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The minute book of the Northern School of Music, year 1972. Formed in 1920 as the Matthay School of Music, many early records have been lost over the years. This brief book gives us a view of the overall direction of the college towards the end of WW2 and beyond.

Ref: NSM/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The minute book of the Northern School of Music, year 1973. Formed in 1920 as the Matthay School of Music, many early records have been lost over the years. This brief book gives us a view of the overall direction of the college towards the end of WW2 and beyond.

Ref: NSM/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The minute book of the Northern School of Music, year 1974. Formed in 1920 as the Matthay School of Music, many early records have been lost over the years. This brief book gives us a view of the overall direction of the college towards the end of WW2 and beyond.

Ref: NSM/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.