In recent times the types of teaching and learning strategies adopted within higher education in British music conservatoires have been reviewed and reformed. This paper provides a case study of some of the newer practices adopted by one such institution, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. It focuses on the work of the Performance and Communication Skills Department, and, drawing on participant observations, makes a detailed analysis of the success of the implementation of the teaching and learning aims and objectives. The findings suggest that, not only are the changes adopted by the conservatoire useful, but also that they are beneficial to teachers and students at a number of levels.