This course is for performers interested in live or recorded performance within classical or jazz styles. Throughout you’ll receive one-to-one instrumental or vocal tuition from our team of experienced tutors as part of a series of performance modules. The course culminates with a final project, where you’ll prepare a performance, normally a high-profile public recital. Alongside your solo work you’ll develop your research, collaborative, ensemble and publicity skills.
This course gives you, as a instrumental/vocal performer, the skills and opportunities to develop your individual and ensemble skills to a high level. You’ll undertake four modules over two trimesters and a double module in your third trimester.
You may explore areas of your own interest, which may relate to staff specialisms, such as opera (Garth Bardsley), early music and music of the Georgian period (Dr Matthew Spring), and romantic and early twentieth-century music (Dr Charles Wiffen), piano skills and improvisation (Thomas Whorley).
In Performance 1, you’ll develop your performance skills and technique, and extend your repertoire. Alongside this the Research Methodologies and Context module gives you a thorough grounding in research methodology. Your development as a performer is supported by regular one-to-one lessons with a specialist teacher.
The Performance 2 module develops performance skills and repertoire while furthering your understanding of performance history and practice. You’ll also explore strategies for marketing yourself. You’ll have a choice of modules at this stage and the opportunity to work with peers and across subject boundaries.
You’ll have a choice of modules at this stage: Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Practice, Intercultural Musicology and Opera Studies.
The third trimester involves a Major Project for which you'll prepare a programme for a substantial public performance. The content and structure of this project is to be negotiated with course tutors.
For more information on modules, please go to: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/pg-music-performance/
Modules are normally taught through one-to-one lessons, seminars and practical workshops. These are supported by individual tutorials and online activity within the Virtual Learning Environment.
The Major Project involves student-directed work, with supporting tutorials and instrumental/vocal lessons. We encourage you to make full use of library and IT resources, and time will be scheduled in studios and workstations labs for independent study, as appropriate.
You’ll complete individual assignments for each module. Performance based modules (Performance 1, Opera Studies and Major Project) are assessed through performance on your instrument or voice, reflective commentaries on your process, or a lecture recital in the case of Performance 2. Intercultural Musicology and Research Methodologies and Context modules will be be assessed on written submissions.
For more information on assessment, please view the course handbook via the website: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/pg-music-performance/
Previous graduate destinations include:
• Doctoral studies at Durham University
• Freelance repetiteur and keyboard/continuo specialist
• Choir Director and Piano/Vocal Tutor
• Marines Conductor
• Opera Studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
• Freelance classical and early music singer
Our graduates work in a wide range of performance-related areas such as:
• Orchestral performance
• Opera
• Conducting
• Choral direction
• Chamber music
• Accompaniment
• Session work
• Music promotion
• Record labels
• Broadcast media
• Instrumental teaching
• Group teaching
• Community music projects
• University lecturing
The Master of Music in Composition and Creative Practice is designed to enable students to develop their compositional practice in a dynamic, rigorous and supportive creative environment. It aims to provide training in a range of approaches, introducing tools and techniques relevant to today’s music making, and encouraging exploration, innovation and experimentation.
The programme is comprised of three core courses (Composition, Digital and Creative Skills, Individual Creative Practice, and Composition Portfolio) as well as a series of optional courses to allow you to tailor our own bespoke structure. Options will include:
There will also be opportunities to engage with interdisciplinary study, with courses available from other subjects within the School:
Core teaching will be delivered during semesters 1 and 2. Over the summer months you will complete the core Composition Portfolio, to be submitted at the end of August.
A variety of teaching methods will be used, including seminars, one-to-one tutorials, and project work.
This programme prepares students for careers in composition as well as equipping students more generally with skills necessary for careers in cultural industries (eg. arts administration and management). Additionally, this programme provides the necessary foundation for pursuing further research in composition in the form of a PhD.
The Musicology Masters at Glasgow presents a broad, multi-dimensional approach to Music as a key component of numerous contemporary cultural practices. Building on a thorough grounding in the methodological roots, you’ll be able to specialise in professional fields such as Sound and Music for Screen Media, Historically Informed Performance Practice, Popular Music Studies, Sonic Arts, and Creative Practice Research. A team of world-leading researchers collaborate to provide an up-to-date, interdisciplinary exploration of historiographical, analytical, sociological, and critical approaches, opening opportunities for reflection on a broad range of musical traditions, performing styles and recording media.
TYou’ll take:
You’ll also write a dissertation and have the chance to take a work placement in a music or arts organisation.
Dissertation
This programme prepares students for careers in the music and creative industries as well as related fields, such as media and broadcasting. Additionally, this programme provides the necessary foundation for pursuing further research in musicology in the form of a PhD.
The Master of Music (Performance Teaching) is a specialist coursework degree, preparing graduates in Western classical and contemporary music as performer-teachers. Our graduates work as instrumental or vocal instructors in schools, studios, community programs, and in private provider and further education settings, both in Australia and overseas.
The course has two specialisations:
The course provides advanced music performance tuition, second instrument studies and ensemble participation alongside the pedagogy of performance teaching. Professional practice is completed in a variety of settings including community organisations, schools, studios and Suzuki classes and there is a range of elective subjects in the practical, theoretical and research areas.
The specialist pedagogical subjects, combined with individual lessons, will enable students to acquire a thorough understanding of teaching issues that are specific to music performance and of the various methods and approaches applied to teaching music performance at all levels.
In the final semester students choose between:
Specialist electives may include: Teaching Aural Musicianship, Applied Physiology for Musicians, Piano Pedagogy and Piano Repertoire.
Completing the Instrumental Specialisation in the Master of Music (Performance Teaching) will enable students to obtain advanced standing with a range of education providers, leading to Victorian Institute of Teaching registration after an additional period of study.
This course also offers a pathway into the PhD after completing the Professional Research Project elective.
Our postgraduate degrees in music stand apart from similar courses due to the breadth of musical genres that they will expose you to. From rock and pop, to classical, jazz, electronic and other world styles, each genre is given equal precedence, and you will have a great opportunity to learn from each tradition.
During your time with us, you will also have the opportunity to collaborate on projects with other students and you will learn from academics who are all practicing professional musicians at national and international levels.
On this exciting and challenging music course, you will have the opportunity to follow one of four specialist pathways:
If you are keen to broaden your musical knowledge, you can also combine your specialist pathway with other pathways.
This course begins with a shared 30-credit plenary module, you would then take another module dependent upon your specialist pathway. Semester 2 allows you to choose one 30-credit option outside of your chosen pathway alongside another 30-credit module from your specialist pathway. Semester 3 sees you working on a single 60-credit module; your Negotiated Final Project.
The course is delivered by way of lectures, seminars, masterclasses, supervision tutorials/instrumental lessons
After completing the MA in Music people will find their professional skills to be considerably enhanced. We have found that this has enhanced career prospects in Music Education (Teachers/Lecturers), Arts Administration and as freelance Performers and Composers.
PGR options in Composition, Performance, Technology and Musicology
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES
The Music Directorate houses 5 fully equipped professional recording studios with access to a variety of recording/performance spaces. We have created a creative and educational environment which aims to mirror contemporary professional studio practise. Our general philosophy is to facilitate the use of both analogue and digital recording platforms, software and hardware signal processing. All studios centre around a large format mixing desk which can feed hard disk recording systems and 24 track analogue tape machines. All studios make use of professional level outboard and software plugins as well as comprehensive balanced patch bays, giving students the opportunity to fully explore traditional signal routing, a skill vital to ones progression into professional practice.
REHEARSAL FACILITIES
The Music Directorate houses six 'amplified rehearsal rooms', each containing a vocal PA system, stage piano / keyboard, drum kit and back-line amplifiers for guitars, bass and keyboards / electronics. The equipment is sourced from a wide range of manufacturers such as Sonor, Sabian, Roland, Mackie, Yamaha, Line 6, Fender and many more. All of the equipment is maintained by our team of both full time and evening / weekend rehearsal suite supervisors.
We also encourage students to use their own equipment for rehearsals. To facilitate this we have an instrument storage facility where students can leave their equipment to avoid having to constantly transport it between lectures, seminars and accommodation. Students are free to store instruments, amplifiers, drum kit accessories on a short/mid term basis.
'The Band Room' is a large double height space with a modifiable acoustic characteristic. It is mainly used for large acoustic ensemble rehearsals, catering for our Big Band, Brass Bands, Adelphi Contemporary Music Group and Wind Band. It is also used for performance master classes and small concerts (capacity approx 80 - 100) with a two tier stage and 5kw PA system.
Specialist rooms for drum / percussion tuition and bass guitar tuition are located in this area. When these facilities are not in use by teaching staff the rooms can be booked for individual student practice.
In addition to the facilities housed in the University we have a partnership with 'Blueprint Recording and Rehearsal Studios' (http://www.blueprint-studios.com). This world class facility is located just 10 minutes walk from the Adelphi campus and caters for any overspill from our own rehearsal rooms. Many students take 'block bookings' at Blueprint whilst working towards ensemble musicianship performance exams.
We also have a range of equipment for loan to students to enable them to put on their own events both inside and outside the University. This includes PA systems, amplifiers and drum kits.
Urban design professionals are in demand. We can help you develop design skills that will relate to a broader social, environmental and economic context, linking individual architectural projects and overall planning strategies.
Our graduates are architects, project managers, urban designers and client advisers.
Employers include the Olympic Park Legacy Company, Hawkins Brown, Renzo Piano Building Workshop and URBED (Urbanism, Environment and Design) Ltd. With a post-qualification degree, you could move on to a senior position or further academic research and teaching.
You’ll be joining one of the largest and most diverse groups of full-time architecture academics in the country. Our staff come from the arts, physical and social sciences, and engineering. This connects our research to other disciplines and stimulates debate about the future of architecture.
Our international research projects shape policy and address public and professional needs. We integrate those projects with our teaching on courses that will develop your core skills. You’ll be encouraged to provide social and environmental solutions to the challenges of our time.
The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) ranks us fourth in the UK.
You’ll have access to a lot of specialist facilities. Our media unit has a range of audio-visual and environmental equipment including artificial sky for daylight simulation, a thermal imaging camera and a mixed reality imaging suite. We have our own photography studio, reprographics unit and 3D printers. There are design studios, research rooms and computer labs.
Our teaching is more than lectures and seminars. Our student-led design projects help you learn by doing. You’ll discover the benefits of socially engaged design and collaborative working.
Studio-based design work with individual and group tutorials, block seminars, workshops and traditional lecture modules.
You’ll be assessed on course assignments and examinations, design thesis and a dissertation.
This studio-based course will help you develop your own distinctive design practice. You’ll explore design processes and methodologies. There are opportunities to work on real-life projects with local and regional groups. You can take the course as a stand-alone MA or as preparation for a PhD via our PhD by Design programme.
Our graduates are architects, project managers, urban designers and client advisers.
Employers include the Olympic Park Legacy Company, Hawkins Brown, Renzo Piano Building Workshop and URBED (Urbanism, Environment and Design) Ltd. With a post-qualification degree, you could move on to a senior position or further academic research and teaching.
You’ll be joining one of the largest and most diverse groups of full-time architecture academics in the country. Our staff come from the arts, physical and social sciences, and engineering. This connects our research to other disciplines and stimulates debate about the future of architecture.
Our international research projects shape policy and address public and professional needs. We integrate those projects with our teaching on courses that will develop your core skills. You’ll be encouraged to provide social and environmental solutions to the challenges of our time.
The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) ranks us fourth in the UK.
You’ll have access to a lot of specialist facilities. Our media unit has a range of audio-visual and environmental equipment including artificial sky for daylight simulation, a thermal imaging camera and a mixed reality imaging suite. We have our own photography studio, reprographics unit and 3D printers. There are design studios, research rooms and computer labs.
Our teaching is more than lectures and seminars. Our student-led design projects help you learn by doing. Working with real clients on real projects, you’ll discover the benefits of socially engaged design and collaborative working. The outcomes make a difference to communities.
You will be able to choose a route of study based on your area of interest from options available.
Our design teaching is studio based with several research-led options. Programmes run by specialist staff link together lectures, studio work and research.
Each module is assessed individually, either by formal written examination or by coursework.
This innovative programme explores how arts and creative enterprises work in theory and practice, as well as the impact they can have on individuals and communities.
You’ll gain an understanding of the policy contexts of creative work, analyse and apply theories of art and culture and examine the cultural industries that comprise the arts, including theatre, performance, dance, opera, crafts, and museums.
Then you’ll choose from optional modules to focus on topics that suit your interests and career plans, such as arts management or culture and place, and investigate topics like audience engagement and cultural policy. You may even have the chance to undertake a placement or a consultancy project for an external cultural organisation.
You’ll be taught by leading researchers in a city with a diverse cultural landscape. Whether you’ve already started your career or see yourself moving into the sector, this programme will give you the knowledge and skills to support your ambitions.
On and off-campus, you’ll benefit from opportunities to get involved in various cultural activities. The School of Performance and Cultural Industries organises the annual Little Leeds Fringe Festival, a series of cultural events on campus giving you the chance to volunteer in the management and programming team. What’s more, you can join any of the student societies that run events, campaigns and productions throughout the year.
You’ll study in a city with a rich cultural life that’s also a hub for business and entrepreneurship – home to the Leeds International Film Festival and Leeds International Piano Competition, as well as a variety of galleries, museums, theatres and other cultural facilities. Our School also has good relations with cultural organisations in the region such as the BBC, Phoenix Dance Theatre, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds City Council, the National Media Museum and Opera North among many others.
Core modules in Semester One will lay the foundations of theprogramme. You’ll explore different theoretical approaches to understand therelationships between culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship, learning aboutcultural industries and how public policy impacts on cultural development.
To help you focus your studies in the areas that suit yourinterests and career plans, you’ll choose one of two optional modules whichallow you to specialise in either the relationship between culture and place ormanagement and leadership in the arts and cultural industries.
You’ll then choose another optional module to complement orbroaden your studies. You could focus on topics such as audience engagement orcultural policy, or you may be able to gain experience of consultancy workingin teams to complete a brief for an external organisation. If you select theCreative Work module, you could spend two weeks on a placement in a culturalorganisation as the basis of a small-scale research project.
Another core module that runs throughout the year willdevelop your understanding of research methods in the arts and culturalindustries. By the end of the programme you’ll demonstrate your skills andknowledge by completing an independent research project on a topic of yourchoice.
If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longerperiod and take fewer modules in each year.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
We use a range of teaching and learning methods to help you benefit from the expertise of our tutors. These include seminars, tutorials, group learning, fieldwork, lectures and practicals, depending on the modules you choose. Independent study is also vital as a chance for you to develop a range of skills.
Depending on the modules you choose, you may be assessed by methods such as essays, presentations, reports and project work.
You’ll gain a variety of in-depth subject knowledge from this programme, as well as valuable transferable skills such as cultural and social awareness, research, analysis and communication.
Graduates have pursued a range of careers that reflect this diversity. They’ve joined international consultancy firms and social enterprises as research associates, become project managers in arts and cultural organisations or worked as policy managers and advisers within cultural policy bodies. Others have gone on to work in public policy, urban regeneration, community development, teaching and more – and some have also set up their own businesses, either during or soon after the programme.
Many other graduates have continued with their research and progressed to PhD study.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
