Masters Degrees in Sacred Music, United Kingdom

The course (Standard Track) allows students to specialise in music after 1900. Typically students this area will be approached through a combination of different angles, such as historical musicology, analysis, performance and composition.

This will be aided by a broader look at techniques, methodologies and approaches (through the core module in either Composition or Musicology).

The programme is divided into two parts: two semesters of taught study (Part 1, 120 credits) and a substantial independent piece of work in the main area, produced over the summer (Part 2, 60 credits).

Part 1 is centred on the Principal Subject module (WMM4044, 40 credits) in 20th-/21st-Century Music. It lays the foundations of a Part 2 project in the same area.

WMP4052: Preparing for the Part 2 project (10 credits) acts as a bridge between Parts 1 and 2.

An additional 40 credits will be gained through submissions in other fields through either one Major Open Submission (WXM4046, 40 credits) or two Minor Open Submissions (WMP4047 and WMP4048, 20 credits each). Students can select from a number of subject areas related to music after 1900, including:

Historical Musicology
Editorial Musicology
Ethnomusicology
Music in Wales
Music and the Christian Church
Composition
Electroacoustic Composition / Sonic Arts
Composing Film Music
Studying Film Music
Solo Performance
Performance / Composition with Live Electronics
Sacred Music Studies
Analysis
Arts Administration
Music Studio Techniques
Popular Music Studies
Course Structure
Part 1 (Diploma):

In addition to the Principal Subject, in which the student specialises; up to three additional subjects (with a focus on music after 1900) can be studied.

(Total of 120 credits)

Part 2 (MA):

Normally consists of a dissertation or critical edition.

(60 credits)

Compulsory modules:

Standard Track

Principal Subject: 20th-/21st-Century Music (40 Credits).
Compulsory Core Module: Current Musicology (30 credits)
Open submission: to be chosen from the optional modules (40 credits)
Preparing for the Part Two Project (10 credits)
(Total of 120 credits)

Special Track

Principal Subject: 20th-/21st-Century Music (60 Credits)
Compulsory Core Module: either Current Musicology (for musicologists) or Concepts of Composition (for composers) (30 credits)
Independent Special Study (must be in the same area as the Principal Subject) (20 credits)
Preparing for the Part Two Project (10 credits)
(Total of 120 credits)

Optional modules:

Standard Track

Open Submissions (40 or 20 credits) are chosen from the following areas (with emphasis on music after 1900):

Historical Musicology, Editorial Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Music in Wales, Music and the Christian Church, Composition, Electroacoustic Composition / Sonic Arts, Composing Film Music, Studying Film Music, Solo Performance, Sacred Music Studies, Analysis, Arts Administration, Music Studio Techniques, Popular Music Studies, ELCOS Language Skills (20 credits, international students only)

Read less

Your programme of study

University of Aberdeen has been a creative hub of musicians since the Middle Ages. Music at Aberdeen was introduced by Bishop Elphinstone who founded the university in 1495. Since this time the University has provided the world with a wealth of global performers and composers of note, some of whom are in the current classical and other music charts and sought after globally with a packed diary. If you want to develop your musical interests at Master's level  as a new graduate or returner, or if you want to improve and challenge your musical skills as part of your professional development the Mmus Music is an ideal programme of study for you. You are taught by known world renowned performers and composers within the music world including Professor Paul Mealor, and you are encouraged to start performing immediately to then start to specialise and find out what you most enjoy. If you are a highly creative individual with lots of talent this programme will ensure you progress and deepen your creative specialism.

Find out more about music at Aberdeen:

• Music Panel
• Groups and Ensembles

You can study orchestration and composing for choirs, and renaissance music, words and music, contemporary opera. These areas may help you advance your musical career within teaching, performing, advising and working for specific musical productions as a freelancer. Classical areas are also very useful for more contemporary approaches to musical creativity. You may decide to write music for choirs and help them perform your works or you may decide to work internationally within opera companies.  With Words and Music you can study any composers and genres to then go on to work in the West End, a specific niche area of music or as an individual performer.

You develop your skills in composition, musicology and performance with further specialising to allow you to continue to develop research in the department. Career progression includes global musical outlets across the musical creative industries such as freelance performance work, composition, collaborations and more.

Courses listed for the programme

Semester 1

• Music Research Skills

Optional

• Renaissance Counterpoint
• Vocalisation

Semester 2

• Music Research Seminar Series

Optional

• Words and Music
• Contemporary European Opera
• Electroacoustic Composition: the Voice and the Machine

Semester 3

• Extended Project

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page

Why study at Aberdeen?

• You get expert tuition across the musical spectrum from voice to instrumental areas, drawing from well known composers and researchers in their field such s Royal Wedding composer Professor Paul Mealor
•  You can join a Symphony Orchestra, Choral Society, Chapel Choir, String Ensemble, Viol Consort, Recorder Consort, New Music Group, Baroque Ensemble, Concert Band, Big Band, Chamber Group and many others

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen
• Full Time and Part Time
• 12 Months or 24 Months
• September

International Student Fees 2017/2018

Find out about fees

*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.

Scholarships

View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page

Living in Aberdeen

Find out more about:

Your Accommodation

• Catered Accommodation
• Self-Catering     

Campus Facilities

• University of Aberdeen: A Global Community
• University of Aberdeen: We are international
• Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
• Student Support
• Clubs and Societies
• Review

Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs

Read less

Your programme of study

Do you see yourself on the stage singing beautiful arias, being the female lead in opera, singing lieder, folk songs and other types of music? Are you already performing and you want to refine those skills to gain even more work, techniques and ability? University of Aberdeen provides you with that platform to experiment, improve your level, the genres of music you perform and your technique to allow you to progress your music career. Whilst you progress there are plenty of opportunities to perform by yourself and with others and plenty of experiences to enjoy on campus and further afield.

If you are a performer who would like to fine tune your skills or you would like to research other types of music to enable you to perform to wider audiences Vocal Music can help you towards that goal. The programme is also aimed at choral music and musicologists in this genre to enable and enrich performance.  Vocal music has started to become popular again within society and composers have been able to bring their skills within the mainstream musical area. World renowned composer Paul Mealor at Aberdeen provided a range of contemporary musical composition aimed at choral music performance, some of which was performed by modern choirs under direction of Gareth Malone and special composition for the Royal Wedding in 2011.  His work has also been popularised on Classic FM.

An innovative Masters Degree programme specialising in vocal and choral music, led by the distinguished Royal Wedding composer Professor Paul Mealor intended for composers, musicologists, performers and other interested parties in choral music

Courses listed for the programme

Semester 1

Compulsory

• Music Research Skills

Optional

• Renaisssance Counterpoint
• Vocalstration

Semester 2

• Music Research Seminar Series

Optional

• Words and Music
• Contemporary European Opera
• Electroacoustic Composition: the Voice and the Machine

Semester 3

• Extended Project Module

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page

Why study at Aberdeen?

•  You are mentored and taught by world renowned and UK known musicologists Professor Paul Mealor, Dr Frauke Jurgensen, Dr David Smith, Dr Edward Campbell and others
• You can perform and take part in any musical genre whilst you study at Aberdeen including Dunedin Consort, Juice and Caledonian Voices plus many choirs and groups spanning the ages of music
• You are situated in beautiful 'Old Aberdeen' home to a chapel choir, nearby cathedral and contemporary library with stunning view

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen
• 12 Months Full Time or 24 Months Part Time
• September start

International Student Fees 2017/2018

Find out about fees

*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.

Scholarships

View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page

Living in Aberdeen

Find out more about:

Your Accommodation

• Catered Accommodation
• Self-Catering     

Campus Facilities

• University of Aberdeen: A Global Community
• University of Aberdeen: We are international
• Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
• Student Support
• Clubs and Societies
• Review

Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs

Read less

The MA in Music with Education is a flexible programme which allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the theory and practice of teaching music to others. The course is intended for students with backgrounds in music or education (or both) who wish to develop skills and knowledge in both disciplines while exploring some of the ways in which the two fields are related.

On this programme you will develop your musical skills at an advanced level through performance, composition or musicology, while enhancing your knowledge and conceptual understanding of a range of issues relating to music education. You will hone personal and professional skills valued in the music education sector, and will develop skills and methodologies to undertake specialist research in your chosen area of expertise.

You will work closely with established researchers, most of whom have international profiles. The School of Music enjoys close links with industrial and third-sector parties. In addition both the School of Music and the School of Education share well established partnerships with local primary and secondary schools, where many teachers of music are our graduates.

Read less