Creative Musicianship

This flexible, practice-based programme is for those musicians who wish to develop or refresh their professional practice for work in the creative industries, teaching, community-based education, and/or further study including PhD. You will be introduced to recent developments in your specialist field, and develop essential technical, research and communication skills.

You will choose one of three pathways (Performance, Composition and Creative Audio or Music and Communities) and will benefit from two specialism modules (Practice and Seminar) which place contextual, aesthetic, and theoretical study alongside the development of your practice.

Additional opportunities to enhance your chosen pathway include undertaking research and project work both inside or outside of the University and/or gaining specialist knowledge of the music industry via an understanding of legal, technological, and societal developments.

You will complete a Final Project in a topic related to your chosen specialism which may be a dissertation, a practical piece of outreach work, a portfolio of compositions, or a final recital.

Work placement / study abroad
Work placements are available as an option within Research Project.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
Composition Seminar 1
This module is optional
Composition Seminar 1 will facilitate the development of a student's technical work in composition and creative audio through its coverage of its coverage of a range of theoretical and aesthetic issues their connection with aspects of creative practice.

Composition and Creative Audio Practice 1
This module is optional
Composition and Creative Audio Practice 1 will nurture the development of original musical, audio and sound compositions through supervision and workshop/performance activity.

Music and Communities Seminar 1
This module is optional
Music and Communities Seminar 1 will explore the role of the musician in community arts, developing knowledge of theory and practice which will equip them to engage in a range of aspects of community-based arts projects.

Music and Communities in Practice 1
This module is optional
Music and Communities in Practice 1 will explore the practical roles of the musician in community music, developing skills which will equip students to contribute positively in a range aspects of community-based arts projects.

Performance in Practice 1
This module is optional
Performance in Practice 1 aims to give students professional training in a variety of areas of practical and intellectual musicianship. Students are encouraged to evaluate critically and give appraisals of their own performance skills and those of their peers. Projection of a course of action for this module and beyond is a central focus.

Performance Seminar 1
This module is optional
Performance Seminar 1 aims to give students professional training in a variety of areas of practical and intellectual musicianship. Students are encouraged to evaluate critically and give appraisals of their own performance skills and those of their peers. Projection of a course of action for this module and beyond is a central focus.

Music and Communities in Practice 2
This module is optional
Music and Communities in Practice 2 will explore the role of the musician in community
arts, developing skills which will equip students to provide leadership in all aspects of
community-based arts projects.

Composition and Creative Audio Practice 2
This module is optional
Composition and Creative Audio Practice 2 will nurture the development of original musical, audio and sound compositions through supervision and workshop/performance activity.

Research Project 1
This module is optional
This module will allow students to present a research project representing the fruits of a sustained piece of individual research. Having agreed a topic with an appointed supervisor that will offer scope for higher academic study and/or professional development, the student's work will be supported by regular tutorial contact.

Year two
Music and Communities Seminar 2
This module is optional
Music and Communities Seminar 2 will explore leadership roles of the musician in community arts, developing skills which will equip students to provide leadership in a wide range of aspects of community-based arts projects.

Composition Seminar 2
This module is optional
Composition Seminar 2 will develop students' technical work in composition and creative audio through original composition, analytical work and research training while while composition composition, analytical work and research training.

Performance in Practice 2
This module is optional
Performance in Practice 2 aims to give students professional training in a variety of areas of practical and intellectual musicianship. Students are encouraged to evaluate critically and give appraisals of their own performance skills and those of their peers. Students are engaged with building a repertoire as solo and/or ensemble musicians and the development of skills in musical direction.

Performance Seminar 2
This module is optional
Performance Seminar 2 aims to give students professional training in a variety of areas of intellectual musicianship. Students are encouraged to evaluate critically and give appraisals of their own performance skills and those of their peers. Students are engaged with building a repertoire as solo and/or ensemble musicians and the development of skills in musical direction.

Research Project 2
This module is optional
This module will allow students to present a minor project representing the fruits of a sustained piece of individual research. Having agreed a topic with an appointed supervisor that will offer scope for higher academic study and/or professional development, the student's work will be supported by regular tutorial contact.

Year three
Major Project
This module is optional
This module allows students to present a major project representing the fruits of a sustained piece of individual research. Having agreed a topic with an appointed supervisor that will offer scope for higher academic study and/or professional development, the student's work will be supported by regular tutorial support.

Applicants must meet the University's minimum entrance requirements and, in addition, a) hold a second-class honours degree or better in music or another relevant discipline from a recognised institution, or b) an equivalent qualification or c) be able to provide other evidence of ability and experience appropriate to the course. International applicants whose first language is not English must attain either of the following English competency standards:

A written proposal outlining the intended area of individual study (i.e. the Specialism and, ideally, an idea of what the third-semester project might involve) should support the application; all applicants will be interviewed and/or auditioned.

The University will consider applications on the basis of experiential learning for those who do not hold the normal entry qualifications. The onus is on the applicant to evidence that they have relevant experience equating to degree study at the honours level.

English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language this course requires
a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band
score less than 5.5, or equivalent.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students (full-time only).

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Career options
- Professional work in the creative industries (performance, composition, creative technologies)
- Further academic or practical study
-Community-based education and/or creative work
- Technical positions in the music industry
- Teaching work