Our MA in Music (by research) is ideal for those individuals who would prefer to study independently through a research project, with guided supervision from an expert within their chosen field of research.
Your research
This course is aimed at both high-level creators interested in composition, production and musical analysis, and those wishing to develop tools for other content, including composers, performers and analysts.
Guided by your supervisor, you'll work through a series of structured elements, with your final submission being either:
a dissertation between 30,000 and 40,000 words on your registered topic, alongside a comprehensive resource list (including scores, analyses, articles, books and concert ephemera, internet and audio-visual resources). Candidates in musicology, ethnomusicology or analysis will normally follow this route, but it is not exclusively limited to these subjects; or
a portfolio of compositions for any instrument, voice, ensemble, audio media or multimedia, with an accompanying critical commentary. The commentary will draw out the research embedded in the practice, discussing aspects of the compositional processes and situating the work in a research context; or
a portfolio of performance projects, fully documented through video/audio recordings, and submitted alongside a critical commentary. The commentary will draw out the research embedded in the practice, discussing aspects of the performance processes and situating the work in a research context.
Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy research area
This area aims to develop pedagogical skills and an understanding in a context in which you can draw upon and deepen your existing professional practical experience as teachers and as learners.
You will explore a research area of your choice relating to any aspect of instrumental/vocal teaching and learning. Topics could include the pupil-teacher-parent relationship; characteristics, qualities and motivations of effective teachers; materials for teaching; teaching particular skills; preparing students for performance; working with students of different ages, abilities and needs; and group or individual learning.