Overview

This distinctive course offers opportunities to develop the critical and analytical techniques needed to evaluate and evidence the relationship between musical engagement and wellbeing.

You’ll gain skills that are directly related to careers in areas including arts therapies, education, community music, music administration, policymaking, and research impact employment or to continue to PhD study.

Your understanding of the topic will be expanded and you’ll develop the skills needed to conduct independent research while learning to identify the methodological and ethical challenges of researching in real-world settings.

The core Applied Professional Practice module will provide you with opportunities to take a proactive and self-reflective role in your work, developing professional relationships with our partner organisations.

Your major project will be a dissertation on an aspect of music and wellbeing of your own choosing, and you can pursue an optional module in another area of music such as music psychology, musicology, performance, or arts management.

Our staff have substantial experience working in the area of music and wellbeing, and we also have a variety of excellent facilities to support your learning including rehearsal, performance and practice spaces, and studios for sound recording.

Additionally, we have good working relationships with a range of prestigious arts organisations: we host BBC Radio 3 concerts, Leeds Lieder and the Leeds International Piano Competition, as well as enjoying a close partnership with Opera North and many others in a city with a thriving music and cultural scene.

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of different teaching methods such as seminars, tutorials, workshops and lectures in some modules, as well as instrumental or vocal lessons with our expert tutors if you select performance modules. Independent study is also vital to this course, allowing you to develop your skills and pursue your interests at your own pace.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You'll be assessed using a range of methods, including presentations, essays and project work. Specialised music modules will use relevant assessment methods, such as recitals, critical editions and commentaries on musical sources.

Career opportunities

You'll gain a range of transferable skills in research, self-reflection and evaluation, interpretation and oral and written communication. All of these can be applied in musical as well as non-musical contexts.

Recent postgraduates from the School have gone on to launch careers within the fields of music education, music advertising, business development, marketing and administration, and artist management.

Others have also continued with their research at PhD level.