MMus in Music Performance

COURSE OVERVIEW

This professionally focused, 12-month practice-based master’s degree in music performance aims to help students develop specialist skills as a performer, musical director, composer and arranger to an industry-leading standard through the creation of a significant body of original work demonstrating a distinctive artistic personality. Over the course of the year on this music performance degree, students will refine their instrumental skills, lead ensembles and create new compositions and arrangements through a range of individual lessons and group workshops and lectures. Additionally, students will devise and test strategies to launch, market and continuously develop their professional personas and then undertake a major body of creative and professional work over the summer as part of the Mmus, which could culminate in the performance of a new body of work or the completion of an industry placement.

Overall, the programme aims to:

• refine your specialist performance skills and creative practice;
• enable instrumentalists to develop a significant body of original creative work;
• develop a distinctive artistic personality or voice;
• prepare to lead and continuously develop in professional performance-based industry settings.

What will you learn?

Our MMus in Music Performance is rooted in the deep practice of contemporary performance, musicianship and professional ability and provides a specialised practice-based programme for aspirational career musicians within contemporary music.

Progression

This course is designed to equip you with the skills, theoretical knowledge and connections necessary to establish a lasting career in music. The list below highlights a non-exhaustive list of the options available:

• Professional session musician
• Arranger
• Musical director
• Band member
• Songwriter
• Film scoring
• Executive, manager, administrator, officer in the music or wider entertainment industry
• Executive, manager, administrator, officer in any business
• Music industry entrepreneur
• Instrumental music teacher
• Project manager

Upon graduation, students would be well-placed to pursue a PhD or other advanced degrees in music-related subject areas. Students will also achieve PgCert and PgDip exit awards during this course.

Entry will also be subject to audition consisting of a portfolio review and/or live audition. In addition, a minimum second-class honours degree in a relevant subject from a UK awarding body or college recognized equivalent international qualification. Significant equivalent professional experience will also be considered.