MA Directing (Musical Direction)

UCEN Manchester

Musical Direction at The Arden School of Theatre is a course designed for aspiring musical directors who wish to shape and develop leadership in musical performance. This program combines theoretical study with hands-on practical experience, providing students with the tools, knowledge, and creative insight necessary to take their first steps in the professional world.

The course aims to build on your previous experience within the arts and provide you with a toolkit of skills and experiences in order to develop your own individual voice as a practitioner including knowledge of repertoire, theory, and rehearsal techniques under the supervision of staff and mentors with decades of professional experience.

You will study vital aspects of the contemporary practice including working with singers and musicians, working with other members of the production team, developing new projects from scratch, alongside more traditional study into the theory and context of the discipline.

As part of the Final Project, learners will source, cast, and produce their own piece in conjunction with existing industry professionals and will have the opportunity to have their work seen in a professional setting in front of professionals from the wider industry.

Throughout the course you will be offered opportunities to gain knowledge and insight along with links to the industry within the vibrant and expanding Manchester Theatre scene.

The course is designed to be diverse, practical and industry relevant to reflect careers within the industryn. We actively encourage applications from people with experience in the industry but also from the amateur stage. Alumni of the course have come from various previous levels of knowledge and experience and have ranged in age from 21 to 60+