Composition

Our innovative MA in Composition covers areas of instrumental, vocal, electronic, digital and multimedia composition. The course offers opportunities for students to work across these areas, or to specialise as appropriate. We support work in a wide range of styles and genres, whilst maintaining an experimental and exploratory approach. Delivery is tailored to students' needs, centred around small-group seminars and tutorials.

MA Composition

Throughout the course you will receive regular tutorials with one of the composers on the staff, supporting your creative development both technically and aesthetically. The broad community of composers working within the School offers significant opportunities to develop a wide skills base (electronic and instrumental composers learning new skills in the reciprocal area), and for collaboration both in Music and elsewhere, such as with Dance, Drama, or Visual Art. By presenting you with a space to develop your existing practice whilst exploring new collaborative possibilities or using new media, we can offer a distinctive programme which will appeal to applicants who do not want to limit their options.

Course Structure

In full-time mode, the course runs over three trimesters, September to September. The first trimester gives a thorough grounding in research methodology and core compositional techniques, and offers a toolkit of optional skills-based projects designed to allow students to improve on specific technical and creative skills as required. The second trimester offers modules specific to the three pathways. Students on the Composition pathway take the Commission Project, which explores the challenges of writing to a brief and the opportunities of ensemble performance. Students on the Audio Technologies pathway take Sound Processing Techniques, which takes an in-depth, hands-on look at technology-based composition, exploring everything from classic techniques developed in the 1950s to cutting-edge digital techniques. Students on the Sound and Image pathway take Visual Music, which explores the history of sound-led multimedia and corresponding practical techniques. Alongside these modules, all students take Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Practice, which gives an opportunity to work with peers and across subject boundaries, with the possibility of working with other creative disciplines (film- and theatre-makers, dancers and choreographers etc.) as well as musicians. The third trimester is research-based, with students undertaking an individual Major Project which allows them to explore a chosen area in depth.

Teaching methods and resources

Modules are normally taught via lectures, seminars and practical workshops. A particular feature of the course is regular tutorial support. The Major Project is research-based and student-led, with supporting tutorials. Visiting speakers and other activities are arranged as appropriate. You are encouraged to make full use of library and IT resources within the University, and ample time will be scheduled in studios and workstation labs for independent study.

Assessment

Assessment takes the form of individual assignments for each module. These generally consist of a portfolio of practical work with supporting written documentation. Context and Methodology and the Major Project also involve small-scale dissertations.