Critical and Experimental Composition

You’ll work on your own compositions throughout the year, developing a portfolio of original work supported and informed by a range of learning opportunities, from tutorials and lectures through to workshops with guest artists.

Throughout the year you’ll take a combination of core modules that allow you to develop your skills as a musician and composer. You’ll develop your academic skills, including research and presentation skills, as well as studying the principles of composition and different professional contexts.

You’ll develop an awareness of broader topics in the study of music to help inform your practice. Central to this is the core module in Semester Two that introduces you to aesthetic theory.

In addition, you’ll choose from the range of optional modules on offer across the School of Music depending on your individual interests and experience: options include performance, editing and archival studies, musicology, computer music, psychology of music and more.

If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longer period and take fewer modules in each year.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Professional Studies 30 credits
• Composition Studies 30 credits
• Portfolio of Original Composition 60 credits
• Aesthetic Theory 30 credits

Optional modules

• Individual Project 30 credits
• Individual Project 30 credits
• Individual Project 30 credits
• Short Dissertation 30 credits
• Instrumental or Vocal Recital 30 credits
• Concerto/Song-Cycle/Extended Work 30 credits
• Applied Performance Studies 30 credits
• Editing and Archival Studies 30 credits
• Issues in Critical Musicology 30 credits
• Electronic & Computer Music Practice 30 credits
• Electronic & Computer Music Contexts 30 credits
• Case Studies in the Applied Psychology of Music 30 credits
• Audience Engagement and Impact 30 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Critical and Experimental Composition MMus Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information on typical modules, read Critical and Experimental Composition MMus Part Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

Most of our taught modules will use seminars and tutorials, as well as lectures and instrumental or vocal lessons, depending on the modules you choose. However, independent study is the backbone of this programme, allowing you to build your skills and express your own creativity.

Assessment

Obviously, you’ll submit original compositions as an important part of your assessment. You will also write commentaries on your own work — drawing on musical/theoretical contexts — and more theoretical modules are likely to make use of written tasks such as essays and reports. Optional modules may also involve assessment through recitals, transcriptions or critical editions, presentations or other forms of assessment.