ObjectivesThe course aims to: -provide the opportunity for both single and interdisciplinary study of music, theatre and film as cultural process, artistic discourse and performance event through intellectual and creative investigation; encourage a rich cross-fertilisation of ideas, concepts and practices between the disciplines of music and drama; -stimulate and support the student's individual development as scholar and practitioner within both music and drama, with particular reference to abilities of independent evaluation and research, critical analysis, technical and artistic skills, and effective written and oral communication; -encourage the analysis and use of technology as applicable to the study of music, theatre and film as creative practices; -equip students with a range of transferable skills, appropriate to later postgraduate academic and vocational study, and also engagement in the workplace in a wide range of careers in the disciplines of music, drama and related fields.
Entry requirementsSelected entry requirements English language: Minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent; eg. NCUK EAP minimum Grade of A with range of 70-79 TOEFL: PBT score of 600; CBT score of 250; TWE score of 5.5; IBT score of 100. A level: Grades AAA-AAB. This should include grade A Music and either English Language, English Literature, History, Philosophy or another English-rich subject at grade A. Also required is Associated Board (or equivalent examinations) grade VIII, preferably at Distinction, on an instrument or voice and Associated Board grade VI standard on the piano (the latter can be self-certified). General Studies and Practical Music are welcomed but not included as part of the standard offer. Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications. Unit grades will not normally form part of offer conditions, except for Mathematics programmes. GCSE: Minimum of grade B in English Language. Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification. However, as the opportunities to take these modules are not open to all applicants, currently this is not an essential requirement of the University. International baccalaureate: 37-35 points overall inc. 6 in Music at Higher level and 6 in either English Language, English Literature, History, Philosophy or another English-rich subject at Higher level. Also required is Associated Board (or equiv. examinations) grade VIII, preferably at Distinction, on an instrument or voice and Associated Board grade VI standard on the piano (the latter can be self-certified). General Studies and Practical Music are welcomed but not included as part of the standard offer. Additional entry requirements Additional entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Academic titleBA Music and Drama
Course descriptionCourse description
This is a three-year full-time degree programme. It offers scholarly and practical education in Western musicianship and theatre, drama and film through history, theory and practical performance. The programme is designed to prepare you for many avenues, including musical and dramatic performance, composition, ethno/musicology, dramatic writing, art journalism, postgraduate study, and many non-music fields in which good critical judgement and teamwork play a vital role. You study theatre, drama and film through history, theory and practical performance. About one third of your time focuses on music, another third on drama, and another third on inter-disciplinary topics such as Music Theatre or Music and Film. Throughout the three years, you can choose from a wide variety of course units.
Course content for year 1
Please note that the following list is intended to be a guide only - course content or availability may change slightly as we aim to improve and update our courses yearly.
Compulsory
Intro to Drama Studies 20
Western Music and its Contexts 20
Project B: Group Research Presentations 20
Optional
20 futher credits in Drama:
either: The Art of Film or: Theatre Studies: History and Histrionics
40 further credits in Music, chosen from:
Intro to Classical Analysis 20
Western Music and its Contexts B 20
Principles of Musical Structure 10
Composition and Notated Sound 10
Musical Notation 10
Course content for year 2
The following list is intended to be a guide only; content or availability may change slightly as we improve and update our courses yearly.
Optional (120 credits - must take at least 40 credits in each of Music and Drama. At least 40 credits must be of an interdisciplinary nature, combining aspects of both Music and Drama).
Core Studies in Drama: Screen, Culture and Society
Core Studies in Drama: Theatre of Social Change
Research Presentations
Real to Reel: European drama on stage and screen
Performance and War
Black on Screen
Shakespeare's theatre: changing times and music
Falstaff and Galdalf go to the movies
Absurd and After
Contextualising mise-en-scene
From stage to screen : theatre directors working on film
Performance Projects
Applied Theatre 1: Criminal Justice
Video Project 1: Documentary
Writing for Performance
Applied Theatre 3: Performance and Heritage
Studio Production
Video Project 3: Docu-drama
Analytical Techniques A
Analytical Techniques B
Harmony and Counterpoint II
Orchestration
Composition II
Music Bibliography
Medieval Music
Opera in European Culture
Bach and His Contemporaries
Experimental and Postmodern Music
Recording Techniques
Electroacoustic Composition A
Electroacoustic Composition B
Performance II
Chamber Music
Gamelan
World Music
Faust in Music
Acoustics for Musicians
Course content for year 3
Please note that the following list is intended to be a guide only - course content or availability may change slightly as we aim to improve and update our courses yearly.
Compulsory 40 credit submission: choose ONE of the following:
MUSC3300 Composition Portfolio; MU3660 Recital; MU3400 Dissertation; DR 3990 Dissertation AND DR3000 Issues In Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television
Optional (80 credits)
Composition Portfolio
Recital
Dissertation; DR3990 Dissertation
Issues in Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television
Real to Reel: European drama on stage and screen
Performance and War
Black on Screen
Shakespeare's theatre: changing times and music
Falstaff and Galdalf go to the movies
Absurd and After
Contextualising mise-en-scene
From stage to screen : theatre directors working on film
Three day takeaway paper
Performance Projects
Applied Theatre 1: Criminal Justice
Video Project 1: Documentary
Writing for Performance
Applied Theatre 3: Performance and Heritage
Studio Production
Video Project 3: Docu-drama
Analysis
Live and interactive electroacoustic composition
Composition Portfolio
Editing
Aesthetics
Special Subject
Music-Theatre Composition
Recital
Performance Practice
Career opportunities
Our graduates have an excellent record in establishing successful careers within musical professions and beyond, and include some of the country's top musicians and scholars. Many go on to further study in Universities or Conservatoires: several prominent lecturers/professors in musicology and composition are Manchester graduates, as are many performers (conductors Paul McCreesh and Mark Wigglesworth both studied here). The list of professional ensembles Manchester graduates work with is impressively long: it includes several symphony orchestras (Halle, the BBC Orchestras, Manchester Camerata, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, CBSO and the orchestras of Bournemouth, Ulster, Reykjavik and Tucson); opera companies (ROH, WNO, Opera North, Glyndebourne, Carl Rosa Opera), early music groups (Orchestra of the Renaissance, Gabrieli Ensemble, Monteverdi Choir, Rose Consort of Viols, English Bach Soloists), choirs (BBC and Swingle Singers) string quartets (Sorrel, Bingham, Bridge, Archinto, Rivoli), brass bands, jazz bands and pop groups.
Careers chosen by our graduates demonstrate the wide range of music-related professions for which our degrees prepare you. They include teaching, librarianship, music therapy, arts administration, publishing and journalism. They work for institutions and companies such as the BBC, San Francisco Opera, Spitalfields Festival, Britten-Pears foundation, Musicians' Benevolent Fund, Sage Gateshead, NYO, Scottish Opera, London Sinfonietta, Schott, Faber, Universal Edition, HMV, Gramophone, Time Out, The Guardian, and City Life.
The Manchester degree can equip you with an enormous range of skills and, of course, not all our graduates have opted for a career in music. Some become lawyers, doctors, accountants, civil servants, tax inspectors, social workers, computer engineers, or workers in sales and human resources; some acquire management positions in companies such as M&S, the National Trust, IBM and Disney.