Course description
Introduction
In common with the University's undergraduate degrees, our postgraduate programmes aim to provide a distinctive integration of creative and analytical study. However, with their highly practical emphasis, they differ from other courses available in the university sector. Traditionally, universities have placed a greater emphasis on the academic aspect of performance with few institutions able to offer either the performing environment or the level of staffing, facilities and equipment available at Huddersfield.
On the other hand, the high academic requirements distinguish our courses from the postgraduate diplomas offered by the conservatoires which concentrate exclusively on performance to equip students solely for a performance career. In achieving a balance between these two traditions, the University of Huddersfield seeks to capitalise on the best features of both.
Course Structure
The course consists of three main elements:
Practical Instruction consisting of the equivalent of 26 hours of individual tuition. This will be provided by a teacher or teachers relevant to the repertoire being studied and will be managed by the course leader in consultation with the student.
Academic Study. All students are required to take two lecture/seminar based modules: Postgraduate Study Skills, and Issues in Musical Thought and Practice Today.
Students also attend a series of fortnightly seminars, Contemporary Music Performance Studies, which cover a wide range of performance topics such as:
-Analysis and Contemporary Music Performance
-Issues of Style
-Working with Electronics
-Indeterminate Notation
-Complex Notation
-Extended Techniques
Teaching and Assessment
Students give a solo recital (containing a minimum 80 per cent devoted to music written since 1945) in May and subsequently have the choice between a second solo recital, a lecture recital or a dissertation. As part of the supporting lecture and seminar programme students prepare a folio of five pieces of written work, comprising four essays relating to topics explored in seminars (1,000 words each) and one commentary related to the repertoire they are working on (2,000 words).
Other Information
In addition to the tuition offered as part of the course, students will have many opportunities to further their performing experience and understanding of contemporary music through:
Collaborations with postgraduate composers.
Workshops with guest artists/performers.
Research forums and discussion with a staff team whose research includes composition (with and without electronics); improvised music, multimedia performance; popular music; developing live performance software; experimental and improvised music; composer and performer interactions; analysis of electronic composition; aesthetics of contemporary music.
The internationally renowned Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival
Regular University concerts and ensembles (including the New Music Ensemble).
Concerts, seminars and workshops in association with the Society of Music Postgraduates.
The School offers bursaries towards the cost of taught MA and MMus courses.
