Course description
Introduction
In common with the University's undergraduate courses, our postgraduate programmes aim to combine 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, our high academic requirements distinguish these 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, we seek to capitalise on the best features of both.
Course Structure
The course consists of three main elements:
Practical Instruction - consisting of one hour weekly lessons (for full-time or fortnightly if part-time).
You may choose to study with one of our tutors, or study with someone outside the Department as long as this meets our approval.
Academic Study - all students are required to take two lecture/seminar based modules:
Postgraduate Study Skills
Issues in Musical Thought and Practice Today
Performance - students also attend a series of fortnightly seminars, style and interpretation, covering a wide range of performance topics such as:
Historically Orientated Performance
The Role of Analysis
Evaluating Performance
The Performance Text
Performing Contemporary Music
Preparing for Performance
Teaching and Assessment
Students prepare two recitals:
Programme 1 (May): 40 minutes
Programme 2 (late June): 25-30 minutes
As part of the supporting lecture and seminar programme, students prepare three folios of specified coursework, two of around 3,500 words and the third of around 6,000 words.
Musical Activities
You will be encouraged to participate in the Department's many and varied ensembles and in its series of chamber music concerts. Opportunities may exist to perform a concerto or similar work as part of your first recital programme.
Other Information
Research Environment
The Music Department offers an outstanding research environment for both music and music technology. The Department scored a 5 in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, and all full-time staff are active researchers, as performers, composers or musicologists. The Creative Arts Building
(newly completed in 2008) comprises purpose-built facilities, including concert hall, extensive studio facilities and sound-proofed rehearsal spaces. The University Library has an impressive range of research materials and multimedia resources, and houses special archival collections (including that of
the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival). The School offers bursaries towards the cost of taught MA and MMus courses, which serve as ideal preparation for research degrees (MPhil and PhD), which are offered in all disciplines. A number of our postgraduates are employed as teaching assistants, providing a useful stepping-stone towards an academic career. In addition to subject-specific skills students will develop their intellectual self confidence and capacity for independent study and a portfolio of key skills that distinguishes all disciplines in Higher Education
