Information for Prospective Taught Postgraduates

The Department of Music offers a range of different options towards a taught Master's degree, either through the MA in Music or the MA in Composition for Film and Television.

MA in Music

Within this degree, students can opt for pathways in Composition, Medieval Music, Musicology, Music theory, Performance, Practical performance or Russian music. All pathways can be taken full- or part-time. Courses taken vary according to the route chosen, but all include basic music training such as Research Skills for Musicians (supported by the Graduate School training programmes), and a range of specialised units such as Readings in Musicology, Source Study, Palaeography and Editorial Practices, Special Studies, Contemporary compositional Ideas and Techniques, and Composing with Electronics in addition to a large menu of optional units. These are followed by a major project: a musicological dissertation or edition for musicologists (including those on the Russian Music, Medieval Music and Music Theory pathways), a minor and a major recital for performers, and a portfolio of compositions for composers.

The programme relates closely to the research interests of the academic staff.

Overall structure of the MA in Music

All MA students are required to complete 180 credits made up as follows:

Research and Study Skills for Musicians – to include attendance at PG seminars (20 credits)
Pathway ‘core’ studies - see List A below
Optional units chosen from List B
Final Dissertation, Edition, Recital or Composition portfolio, as appropriate (60 credits)

Any overlap between lists A and B must be avoided

LIST A - ‘Core’ studies - mandatory units for individual pathways

Music Theory

Source Study, Palaeography and Editorial Practices (20 credits)
Research Skills for Musicians (20 credits)
Readings in Musicology (40 credits)
Final project (60 credits): a Dissertation, an extended composition (in Classical or Romantic style), an edition or an analysis of a major work.

Performance

Source Study, Palaeography and Editorial Practices (20 credits)
Performance Studies (60 credits)
Research Skills for Musicians (20 credits)
Readings in Musicology (40 credits)

Practical Performance

Source Study, Palaeography and Editorial Practices (20 credits)
Performance Studies (60 credits)
Research Skills for Musicians (20 credits)

Russian Music

Research Skills for Musicians (20 credits)
Readings in Musicology (40 credits)
Introduction to Russian for Graduate Students (20 credits)
Dissertation (60 credits)

**List B (40 credits)* - Optional units**

Optional units may be chosen from the following:

Special Study 1 and/or 2 (20 credits each)**
Source Study, Palaeography and Editorial Practices (20 credits)
Analysis Project (20 credit)**
Composing with Electronics (20 credits)
Further Written Techniques (20 credits)
Advanced orchestration (20 credits)
Technical Studies 1: Harmony and Harmonic analysis
Technical Studies 2: Baroque Composition
Each year, one or two units pertaining to Renaissance or Medieval Music are offered at level M (the topics change each year)
An open unit from elsewhere in the university, chosen in consultation with the pathway convenor

Level I and Level H units in Music – chosen in consultation with pathway convenor (no more than 20 credits may be taken at levels I and H). These include: any split-level history units with sufficient spaces remaining, and some technical units (for example, Transcription and Editing, Aesthetics and Criticism, third year Studio Project). To get a flavour of the units on offer in the current academic year, explore http://www.bristol.ac.uk/music/currentstudents/unitdocuments/

*80 credits for students on the practical performance pathway

** taught as supervised independent studies

MA in Composition for Film and Television

This Degree (MAFTV) is designed to offer advanced training for media composers. There are mandatory units in Media Composition, Professional Techniques, Critical Analysis of Media Music and Film Scoring, and a wide range of optional units. These are taught across two 12-week semesters, while the third semester students produce a portfolio of Media Composition. This course can only be taken full-time over 12 months.

Overall structure of the MA in Composition for Film and Television

Mandatory units

Portfolio / Dissertation (60 credits)
Media Composition (20 credits)
Professional Techniques (20 credits)
Film Scoring (20 credits)
Critical Analysis of Media Music (20 credits)

Optional Units

40 credits chosen from:

Narrative Grammar in Screen Practice (Drama Department - 20 credits)
Project Development (Drama Department - 20 credits)
Introduction to Professional Composing (20 credits) - level M
Composing with Electronics (20 credits) - level M
Compositional Craft (20 credits) - level M
Composition Project (20 credits) - level H
Advanced Written Techniques - Romantic Styles (20 credits) - level H
Compositional Strategy (20 credits) - level I
Further Written Techniques (20 credits) - level I
Writing for Orchestra (20 credits) - level I

Further information

Musicology: Dr. Emma Hornby
British Music: Prof. John Pickard
Performance and Music Theory: Dr. Glyn Jenkins
Practical Performance: Dr. Glyn Jenkins
Medieval Music: Dr Emma Hornby
Composition: Dr. Neal Farwell
Composition for Film and Television: Dr. Neal Farwell
Russian Music: Dr Pauline Fairclough
General: Alison Johnston, Postgraduate Administrator, Graduate School of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Arts

Application information

For further information on life as a postgraduate in Bristol, visit the Graduate School of Arts and Humanities.

Department of Music INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE TAUGHT POSTGRADUATES

MA programmes

Further details