Newcastle University

Folk and Traditional Music BMus Honours
UCAS Code: W340 (4 Years)

• Course Overview
• Modules
• Entry Requirements
• Careers
• Finance

This degree explores folk music in its traditional and revived forms (with an emphasis on the music of Britain and Ireland). It is run in collaboration with Folkworks, the educational charity for traditional music, dance and song, based at The Sage Gateshead music centre.

There is a strong emphasis on performance, but the practice-based work is complemented by a rich spectrum of historical and cultural modules. This gives you an insight into the context in which folk music flourishes, as well as relating it to other musical styles and genres.

In the first year you gain an understanding of the huge range of traditions across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and the richness and diversity within each region.

As the course progresses, you can specialise further in traditions that are of particular interest to you.

Some of the modules taken as part of this degree are shared with our other music degrees, though the majority are taught by an outstanding team of specialist performers and experts in the folk music field. This includes:

• Northumbrian small pipes player and composer Kathryn Tickell
• singer songwriter Sandra Kerr
• world-renowned Shetland fiddle player Catriona Macdonald
• expert performer of Highland-, Border- and Uilleann-pipes Simon McKerrell
• traditional musician and singer, specialising in Irish and Breton music, Dr Desi Wilkinson

Quality and ranking

Newcastle is ranked in the top five UK universities for music in The Times Good University Guide 2013.

Teaching and assessment

Research-informed teaching plays an important role at Newcastle. It shapes the content of our undergraduate degrees, ensuring that you have chance to cover the most up-to-date material. The International Centre for Music Studies has an international reputation for its research in two areas in particular:

• musicology
• creative practice

Different forms of music need different approaches to study so some of our modules are based around lectures and seminars, often with set reading or listening assignments, and other modules take the form of smaller specialised study groups. Performance modules are usually taught through a combination of individual one-to-one tuition, group workshops and specialist masterclasses. Further information can be found on our undergraduate web pages about the approach to teaching and learning at Newcastle University.

Assessment includes examination, written assignments, submission of dissertation or portfolio (of compositions, harmony, recordings, counterpoint or music analysis exercises), and through live musical performance. Teaching and assessment methods may vary from module to module, more information can be found in our individual module listings.

Performance opportunities

There are excellent performance opportunities for music students at Newcastle. We have over 100 professional instrumental and vocal tutors delivering free one-to-one tuition, including members of the internationally-acclaimed Northern Sinfonia.

The International Centre for Music Studies runs its own free professional concert series every Thursday lunchtime during term-time. This is followed by a student performance where you have the chance to perform for, and listen to, your colleagues from all of our music degrees.

Study abroad

UK and EU students who achieve a Stage 1 average of 60% or more have the option to spend one semester on an Erasmus exchange in Stage 2, studying folk music at one of our partner institutions.

Facilities

You will have access to excellent facilities to support your studies. Our purpose-built Music Studios give you access to a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities, including:

• rehearsal spaces accessible 24 hours a day
• a large band practice room with full PA system and lighting rigs
• four acoustic instrumental tuition rooms with personal recording facilities

Our base in the Armstrong Building offers a further range of facilities, including:

• music studios and recently refurbished teaching facilities
• practice rooms and performance spaces
• a PC suite running specialist music software
• a large, recently refurbished student common room

The International Centre for Music Studies (ICMuS)

Study at Newcastle and you will join a supportive community in the International Centre for Music Studies. We have an excellent collection of instruments for you to use, including:

• orchestral percussion and drum kits
• guitar amplifiers and PA equipment
• several Steinway grand pianos and an organ
• harpsichord
• fortepiano
• a number of other early music instruments including sets of consort viols and baroque bows

Our online archives include excellent resources for African-American music, classical music recordings, North East folk music, music from America’s past, and world musics. Find out more about our resources.