The first year lays the foundation for understanding folk and traditional music in both performance and scholarship. You take regular one-to-one lessons on your main instrument and take part in weekly tutor-led workshops to develop your ensemble playing skills.
You’ll also study a compulsory cross-disciplinary module on writing about music, and developing academic and professional skills.
Modules
Compulsory modules
You take the following compulsory modules:
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Academic Practice for Music Studies | 20 |
| Performance Studies 1 | 20 |
| Folk Ensemble 1 | 20 |
| Traditions of These Islands | 20 |
Optional modules
You take 20 credits from the following list:
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Ethnomusicology | 20 |
| Understanding Music History | 20 |
| Introduction to Popular Music Studies | 20 |
You also take 20 credits from the following list:
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Studio Production | 20 |
| Essentials and Applications of Music Theory | 20 |
| Applications and Structures of Music Theory | 20 |
| Essentials and Structures of Music Theory | 20 |
In addition to regular one-to-one lessons on your main instrument and group playing, you can study a broad range of historical, cultural, applied and practical options.
Compulsory Modules
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Performance Studies 2 | 20 |
| Folk Ensemble 2 | 20 |
Optional Modules
You take at least one module from the following list of Historical and Cultural modules:
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Themes in Musical Modernism | 20 |
| Popular Music and Media | 20 |
| Music and Visual Culture | 20 |
You take at least one module from the following list of Practical or Applied modules:
You'll complete a major specialist study, which could be: an original composition; a creative project; a performance; or a dissertation/project on an area of interest which you hope to focus on in your life and work after leaving University.
You'll choose the remaining balance of modules from a range of historical, cultural and practical options offered by the world-leading research-active Music staff.
Modules
Compulsory modules
You must take one Major Specialist Study
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Major Specialist Study: Composition | 40 |
| Major Specialist Study: Dissertation | 40 |
| Major Specialist Study: Performance | 40 |
| Major Specialist Study: Project | 40 |
Optional modules
You may (but are not required to) choose a Minor Specialist Study module from the following list. This must be in a subject area that is substantially different to your major specialist study.
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minor Specialist Study: Composition | 20 |
| Minor Specialist Study: Dissertation | 20 |
| Minor Specialist Study: Performance | 20 |
| Minor Specialist Study: Project | 20 |
You choose modules from the list below so that the total credits for the year adds up to 120:
You may, with the discretion of the Degree Programme Director, take one module from the list below, if not taken already at Stage 2.