Taught Programmes
MMus Composition
Programme Manager: Dr Mic Spencer
Email:m.spencer@leeds.ac.uk
This 180-credit programme aims to provide training and a broad foundation in independent academic study at postgraduate level as well as requiring specialisation in composition. Submission of a portfolio of compositions which may include acoustic and electro-acoustic compositions is a compulsory element within the course. The programme also includes study of some of the following: advanced arrangement and orchestration, vocational music, multimedia/collaborative works and a two week take-away paper. Students take 120 credits of core modules, then choose their remaining 60 credits from a range of options.
On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:
- Compose to an advanced standard for a variety of musical media and show an awareness of stylistic trends as appropriate to specific genres.
- Adapt a range of presentational skills appropriate to their own compositional practice
- Demonstrate an understanding of the composer-performer relationship in terms of practicality.
- Manage long-term musical thought in original patterns and form-building
- Engage with wider analytical and aesthetical positions regarding composition
- Interact creatively with original musical material in terms of its detail and development
- Normally 5-6 individual items, as negotiated with the Programme Manager.
- Normally a portfolio of 3 more commercially orientated works
- Bibliography assignment (50%)
- Presentation Skills (50%)
Students choose an additional 60 credits from the following options (subject to availability), to make up a total of 180 credits – either one 60cr module, or two 30cr modules:
60-credit modules:
- Dissertation
- Music Technology Project
- Editorial Project
- Final Recital
30-credit modules:
- Issues in Contemporary Musicology
- Short Dissertation
- Computer Music Studies
- Applied Performance
- Short Recital
- Studies in Historical performance
- Individual Project