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This pathway is designed for performers who wish to acquire technical skills such as transcription, pastiche composition and analysis. Some of these classes are shared with undergraduate groups, while others are taught in small groups, or one-to-one. Students can also take up to 20 credits as an open unit in another department, though the total value of all units offered at undergraduate level must not exceed 20.
Pathway tutor: Glyn Jenkins
A typical Practical Performance pathway might include:
For more information about the MA options, see this year's unit booklets
** taught as supervised independent studies
MUSI M0035 Research Skills for Musicians - 20 credits
This unit will focus on research skills that are particularly relevant to musicians:
On handling library collections and archives and computer applications in humanities research. On written presentation skills and post-Masters level applications, giving guidance on good practice in compiling a CV, grant/job applications and research proposals. On oral presentation skills, using Powerpoint.
MUSI 30066 Performance - 60 credits
Through a variety of teaching contexts, including individual instrumental or vocal lessons, performance seminars, workshops, and masterclasses, it aims to develop technical and interpretive abilities to a high level, sufficient to carry off a public solo recital. With respect to solo performance, challenging repertoire will be examined alongside appropriate stylistic considerations for its presentation (including an awareness of historically-informed styles of performance).
MUSI M0014 Palaeography and Editorial Practices - 20 credits
This unit introduces students to different categories of musicological sources and discusses issues arising from these, including recent authenticity debates surrounding the use of these materials in performance. It acquaints students with the nature of historical source materials for different repertoires and with the ways in which these may inform an understanding of compositional process. It also introduces typical problems involved in the preparation of critical editions to the highest standards of modern scholarship by means of particular case studies. It is intended that this unit will stimulate an awareness of the sensitivity required in handling primary and other musical source materials and that it will help students to acquire a critically informed approach to musical texts.
MUSI M0026 Analysis project - 20 credits
The unit is designed as a forum for the close study of the constructional techniques to be observed in the scores and recordings of music that can be of major interest, and value as exemplar, to the contemporary composer. This discipline will acknowledge the requirements of the Analytical profession but is more focused on the acquisition of tools and manners of perception and their potential transferability to practice-based research. A variety of musical sources and related readings will be studied in preparation for writing the assessed self-directed written project.
MUSI 10048 Technical Studies II: Introduction to Baroque Composition - 20 credits
In this unit, students will study the harmonic and contrapuntal procedures of the baroque period with reference primarily to the work of Corelli and Bach. The emphasis will be on 2-part writing, beginning with the composition of simple dance movements for violin and continuo in the manner of Corelli and gradually progressing towards the 2-part invention style of Bach. At various stages, the developing harmonic language of the period will be explored with reference to Bach’s chorale harmonisations. Students will also be given an opportunity to develop further their fluency and confidence in the application and practice of figured bass.
MUSI M0028 Special Study 1 and/or MUSI M0031 Special Study 2 - 20 credits each
This unit offers you an opportunity for detailed study of particular areas of interest in the field of historical musicology. Each Special Study (one or two chosen, in consultation with available staff each year) will be taught as supervised independent study in tutors' postgraduate office hour. You and your tutor(s) will cover topics and repertoires methodically in regular meetings by way of discussing bibliographies, outlines, critical approaches and methodological strategies and by reading out short essays. Additionally, the weekly departmental research seminars will encourage you to refine your critical responses and discussion skills. Overall, the tutorials should demonstrate an ability to research aspects of a topic effectively and sufficiently, leading naturally to the MA dissertation in terms of approach (though not necessarily topic). Three 2000-word essays will be researched per 20-credit unit, presented, discussed and graded on the spot at regular intervals through the semester. The best two grades of three carry forward, with the marks confirmed or adjusted when all the essays are handed in and second-marked at the end of the semester.
For further information please contact one of the following:
When applying for the Performance pathway please:
a) send an audition DVD or CD to the Graduate School at the same time as you complete and submit your online application form. Please include two contrasting pieces, totalling no more than 15 minutes. We will not be able to assess your application until we receive the audition DVD/CD.
OR
b) attend one of the Graduate School's Postgraduate Open days, during which we will schedule a short informal audition in the Music Department. Prepare two contrasting pieces, totalling no more than 15 minutes. Please let the Graduate School administrators know when you sign up for the open day that you will need to audition in the Music department, what your instrument is, and whether you will need an accompanist. If you will need an accompanist, we recommend that you select music with a straightforward accompaniment, since your rehearsal time will be minimal.
For further information on life as a postgraduate in Bristol, and for information about upcoming open days, visit the Graduate School of Arts and Humanities