Location:

Bath, United Kingdom

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Performing Arts

Program Overview

Program Description:

Offered in both attendance-based and distance learning formats, it is aimed at unpublished songwriters wishing to develop their craft to a professional level, and published songwriters wishing to achieve academic accreditation whilst continuing to improve creatively. The course, which is based at the university's Corsham Court campus, will help you to develop a range of critical, practical, communicative, industrial and research-based skills. During the programme you will learn to: - Comment critically upon your own and others’ material; - Examine the musicological and historical roots of your craft; - Consider the commercial value of your songs in the marketplace; - Rewrite and collaborate; - Conduct academic research; - Develop technical skills; - Create a professional-standard portfolio of your work. - Professional songwriters, music publishers and others involved in the songwriting industry visit regularly to teach, host Q and A sessions and give master-classes. The course is available on either a full-time (typically one year) or part-time (typically two year) basis. The academic year is 12 months long and comprises three trimesters: October-January; February-June; and June-October. Taught sessions are held during the daytime at the post-graduate centre for research at Corsham Court, as well as at Bath Spa University. The course is also available in a distance learning format. We are delighted to announce that the university has an AHRC studentship available for 2012-13 for MMus songwriting under the AHRC Block Grant: Capacity Building Scheme. This is a full studentship covering tuition fees (paid to the university) and maintenance allowance (paid to the student in non-taxable quarterly instalments).

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

Assessment takes the form of individual assignments for each module. These typically include audio and video presentation, essay, and evaluative account. Assessment is continuous and there are no written exams.

Requirements:

We offer places on the basis of the student's experience, potential and commitment as a songwriter. Normally, but not invariably, applicants have a first degree (or equivalent music industry experience) plus a substantial body of recorded work, equal to that which would be obtained as part of a related undergraduate course. Applicants should submit a portfolio of work with their application comprising a four-track CD of original songs with lyrics in the English language accompanied by printed A4 lyric sheets. Applications are invited from candidates with a range of academic disciplines and from a variety of national backgrounds. Where an applicant does not have a degree, he or she is required to complete an APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning Experience) form.