MMus Music Technology (including Professional Placement)

at Birmingham City University

COURSE IN DEPTH

MMus

 

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete THREE CORE modules (totalling 140 credits):

 

Career Development
20 credits

 

Members of the music profession require not only high-level specialist skills but also the ability to target those skills strategically to different circumstances. This module focuses on a range of different aspects of a musician’s professional development that directly relate to the music industry and their preparation for it: from self-promotion and self-management, to funding and wellbeing. It is thus central to a programme which aims to prepare you for a career as a musician in the 21st century.

 

It requires you, near the beginning of your postgraduate studies, to reflect ambitiously yet realistically on your professional aspirations, and to formulate a plan that helps you stand the best chance of achieving your goals. Weekly workshops, delivered by internal staff and external professionals, will focus on the practicalities of a career in music, providing you with a better insight into the industry you will be entering, as well as encouraging you to be self-reflective about your own personal and professional development needs.

 

Principal Study 1: Music Technology60 credits

 

This module enables you, as a postgraduate Music Technologist, to advance your training in your specialist area. For MMus students, it provides a prelude to the further advancement of your training in the Principal Study 2: Music Technology module.

 

This module is focused entirely on your continued growth as a Creative Music Technologist. The skills developed will be specific to your own interests, but are likely to include a combination of composition utilising technology, performing with technology, interactive music technology, programming, recording, production, mixing and mastering.

 

Principal Study 2: Music Technology60 credits

 

This module enables you, as a postgraduate Music Technologist, to continue to advance your training in your specialist area, and thus provides professionally-relevant experience. It builds on the technical and creative skills acquired in the Principal Study 1: Music Technology module, encouraging a greater maturity of approach, the development of an individual voice and personal aesthetic, and a consistently professional approach to presentation.

 

This module is focused entirely on your continued growth as a Creative Music Technologist. The skills developed will be specific to your own interests, but are likely to include a combination of composition utilising technology, performing with technology, interactive music technology, programming, recording, production, mixing and mastering.

 

In order to complete this course, a student must successfully complete at least 100 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:

 

• THREE Professional Development modules (20 credits each), and

• ONE MMus optional module (40 credits)

Optional modules100 credits

 

Professional Development modules (20 credits each)

 

Conservatoire based

 

• Concepts in Musicology
• Contemporary Music Concepts and Practice
• Creative Interactive Music Technology Performance
• Critical Editing Techniques
• Documentation
• Experimental Performance in Context(s)
• Historical Instrument Performance
• Historical Performance Practice
• Independent Scholarship in Music
• Music and Ideas
• Music Technology Contexts
• Orchestration
• Performing and Producing in the Studio
• Professional Music Criticism
• Self-Promotion Project
• Teaching Matters: Principles and Practice
• Work Placement
• Writing Music for Media
• Conference Paper
• Preparation for Research
• Music, Community and Wellbeing (BMus module)

School of Art based

• Art and Ecologies
• Contemporary Philosophy and Aesthetics
• Discourses in Art and Design
• Models and Methods of Curatorial Practice
• Queer Strategies in Practice
• Small Arts Business Set Up
• Social Practice in the Visual Arts

School of Media based

 

• Live Events and Festival Management
• Social Media as Culture and Practice

MMus optional modules (40 credits each)

 

• Research Project
• Critical Edition
• Lecture-Recital
• The Reflective Practioner

There are two pathways through this module:

 

1. Professional Placement,
2. Creative Interdisciplinary Artist.

 

Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

English language requirements

 

IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. 
 

Award: MMus Starting: Sep 2022
Full Time 2 years £24,100 in 2022/23

OpportUNIty

 

OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.

 

It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.