Taught course
Performance
Entry requirements
UK students should normally hold an honours degree, ideally but not necessarily in Music.
Non-UK students should hold a Bachelor's degree or a similar degree-equivalent diploma, ideally but not necessarily in Music.
Applicants for most Principal Study areas will be auditioned live, but some will require you to submit a portfolio in addition to or instead of a live audition/interview. For full audition requirements and audition advice, please visit the Music Auditions section of the Conservatoire website.
Months of entry
September
Course content
The principal aim of our Master of Music (MMus) course is to provide you with knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in your chosen branch(es) of the music profession, giving you a head-start in addressing the challenges involved in becoming a professional musician.
The course is suitable for both recent graduates and suitably qualified mature students, with a range of support to ensure that you leave Royal Birmingham Conservatoire ready to pursue a musical career.
A distinctive feature of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s postgraduate provision is that it will give you the opportunity to make choices within your course directly relevant to your future career aspirations, both within your Principal Study area and in your supporting studies. All MMus and PgDip routes include a core Career Development module designed to get you thinking about your future professional plans, and a broad menu of optional Professional Development modules designed to help you work towards achieving your personal career aspirations. You will also take a core module designed to develop your skills as a researcher or informed practitioner.
You will have the opportunity to study in one of several Principal Study areas, most of which are also offered at PgDip or PgCert level.
We also offer the opportunity to study for an MMus via our 12-month route. To be eligible for this route, applicants must be able to show evidence of an extremely high level of achievement in the Principal Study area and a strong academic record at undergraduate level (or equivalent). If you are interested in the 12-month route, please email an initial enquiry about your potential eligibility to conservatoire.admissions@bcu.ac.uk, as it is not possible to apply for this route via UCAS.
Performance pathways
Instrumental Performance (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
This specialism prepares you for a solo, chamber or orchestral career. It is available to students pursuing orchestral instruments, keyboard instruments and other solo instruments such as recorder, guitar, and saxophone, with a route also offered for bowed string and guitar ensembles. We also welcome instrumentalists and singers who are developing fusions of folk music with other genres, students wishing to focus on song writing, and woodwind players who do not wish to follow the traditional orchestral route but would prefer to pursue a career as a multi-instrumentalist in musical theatre.
Read more about our instrumental departments:
- Woodwind
- Brass
- Strings
- Percussion
Vocal Performance (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
This route offers advanced-level training in singing. You're encouraged and enabled to increase your experience as a performer and to broaden your repertoire, though you can also take the opportunity to specialise if you wish. You'll enjoy regular opportunities to sing in a variety of contexts, both as a soloist and in ensembles with other performers. Read more about Vocal Performance.
Orchestral Performance (Strings) (MMus, PgDip)
Developed in partnership with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), this route is for advanced level string players considering professional orchestral auditions and on the brink of a professional career. You will spend a significant amount of rehearsal time in the CBSO alongside one or more dedicated host players who will act as mentors. You may also be offered opportunities to play at the back of the section to gain further experience. In addition to developing your technical facility, musicianship, interpretative skills, and stylistic awareness, you will expand your knowledge of orchestral repertoire, learn how to prepare for rehearsal in the most efficient way, develop strategies which will help you to integrate within your section, and build confidence in preparing for orchestral auditions. Read more about our Strings department.
Please note, there will be a maximum of one Orchestral Performance student in each CBSO string section in any given year, so please email Conservatoire.Admissions@bcu.ac.uk to check availability of places before applying.
Jazz (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
Designed for recent graduates and suitably qualified mature students, these programmes provide high quality advanced-level tuition, enabling you to specialise either as a Jazz performer or instigator. You will benefit from regular individual specialist tuition from professional jazz musicians active on today’s scene. There will be an emphasis on the art of improvisation as well as regular opportunities to rehearse and perform with small and large jazz ensembles.
What's covered in this course?
- Regular individual tuition in your Principal Study area from leading UK and internationally renowned performers, practitioners, teachers, and researchers.
- Bespoke support classes in musicianship and repertoire.
- The opportunity to participate in a wide variety of creative projects, including interdisciplinary collaborations.
- Frequent opportunities to perform, both within Departmental activities and in concerts.
- Access to forums, seminars and masterclasses with distinguished visiting artists, composers, and performers.
- Access to the Conservatoire’s broad range of ensemble activities, including chamber music, operatic productions, Brass Band, Wind Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, ‘Repertoire’ and ‘Pops’ Orchestras, Thallein (Contemporary Music) Ensemble, and the Folk Ensemble.
- The opportunity to tailor your course to your individual needs through wide-ranging Professional Development modules.
- A chance to network with leading professionals from around the world.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MMus
- part time36 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Distance learningis available for this qualification
- full time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Distance learningis available for this qualification
- PGCert
- part time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Distance learningis available for this qualification
- PDip
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Distance learningis available for this qualification
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Distance learningis available for this qualification
Pathways:
Instrumental Performance
Jazz
Orchestral Performance
Vocal Performance
Course contact details
- Name
- Course Enquiry Team
- courseenquiries@bcu.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)121 331 6295