Music Performance Practice

Entry requirements

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/courses/postgraduate/research/music/music-performance-practice.aspx#CourseDetailsTab

Months of entry

January, December, November, October, September, June, May, April, March, February

Course content

Uniquely, we offer degrees in performance practice at MA by Research and PhD levels, which allows performers of a proven ability to develop their work on historically-informed performances of western art music. The programmes are assessed by performance supported by written work which demonstrates a high level of ability in presenting, and reasoning from, historical evidence relating to performance practice.

The MA by Research in Performance Practice is examined by:

• a thesis of c.20,000 words
• a performance not exceeding 45 minutes' actual performance time (30-35 minutes for wind and brass players) which illustrates, at least in part, ideas raised in the thesis
• a written programme note for, and detailed critical commentary on, the performance

The PhD in Performance Practice is examined in two stages. At the end of Year 2, you will give a live 'Minor Performance' of 30 minutes, together with a written programme note for, and critical commentary on, the performance. This performance is examined by two internal examiners and is followed immediately by a short viva focusing on issues of performance. You may be advised by the examiners not to proceed to the PhD in Performance Practice, but rather to transfer to a Musicology PhD.

At the end of Year 3, you will be examined by:

• a thesis of c.60,000 words
• a 'Major' performance of one hour's actual performance time (40-50 minutes for wind and brass players),
• a written programme note for, and detailed critical commentary on, the performance.

Note, the performance will be given as a standard live recital, of which a recording will be made and a copy on CD submitted with the library copy of the thesis. The recital element will be examined by three examiners (one external and two internal).

Department specialisms

Singers and singing; gender and sexuality; performance; early modern period. Fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; violin performance; conducting. Early music performance practice.

Fees and funding

Please visit:

www.birmingham.ac.uk/pgfunding

Qualification and course duration

PhD

MA by research