Master in Music Performance

Why choose this course?

The course is ideal if you wish to become a professional performer or are an instrumental teacher looking to develop your performance skills and knowledge. This course develops performance skills across many musical genres, including western classical music, and popular, and world music.

Through tuition masterclasses, recitals and ensemble participation, you will develop performance skills, critique your performances, and complete a performance-based project.

Reasons to choose Kingston University

• You will receive individual tuition on your instrument or voice from a professional performer.
• Facilities include recording studios, rehearsal rooms, a synthesis/sampling lab, and the analogue/digital hybrid Visconti Studio with a 300m² octagonal live room and rare and vintage recording equipment.
• Masterclasses and workshops are run by performers and composers. In close proximity to London's major concert venues, you will have access to live performances throughout the year.

What you will study

You will cover issues of performance practice, aesthetics of music performance, analysis for performers, psychology of music performance, and performance presentation.

A range of option modules allows you to develop your skills in related topics, such as composition, conducting, arranging and ensemble performance.

You'll need to take all four compulsory modules, totalling 150 credits. You can then choose a further 30-credit optional module, to total 180 credits altogether.

Modules

You will have the opportunity to develop and enhance your performance skills through one-to-one tuition, group classes, workshops, recitals and ensemble participation.

You will also be asked to critique and evaluate your own performances and will undertake a performance-based project.

Core modules

• Critical Aspects of Performance Presentation
• Performance Studies
• Major Project
• Researching Music

Optional modules (may vary from year to year)

• Advanced Production of Popular Music
• Composing and Marketing Popular Music
• Constructing Music Education in the UK
• International Music Education: Psychology, Culture and Philosophy
• Live Sound and Event Management
• Music and Technology in Education
• Special Study: Music Journalism
• Special Study: Jazz Studies
• Techniques and Technology for Composing for Film and Television

Please note

Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

After you graduate

The Music Performance MMus combines compositional and practical skills, alongside theoretical knowledge; graduates become well-equipped for a broad range of careers, including:

• performing professionally;
• teaching in school;
• higher education;
• instrumental teaching;
• outreach work; and
• educational workshops.