Music MA (Performance/Composition)

Overview

Develop your creative and professional music skills and shape your future in the music industry.

On our Music MA degree you'll study with world-class specialists attuned to your individual aspirations and collaborate with a vibrant creative community.

Focus on your personal musical aims by specialising in performance, composition, or a structured mixture of both

Develop the professional skills needed to work within the contemporary musical world and utilise your skills and knowledge to teach the next generation of musicians.

Choose to specialise in:

• Western Classical Music
• Contemporary Pop
• Folk Music of Britain, North America, and Northern Europe
• Opera
• Jazz
• DJ-ing and Turntablism
• Improvised Music
• Electroacoustic Music and Sound Art

Studying a Music Master's in Newcastle

Newcastle is one of the most exciting and diverse places to study music in the UK. We're home to The Royal Northern Sinfonia, based at The Glasshouse, the renowned international music venue in Newcastle-Gateshead.

Many of the orchestra’s players teach on our classical music strand.

Newcastle is also a national centre for folk music. We have tutors who perform worldwide and one of the most innovative centres for experimental music in the country.

On our programme you’ll specialise in either:

• Music Performance
• Music Composition

You'll also have the flexibility to select modules from some of our other MA Music programmes.

You'll develop professional and career skills in the contemporary musical world and understand how your knowledge may teach the next generation of musicians.

There are also many extra-curricular opportunities for performers. These include:

• the Newcastle University Symphony Orchestra
• a specialist chamber choir
• a contemporary jazz big-band
• musical theatre projects
• folk music groups

You'll also have a wide range of popular music opportunities both inside and outside of the university.

This course was formerly titled the MMus Music, course code 5811F. 

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

On our programme you'll:

• become a skilled musician in your chosen area of specialisation
• learn the value of collaboration and communication with other musicians
• build networks extending beyond the classroom and into the wider music community
• gain a professional level of understanding of contemporary musical life
• develop your own strategies to support your future artistic development, as a performer, composer, or both

Music Performance Pathway

On the Music Performance pathway, you'll develop your solo performance skills through expert-led instrumental or vocal lessons tailored to you as an individual musician.

You'll learn ensemble musicianship, creative collaborations, and career development to prepare you for life as a professional musician.

There'll also be many opportunities for live music in the city as both a performer and spectator. Major touring professional musicians play every week in the university's free concerts series, as well as at The Glasshouse, and many other smaller venues.

You'll develop skills in vocal and instrumental teaching, drawing on a range of professional practice modules including live music events, music, community, and wellbeing.

On this pathway you'll work towards a major public performance project.

Music Composition Pathway

On the Music Composition pathway, you’ll work with a teacher to develop your technical and creative skills.

Combining what you've already learned, you'll discover and evolve new approaches and techniques to help you to realise your aspirations and potential as a musician.

You'll collaborate with other musicians on creative music projects, gaining insights into what's needed to engage with the contemporary musical world.

On this pathway you'll work towards presenting a portfolio of creative work, either live, or as a recording.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Music MA Performance pathway

All students on the Music Performance pathway will take all of the following compulsory modules:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8022 Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy: Practice-based Teaching	20
MUS8024 Making Music	20
MUS8025 Performing Music	20
MUS8031 Collaborative Music Making	40
MUS8264 Major Creative Project	60

You also take one optional 20-credit module in semester 2 from the School of Arts and Cultures in consultation with the Degree Programme Director. 

Part time

Year 1

All part time students on the Music Performance pathway can choose to follow route A or B 

Route A

All Route A students will take all of the following modules in year 1:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8024 Making Music	20
MUS8025 Performing Music	20
MUS8031 Collaborative Music Making	40

Route B

All Route B students will take all of the following modules in year 1:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8022 Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy: Practice-based Teaching	20
MUS8024 Making Music	20
MUS8031 Collaborative Music Making	40

Year 2

Route A

All Route A students will take all of the following modules in year 2:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8022 Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy: Practice-based Teaching	20
MUS8264 Major Creative Project	60

Route B

All Route B students will take all of the following modules in year 2:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8025 Performing Music	20
MUS8264 Major Creative Project	60

In the second year, you'll take a 20-credit option from elsewhere in the School of Arts and Cultures in semester 2 to bring your total credit over two years to 180. 

Music MA Composition pathway

All students on the Music Composition pathway will take all of the following compulsory modules:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8024 Making Music	20
MUS8025 Performing Music	20
MUS8031 Collaborative Music Making	40
MUS8264 Major Creative Project	60
SAC8001 Creative and Cultural Sectors: Past, Present, Future	20

You also take one optional 20-credit module in semester 2 from the School of Arts and Cultures in consultation with the Degree Programme Director. 

Part time

Year 1

All part time students on the Music Composition pathway can choose to follow route A or B 

Route A

All Route A students will take all of the following modules in year 1:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8024 Making Music	20
MUS8026 Composing Music	20
MUS8031 Collaborative Music Making	40

Route B

All Route B students will take all of the following modules in year 1:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8024 Making Music	20
MUS8031 Collaborative Music Making	40
SAC8001 Creative and Cultural Sectors: Past, Present, Future	20

Year 2

Route A

All Route A students will take all of the following modules in year 2:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8264 Major Creative Project	60
SAC8001 Creative and Cultural Sectors: Past, Present, Future	20

Route B

All Route B students will take all of the following modules in year 2:

Module Title	Credits
MUS8026 Composing Music	20
MUS8264 Major Creative Project	60

In the second year, you'll take a 20-credit option from elsewhere in the School of Arts and Cultures in semester 2 to bring your total credit over two years to 180. 

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

Performance pathway students will have one-to-one instrumental or vocal lessons, alongside master classes delivered by university and visiting staff.

Composition pathway students will work one-to-one with a supervisor, enhanced with master class events.

In addition to lessons in performing or composing, practical workshops encourage you and your fellow students to share what you've learned.

You'll join a supportive and inspiring community which will nurture your own artistic practice.

By working with professional musicians and top researchers, you’ll gain valuable insight into the local, national, and global contexts of your music. You’ll also learn different ways to integrate this understanding back into your own practice.

On our programme you’ll maintain a high level of private study activity including:

• Listening
• Studying existing repertoires
• Personal practice
• Creative work

Semester 1 focuses on developing skills in composition or performance to develop your in-dividual musicianship. We'll also guide you through planning what you will do in semesters 2 and 3, focusing on your final major project.

Semester 2 focuses on working together in groups or ensembles, or, if you're a composer, working with live musicians. You’ll apply your musicianship in “real world” professional-type situations. You’ll also develop skills in writing about music which are transferable skills with-in the wider arts sector.

Semester 3 allows you to immersive yourself in your main creative project. This may take the form of a live or recorded performance, such as:

• classical piano recital
• a group performance
• production of your own album of songs
• an experimental sound art installation

This is where you get to showcase your personal achievements on the programme.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Design or creative project
• Observation of professional practice
• Oral presentation
• Performance
• Portfolio
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

As part of the taught classes, you’ll receive regular feedback through group discussions and practical projects . We'll assess you through:

• Live performances and/or portfolios capturing performance and composition.
• Writing about music in a different contexts, in relation to your own music and the work of others.
• Presenting your work to other students, and eventually in public .

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your future

Professional skills

Aside from improving your composition or performance skills, you'll develop problem-solving, analytical and planning strategies through professional research and project-based learning.

You’ll also write confidently for a range of audiences and enhance your teamworking and collaboration skills.

Practical skills

Gain the confidence to work with peers, musicians, and creative professionals, communicating effectively across cultures.

You’ll learn to advocate for the music industries and their significance within a variety of contexts relating to the cultural and creative sectors.

You’ll also gain experience of project planning and skills in network building.

Further study

This course can provide preparation for PhD level study in music as a creative practice or in artistic research. 

Careers

Our programme prepares you for a wide range of careers such as:

• Professional performing musician
• Professional composer across a range of genres
• Producer of music in many different practical applications
• Instrumental and/or vocal music teaching
• Music and arts administration
• Collaborations involving music in many different areas of practice such as film, theatre, games.

Careers support

Dr. Jane Nolan is our employability and enterprise champion for Music in the School of Arts and Cultures.

Contact Jane

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Rehearsal spaces

We have numerous rehearsal and practice facilities, reserved for the exclusive use of our Music students and ensembles. You'll have access to a range of rehearsal spaces, including:

• 25 acoustically treated practice rooms
• five instrumental teaching rooms
• a large, acoustically isolated, ensemble/band practice room
• two large performance/rehearsal spaces (each seats up to 50 people)
• the University's King's Hall (seats 400 people)

Our eight large teaching spaces are also available after teaching hours for ensemble rehearsals and sectional practices. Larger rooms can be booked in advance on our online booking system and we've made sure that each room contains a piano.

Studios

Our professional recording and music production suites cater for a wide range of musical approaches. They provide a space for:

• full band multi-track recording
• professional levels of popular music/electronic dance music production
• electro-acoustic composition
• multimedia projects involving moving image and/or web-based audio-visual artworks
• sound art installations.

Our studios are interconnected allowing for cross-disciplinary and collaborative work throughout the building.

We have a very large range of professional portable recording equipment and tools designed for live electronics and live performance using digital and analogue technologies.

Performance spaces

Newcastle University has four main performance spaces.

The King's Hall is situated at the heart of the Armstrong Building and can seat 400 people. There are regular concerts in here which you can find on the University's Live in the King's Hall page, and a new custom-built concert organ installed in 2018 has pride of place.

We have a dedicated Band Room for popular music practice in the custom-built Music Studios building that is configurable for teaching, rehearsing, recording and live public performances. It includes a full lighting rig and comprehensive "backline" technology.

The Recital Room is used for rehearsals, acoustic and chamber music, and various events organised both by the University and by local promoters.

Culture Lab is a more contemporary venue, excellent for performances using digital media, with an excellent Genelec loudspeaker system, and a professional cinema projection space.

In our performance spaces we have several Steinway grand pianos, an excellent harpsichord, a fortepiano, a custom built Aubertin pipe organ , Indian tabla, and a Javanese gamelan.

Read more about out the facilities in our Music department

The University Library provides access to:

• extensive music collections (including a number of important manuscript and microfilm collections)
• subscriptions to many specialist music journals
• a significant body of online resources

See more about the University Library's special collections

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

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How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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Visit our events calendar for the latest events