Course overview
This course provides the opportunities to study the theory and practice of music and to acquire a grounding in philosophy; it is equally weighted between the two subjects.
The music course covers a wide range of repertory, including all periods of Western art music, jazz, popular music, film music and offers a variety of critical, analytical, historical and sociological approaches. Alongside modules focusing on specific periods or genres (including early music, 20th-century music and opera, for example), there are practice-based modules (including analysis, notation and editing, composition and performance). You will gain a solid grounding in basic skills in the first year; the flexible modular stucture and choice of topics will enable you either to specialise, or to maintain a breadth of interests as you progress through the course.
In philosophy, you will be introduced to the subject through a series of core modules in central philosophical problems. A wide range of optional modules allows you to tailor the degree to suit your own interests and passions.
Year one
In music, you will take three core modules covering aspects of style, genre, history and critical thinking and a further optional module on a historical subject, or in performance or composition. In philosophy, you will be introduced to the subject through a series of core modules in central philosophical problems and you will also be able to choose optional modules.
Year two
In music, the emphasis is on choice. Alongside the compulsory Critical Thinking II module, you are encouraged to develop your expertise by choosing from some of the following modules:
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Composition
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Performance
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Narrative and Emotion
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Opera and Politics
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Creative Orchestration
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Notation and Transcription
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20th-Century Studies
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Beethoven and Schubert
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Introduction to Philosophy and Aesthetics
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Film Music
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Jazz
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Medieval Studies
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Popular Music
In philosophy, there are further core modules in central areas and a wide variety of optional modules that allow you to develop and broaden your philosophical skills and knowledge.
Year three
The final year allows you to specialise further. In music, you may take double modules across the year in Dissertation (on a subject of your choice), Performance or Composition. We also offer advanced modules in Analysis, Notation and Editing, Sound Technology and Recording, and specialised research seminars on such topics as:
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Rap
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Britten and Sondheim
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Tragic Heroines
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Jazz Fusions
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Shakespeare and Music
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Music and Ethics
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Can Classical Music Change Lives?
You are also able to select modules from the list available in year two.
In philosophy, you may choose from a wide variety of more advanced modules, and will have the opportunity to write a dissertation on a topic of your own choosing.
More information
See also the
Department of Philosophy.
Entry requirements
A levels: ABB, A in music at A level and C in maths at GCSE
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
TOEFL iBT 100 (no less than 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking)
Alternative qualifications
For details please see alternative qualifications page
Skills and careers
You will have discovered new musical interests and acquired an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the areas on which you have chosen to focus - whether in academic or practice-based modules. As a philosopher, you will be equipped to question concepts and ideas and have the skills to develop and sustain a reasoned argument. Overall, you will have developed transferable skills in critical analysis, teamwork and effective communication.
Average starting salary
The average starting salary for 2009/10 full-time graduates of the Department of Music was £13,150 and for the graduates of the Department of Philosophy it was £18,359.38.*
*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2009/10.