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MA Music – Electroacoustic composition, Sonic art Pathway

The Music – Electroacoustic composition, sonic art programme from University of Birmingham invites you to help map out the next steps in Birmingham’s thirty year history as a world leader in the area of electroacoustic music composition and presentation.

Quick Facts

  
Duration: 1 year (Full-Time)
2 years (Part-Time)
Starting in: September
Tuition Fee: £21,150 per year
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

A solid grounding in the field, its aesthetics and traditions is augmented by instruction in the latest techniques and technology. You will also have the opportunity to work with BEAST (Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre), our acclaimed 100-channel sound diffusion system.

The Music – Electroacoustic composition, sonic art programme from University of Birmingham offers first class, world-recognised staff who are experts in their fields meaning students learn from people who really are the best at what they do.

Students study within the excellent facilities available with the Elgar Concert Hall, which is one of the most flexible concert halls of its type in any UK university.

Why study the Music – Electroacoustic composition, sonic art pathway from the University of Birmingham?

  • Long standing history – The Department of Music is one of the most distinguished in the UK with a history stretching back to 1905 when Edward Elgar was appointed the University’s first Professor of Music. The Department also has a long history of excellence in the field of electroacoustic music composition and presentation.
  • Fantastic facilities available – We have a wide range of resources and facilities to support your learning and ensure you receive the maximum benefit from studying this programme. Our facilities in the state-of-the-art Bramall Music Building include five electroacoustic studios, an isolation room for recording, a dedicated control room which can record sound from around the building, and an 18 seat computer cluster.
  • Cutting-edge activities – The internationally recognised BEAST system (Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre) regularly presents student works in concerts with up to 100 loudspeakers in Birmingham and abroad (e.g. Berlin, Copenhagen, Basel). Our postgraduate laptop ensemble, the Birmingham Ensemble for Electroacoustic Research (BEER) provides opportunities to explore advanced aspects of live electroacoustic performance such as controller integration, network music, and live coding.
  • Plenty of opportunities within the Department – You also have access to excellent equipment and library resources, and the opportunity to interact with distinguished guest artists in our seminar series.

Courses included:

  • Advanced Studies in Electroacoustic Composition
  • Composition Tutorials
  • Advanced Studies in Instrumental/Vocal Composition
  • Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art
  • British Music Studies 1850-1975
  • Electronic Music Studies
  • Experimental Music and Sound Art
  • Fieldwork Methods

“The transition from undergrad to postgrad can be a big step up in terms of workload and what is expected of you, but there is so much support available to you as a postgrad student, from academic writing support (if you’ve been out of education for a few years or just want a bit of extra help) to mental health and wellbeing services. The careers support is fantastic – the uni puts on employer fairs throughout the year and you have access to one on one support from the Careers Network team, who can help you develop your skills ready for your next step!”

Emma Sutton // PhD Psychology

Careers

The University’s Careers Network provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated careers and employability team who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

  • Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
  • Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
  • Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
  • Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

Requirements

  • We usually ask for a good Honours degree (2:1), or equivalent, in Music or a related subject with a substantial musical component. Degrees in other subjects will be considered where candidates have significant professional musical experience and relevant qualifications.
  • Your application should include a personal statement of approximately 5,000 characters. You should use your personal statement to explain why you are interested in studying this programme. In order to expedite processing, please clearly state the pathway to which you are applying within the first paragraph of your personal statement.

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