Music: Joint/Combined Honours

Music students are involved in extensive music making on a daily basis. Weekly individual instrumental and vocal tuition is provided as a central part of the programme, supported by seminars and workshops given by eminent figures from the music profession. The department supports a wide range of large ensembles and public performance is a prominent feature of campus life with weekly concerts by students, staff and visiting artists, and concerts within the Canterbury and Sounds New Festivals.

The Department offers exceptional opportunities to composers, with individual tuition available from Level 2, excellent music technology facilities, frequent concerts of student composers’ works, and masterclasses/seminars led by visiting composers.

Students can either follow a Single Honours programme, leading to a BMus (Hons) degree, or study Music in combination with a range of other subjects, leading to a BA/BSc (Hons). Part-time (day) routes are also available.


Content and Structure

COMBINED HONOURS
The Combined Honours Music programme develops skills in music alongside another subject. All modules integrate theoretical and practical approaches to the study of music, and students are required to reflect critically and analytically on their practical music making. At Level 1, Combined Honours students elect to follow either a Performance or a General Pathway. To some extent this will determine the options choices available in subsequent years.

All students are encouraged to develop areas of specialism.

LEVEL 1
Combined Honours students on the Performance pathway take Performance as their Principal Study – taught by a combination of Performance Seminars and weekly individual lessons. Alongside this, they take a module in Tonal Music. Students on the General Pathway take modules in Tonal Music, Music History and 20th Century Music. All Combined Honours students are encouraged to participate in the full range of department ensembles.

LEVEL 2
Successful Level 1 students begin to specialise in their areas of particular interest. Students choose Performance, Composition or Musicology as their Principal Study, which will be taught through individual lessons and seminars. In addition, or instead, students may choose modules from a range of options for which they are eligible. All students have the opportunity to perform as members of ensembles, as soloists or to have their compositions realised throughout the year.

LEVEL 3
Level Three students either continue with their Principal Study chosen from Performance, Composition or Independent Study (dissertation), and/or choose from a range of options including modules that develop areas introduced in Level 2, as well as a number of new areas, including Instrumental Teaching and Learning.

Applications for the Combined Honours degree in Music are made through UCAS, see the UCAS codes page of the CCC website. Basic entry requirements can be found on the entry requirements page. Additionally, applicants will need an A2 Level in Music at C or above, (or a recognised Access certificate, or a Merit in an appropriate BTEC course). In order to pursue the Performance strand, Combined Honours applicants should also have Grade 8 of the ABRSM on an instrument or voice, or be able to demonstrate equivalence at audition. In order to pursue the Theoretical strand, applicants should have Grade 5 of the ABRSM, or demonstrate equivalence at audition. All prospective students are called to an interview and audition that allows them to demonstrate their skills, visit the Department and find out more about the Music programmes. An audition piece of about 3-5 minutes will be expected, and an accompanist will normally be available. Refer to www.canterbury.ac.uk For an explanation of qualifications, have a look at our IAG page on this site www.creativeway.org.uk/quals.

A Progression Agreement is a formal arrangement between two or more education providers. It spells out what a learner needs to do to be considered for a place on a named programme of study. Progression Agreements may vary in the conditions they specify but they all aim to give guaranteed pathways into higher education.