MA in Composition: Overview

• The MA in Composition degree is directed towards students with experience of composition who would like to develop and enhance their skills
• The pathway is carefully honed to foster and develop postgraduate level composition skills within the rich environment of a strong musicological, performing and technological research setting.
• Students can draw upon postgraduate modules dealing with musicology and computer music. As the pathway progresses, students supplement their focus on composition by either completing a musicological special research project, or by further exploring computer music technology.

Entry Requirements

• Honours degree normally with a minimum of Grade 2.1 in music
• Interview, demonstrating attainment equivalent to high 2.1 Bachelor Degree level composition skills
• Submission of examples of recent composition to the course convenor at the time of application

What You Can Expect:

• Opportunities to have compositions performed.
• Individual tutorial time with a designated advisor.
• Expert advice on musical and technical issues from composers and researchers at the cutting edge of their fields.
• Use of computer resources at the Music Technology Labs at NUI Maynooth.
• Access to studio space, with the possibility of working towards recording and production project
• Access to language courses.

The MA in Composition in Outline:

Students undertake 3 modules per semester (60 credits), along with MU643 (30 credits). Arrows indicate a prerequisite module in semester 1. Students must achieve a total of 90 credits over the course of the year.

Modules

MU603 Research Methods
This module is compulsory for all MA students and is designed to provide training in research skills and critical thinking.

MU632 Compositional Techniques
This module is compulsory for all MA students in Composition. It features a consideration of compositional issues and problems, combined with a study of specific techniques and scores.

MU642 Special Project
An extended, individually supervised, thesis (10-12,000 words)

MU645A Portfolio of Compositions
An individually supervised portfolio of original composition.

Students take 1 Computer Music option in the first semester. In the second semester, students choose between MU642 (Special Project) and a choice of modules from the MA in Computer Music course. Options are as follows as follows:

MA in Computer Music Options

MU610A Acoustics; MU612A Sound Recording Techniques; MU611A Synthesis; MU614A Music Systems Programming I; MU619A Electroacoustic Composition; MU621A Recording Project; MU616A Signal Processing; MU617A Interactive Systems; MU620A Music Systems Programming I

Contact:
Course convenors:
Dr Martin O'Leary, martin.oleary@nuim.ie, tel: +3531-708 3924
Dr Gordon Delap, gordon.delap@nuim.ie, tel: +3531-708 3794