MA in Performance & Musicology: Overview

• The MA in Performance & Musicology degree offers those with strengths in performance opportunities to develop their skills.
 
• The pathway is carefully honed to foster and develop postgraduate level performing skills within the rich environment of a strong musicological, compositional and technological research setting. See http://music.nuim.ie/staff for more information.

• The degree is convened by Professor Fiona M. Palmer, a professional performer and musicologist.  Dr Antonio Cascelli (Lecturer in Performance Studies), a professional accompanist and musicologist, co-teaches on the pathway.

• It is available as either a full- or part-time degree.

Entry Requirements

• An Honours degree normally with a minimum of Grade 2.1 in music.

• A First Study Audition demonstrating attainment equivalent to high 2.1 Bachelor Degree level performance skills in their first study.

What You Can Expect

• Funding towards first-study lessons.

• Priority allocation of tutorial time with visiting performers as available.

• Priority practice room access.

• Priority inclusion in the Department’s public lunchtime concert series.

• Opportunities to have performances recorded.

• Individual tutorial time with a designated advisor.

• Expert advice on interpretative issues from musicologists, performers and composers at the cutting edge of their fields.

• Foreign language instruction is also available through the NUIM Language Centre.  See: http://www.nuim.ie/language/index.shtml for detailed information and fees.

The MA in Performance & Musicology in Outline

Modules

MU644 Public Recital (Semesters I & II; 30ECTs)
A publicized public recital (45-50 minutes) fully marketed by the student (examined in June); a portfolio including a CV. 1. The recital programme must be agreed in consultation with the supervisor. The programme should be coherently structured and demonstrate technical, interpretative and communicative powers that are at a professional level. Brief spoken introductions are expected during the final recital. 2. A portfolio of marketing materials including evidence of performing experience gained during the module and professionally presented programme notes for the recital itself.
Assessment: Public recital: 80%; Portfolio including performer’s CV and publicity material for the recital: 20%.

MU660 Research Methods (Semesters I(/2); 15 ECTs)
This module is designed to provide training in research skills and critical thinking. Coursework is held in Semester 1 but as part of the module students are expected to take regular first-study lessons and to participate in performance seminar classes in both semesters, keeping an evaluative journal of their progress.

MU662 Specialist Tutorials (Semester I; 10 ECTs)
Students have the opportunity to receive tuition in staff specialist research areas. Each year there are three tutorial groups of which students pick two. The choice of the specialist tutorials is made in consultation with the course convenor.

MU665 Performance in Practice (Semester II; 10 ECTs)
Two main areas are considered: (1) marketing; (2) critical listening and editorial considerations.
1. Comparative study of the marketing strategies and materials adopted by three mainstream and currently active professional performers (of the student’s first study). (50%) c. 2,500 words
2. Critical Listening & Editorial Considerations: a comparative review of at least two recordings and two editions of a work included in (or closely related to) the repertoire contained in the student’s final recital. (50%) c. 2,500 words

MU641 Thesis (25 ECTs)
An extended, individually supervised, thesis (10-12,000 words) on a topic directly related to the final recital (submitted in September).

Course Convenor: Prof. Fiona M. Palmer, fiona.palmer@nuim.ie. tel.: (+353 1) 708 3733.