Overview

Music brings together performance, composition and scholarship in ways few other subjects can, spanning everything from historical musicology to music for film and games. The BMus (Hons) Music at the University of Birmingham lets students work with world-class instrumental and vocal tutors while exploring specialisms such as ethnomusicology, jazz, and music psychology, taught by composers and researchers active across the industry. Teaching takes place across dedicated facilities including the Elgar Concert Hall, electroacoustic music studios and over 40 student ensembles, with employability built in through modules in arts administration and music therapy. The course suits musicians who want to combine serious performance training with academic depth, at a department ranked among the UK's top five for music.

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What You'll Learn

• Music and its cultures, alongside the ideas and concepts shaping musical thought

• Techniques of tonal music and solo performance from the first year

• Composition, through both instrumental writing and composing with technology

• Analysis and critical musicology in the second year

• Specialist options such as film music, conducting, orchestration or jazz styles

• Professional development through modules in arts management or music education

• Independent study through composition, performance or a musicology dissertation

• A substantial final-year Special Subject or Independent Study project in your chosen specialism

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse music through historical, theoretical and cultural lenses, applying skills built through core musicology and analysis modules. They will be equipped to compose and perform to a professional standard, having developed technical skill through structured performance tuition and hands-on composition work. Through independent study and a substantial final-year project, students will strengthen their ability to plan, execute and present original creative or research work. Graduates will leave with strong musical, analytical and creative skills, along with practical experience suited to further study or a wide range of careers across performance, composition, education and the broader creative industries.