In part 2 of the MA in Music, you’ll design and conduct original research on a musical subject of your choosing. With dedicated support, you’ll develop a project in one of five specialised areas: historical musicology, hermeneutical studies, ethnographic research, practice-led research, or popular music studies. As you develop your research, you’ll explore diverse musical traditions spanning from sixteenth-century dance music to modern Western popular music, engaging with readings and resources relevant to both these traditions and your chosen musicological approach. At the end of the module, you’ll submit a dissertation to showcase your research.
What you will study
The module is made up of four blocks of study.
Block 1 introduces you to the five approaches available for your MA project: historical musicology, hermeneutical studies, ethnographic work, practice-led research, and popular music studies. You’ll gain essential guidance on identifying relevant sources, applying appropriate methods, and conducting research ethically.
This initial block also exposes you to diverse musical traditions spanning several centuries and regions: from 16th-century German dance music to 20th-century Austrian opera and American film scores, from North Indian classical music to 19th-century European compositions and contemporary Western popular music. Through carefully selected readings and resources, you’ll deepen your understanding of these traditions and various musicological approaches.
Above all, the primary focus for Block 1 is developing your own research project on a subject that interests you, culminating in a formal proposal outlining your plan.
Blocks 2, 3 and 4 guide you through the process of researching your subject and writing your dissertation. You’ll receive structured support on organising your research, developing your arguments, and refining your work. Throughout these blocks, you’ll participate in seminars featuring current musical research and workshops where you can discuss your work with peers. At the end of Blocks 2 and 3, you’ll submit draft extracts of your dissertation for tutor feedback, preparing you for the final submission of your completed dissertation at the conclusion of Block 4.
You will learn
By studying this module, you will:
- independently plan and implement a research project
- evaluate the authority of sources, methods, and theories, as well as their relevance to your project
- present a sustained and carefully structured argument in the form of an MA dissertation
- engage with resources for research, including online databases and collections
- develop your abilities as a researcher and writer.
Vocational relevance
If you’re a musician seeking to develop skills in conducting independent research on subjects that interest you, this module will be valuable to your professional development. You’ll also develop transferable skills relevant to a number of careers, including music teaching and positions within arts organisations.
Entry
To register for this module, you are required to have successfully completed MA Music part 1 (A890).
If you have a disability
This module has no printed materials and is delivered online as a series of web pages via the module website.
You will be asked to listen to music and study a variety of visual documents. Where such activities are not accessible, we are happy to propose alternatives. However, some activities may not be available in other formats: for example, those involving studying music manuscripts, listening to musical examples, or watching video recordings of musical performances. Some materials may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader, particularly where musical notation or original historical documents are involved. The module may, therefore, be challenging if you have a severe visual or hearing impairment.
Please note that the module demands a high level of independent study, including locating sources relevant to your dissertation project. The module also requires extensive use of research databases.
If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet and have concerns about accessing module materials, we advise you to contact us about the support we can provide to meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module. Your tutor will:
- mark your assignments and offer detailed feedback to help you improve
- provide individual guidance as you develop your research project and write your dissertation
- suggest potentially helpful resources
- facilitate online discussions with your fellow students in dedicated forums and rooms.
We also offer online tutorials, seminars, and workshops throughout the module, and we encourage you to participate in these. Where appropriate, we’ll make recordings available.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box.